Mai Sot thoughts

[Mathos]

I hope you don't mind me bumping this thread, Matho. What an awesome read. I read this thread from start to finish. I was reading about how the Burmese all have old cars on the roads, and that they are not allowed to drive motorcycles in Rangoon; only cars.

--
I would be interested in learning more about what you thought of Mae Sot, and more about your experience in the refugee camps. How was the mindset of the refugees when you visited the camps? Did you go in rainy season? If so, is it worth being there at that time of year? How safe would you say, Mae Sot is these days? As I wrote to you in my pm, I may be going to work there. Any advice or information would be appreciated. More pics please.

It is really amazing what all you have seen. The falls in Umphang are unbelievable. What a trek do get there too.

I don't mind you bumping the thread at all PB

It's an extremely interesting place is Mae Sot and the general border region in that vicinity is colourful in oh so many ways, to say the least.

Burma itself is a very peculiar country, to put it mildly.

Prior to the Second World War some 55% of Rangoon's population of 500,000 was Indian, and South Asian, only a third or so was Burmese.

Karen's, Chinese and of course Anglo-Burmese made up the remainder.

Throughout the country especially around border towns on all areas, there will always be a fair old array of the melting pot, coupled with aliens.

The Japanese occupied Burma during the period 1942 to 1945 and this has had a slight impact on the populations diversity.

The Military Junta are suspicious of everything and everybody.

Life is so cheap you cannot really understand unless you have seen some of the things that go on in that country and in the Thai border towns especially regarding the employment of Burmese refugees or simply travellers who go into Thailand to earn a few baht.

Payment after a years work can be death, a bullet in the head, or a machete, the corpse and there are many on a regular basis are sometimes thrown into the Ping River in the Tak area.

Nobody really gives a dam.

Last February alone a major assassination of one of the KNU leaders Mr Mahn Sha who was the general secretary of the Karen National Union took place.


It's what happens in The Mae Sot Area.

Twenty years ago the town was like something out of a Mad Max film, a lunatic asylum.

They are still there of course, but they keep somewhat better control of themselves and the situations nowadays.

Attention drawing is never a good thing.




There are some beautiful sunsets though.


Late 1980's it wasn't safe to take a European woman into Mae Sot at night.

In fact you had to be very careful. As it was, I was doing a great deal of research and got to know a lot of people, mercenaries especially.

Mercenaries who didn't really get paid either. They just liked to kill and got a kick from the events they became involved with.


Drinking one night a giant of a guy was shouting his mouth off, (he was occidental) a small guy from Scotland ex forces and working out there, flicked a stiletto open, then, in one movement rammed it up under big boy's bottom jaw in the twinkling of an eye, over and done with, it came out on his cheek with splinters of bone.

He kept hold of the hilt of the weapon, dragged his head down towards his, looked him in the eye and said:-


"Now shut ya f'ing mouth sunshine, I'm having a bevvy!"

That skewer of a blade which entered his bottom jaw must have gone through his tongue, roof of his mouth and cheekbone, such was the force.

Yes, it can be a very dangerous place, but then again, so can Southend on Sea if the right people or the wrong people depending on how you view it, are there.



We always took care to rest up in isolated places.

Occidentals drew attention.

The fact that Burma is ruled by a military Junta , will always create problems for the local people in general of course.

Many think escape to Thailand is the answer.

Or dealing in illicit goods, fake medication, drugs especially methamphetamine, cigarettes, clothes, human beings and more besides.
　
The Moei divides the two countries at this point.

That’s not a problem though, they simply wade across, every now and then police or border Rangers make an issue out of it.

They then usually get shot.

They of course can be the police (as happened last year) or the Burmese.

Again, it's not an issue, nobody gives a dam.



You can see vehicles crossing the border and nobody checks anything.

Not even the tread on the tyres.

You don't need to be Einstein to work out what they are toting either.

In Myawaddi it's possible to watch the Junta's Mafia or the work horses of The Pau's holding the community still at the point of several AK47's whilst pick up loads of cement pass by en rout to the border.

Cement indeed.



But that lucky old sun ain't got nothing to do, but role around heaven all day!










When it's too deep to walk across, they use wagon wheel inner tubes or other creations to cross, some make it, many die trying.

Nobody really gives a toss.




Some of them exist like rats on the banks of the river.



I'll dig a lot more photographs out in due course.

They don't have much in Myawaddi.




Life is very cheap indeed.



We Brits built these pill boxes to defend against invasion, the Japs especially.

Now a family can live inside one.

Some in Mae Sot though live better.



It's not exactly cricket, is it.

[Mathos]

If you take a look at a much better than average village in
Burma you realise the poverty levels which really abound
in the rest of the country especially.




Years ago, and well before The Friendship Bridge was built
between Mae Sot and Myawaddi,
there was a small boat acting as a ferry to take folk
across the river during high water levels.


They only let Thais and Burmese cross though or
Orientals in general.



Occidentals are a nuisance.


We talk about how these poor souls live, and die.





You realise how lucky you really are sometimes.


I spoke to a friend of mine a few hours ago via telephone following PB's post.


Simply asking him what if anything was going on in Mae Sot at present.


Two Karen girls, both teenagers and one of them
eight months pregnant, were dragged from
their homes near Kwee Law Plo.


They were both brutally raped and then murdered by Burmese Soldiers,
earlier this week.




The area is shown above, (Not my photograph)


Again, not my photograph, but this shows a landmine victim being treated.



Great hospital facilities, aren't they.


It'd rip you in two to see some of the goings on out there.

In the past, I have seen children like this, victims of landmines whilst they went out to play.





Nobody really cares though.




You can watch them making potted meat and fish paste in the markets.


They use all sorts of old drums, paint cans, oil drums and anything to serve a purpose.



They must build up a natural immunity to the numerous
germs floating around.


Life is like a light switch out there.



The flies and bugs get first lick.






Looks awful, be very, very careful if you are out there.

Twice, I have been so ill after eating,

I thought I was going to die.

[Mathos]

This is a water delivery truck in Myawaddi.

It's operating in the somewhat affluent area of town.




These poor souls have no idea what a real regular running tap or light switch is.



The Shaolin monks do as good a work as they are entitled to.


They do have a somewhat Spartan existence in Burma.

Most of their knowledge is channeled towards educating the young.



The younger monks are quite interested in Western ways.

But the Junta have spies all over, talk to them too long and you get a visit from the well armed hard men.

I've personally experienced this.



Flobo insists on taking pens and writing pads to the schools.

We always give them a decent donation as well.




It's difficult taking to seeing children like this, no promise of a real future.





Dad knows, they will probably end up just like him.




These guys just seemed to be gouging about in the dirt.



Buddy!

Can you spare a dime.



Not a lot to go home for is there.



Whichever way you look at it.



You've gotta lot of nerve
To say you are my friend!




When I was down
You just stood there grinning.




I wish that for just one day
You could stand inside my shoes

Then you'd know what a drag it is to be you!

We take so much for granted, don't we.

[phuketbound]

Thank you so much, Mathos for the great travelogue and pics.

I read about the two Karen girls that were raped. What a horrific thing that these Karen have to go through. Fleeing their homes, and running to Thai soil, lucky to get to Thailand with all the killing, and rape being done by the soldiers. Some soldiers that are also children to begin with.

I'm betting that most of them are happy to be alive, and away from Burma for the most part?

Where was the pictures of the school taken?

In some of your previous pics, you went into the refugee camps. How was that experience?

[Mathos]

Thank you so much, Mathos for the great travelogue and pics.

I read about the two Karen girls that were raped. What a horrific thing that these Karen have to go through. Fleeing their homes, and running to Thai soil, lucky to get to Thailand with all the killing, and rape being done by the soldiers. Some soldiers that are also children to begin with.

I'm betting that most of them are happy to be alive, and away from Burma for the most part?

Where was the pictures of the school taken?

In some of your previous pics, you went into the refugee camps. How was that experience?

The rapes and murders, whilst horrific to us simply learning about them are basically incidents out there. Those incidents are as common a garden as minor traffic bumps in any city.

There are atrocities going on in those mountains which could not be spoken of on pages such as these.

The photographs of the school was taken in Myawaddi last year, probably February, could possibly have been early March, I'd have to check on my notes, if the actual date is of importance to you.


There is much more to reaching Thai soil than you imagine though for those poor souls.

The problems they face in general leave much to be desired, very much indeed.


You mentioned Umphang in your initial post, there are a couple of different photographs I took which have not been seen, I'll slip them in this evening at different parts of the post.



They are magnificent falls.



All of the land mass you can see behind Flobo is Burma.

The photograph was taken on the top ridge of The Death Highway.


You have previously mentioned the fact that you are a teacher.

Are you qualified via Western Standards?

You may find teaching opportunities in the Mae Sot area, I have no idea, not my forte. I am not sure about teaching in the camps either, I know a few occidentals who do work in the camps.

You certainly could not teach in Burma though.



The better built huts such as these in the foreground of my photograph are usually for workers, charity organisations etc.

Assisting these poor souls in hygiene standards alone is quite a task.

If you look at the photographs carefully you will notice as well as the living accommodation, there are temples and Churches.




The Karen especially favour Christianity quite well.

That's good to know.

It was quite an experience going into the camps.

There are different levels though.

The Pa Dong for instance, (Longnecks or Giraffe Women) are given much better facilities and treatment than the Karen in general.

They are used as a tourist attraction and consequently a manner for the Thai Government to exploit their hardships.

It's a great pity, but a fact of life.

The Thai's make money from the camps holding the Pa Dong.

Tourists are unable to gain access to places such as these.




It can even be quite dangerous to try.

[Mathos]

There is much in the Orient which baffles man.

Certain things have no logical sense in their being or nature, but they work.

So mote it be.

On the Indian side of Burma there is a mountainous region which is home to a tribe of people, The Menashe tribe. The numbers are estimated to be approximately 1.5 million.

Over the centuries they intermarried mainly with Chinese, they look Chinese/Burman, the tribe is steeped with Israeli history.

They practice animal sacrifice which is done in the customary manner of the Ten tribes of Israel.

They practice similar forms of worship and use similar if not identical words as used by the aforementioned tribes of Israel.

Among the tribe of Menashe we can see the custom of animal sacrifice in the same way which had been done among the Ten Tribes of Israel.

They open their prayers with 'Oh God of Menashe'

The representaion being the named tribe of Manasseh, one of The Ten Tribes.

Strange isn't it.

According to the history which they state, they were exiled to Assyria in 722 BCE with other Tribes of Israel. Later, Assyria was conquered by Babylon (607 BCE), which later was conquered by Persia (457 BCE), which later was conquered by Greece of Alexander the Great (331 BCE), when the people of Menasherepresentation were deported from Persia to Afghanistan and other places.

They did possess a Hebrew Scroll which was apparently stolen from them by The Chinese at some point in their history.

They were enslaved by The Chinese and escaped, they lived in caves, the history is very deep, no doubt you can look the same up on this invaluable internet.




You never know who might have looked upon these beautiful waterfalls for instance.

It's all quite amazing what really does go on, on this funny rock we exist on.



It's quite awful to know that people have to exist like this and are meant to be thankful for it.

What's it like you ask.

Look at it and imagine.

No real purpose, filthy, lack of any decent forms of utilities.

The most basic of basic existence and in the rainy season it's worse.
Much worse. Bugs, and all sorts biting and irritating,
rats all over the place, (they eat those though and some of the bugs)
no privacy, clean clothes, well yes you can clean the clothes
safely to a point in the dry season.



Imagine that in full flood.



The camps are all situated on 'No man's land' so to speak.

Virtually touching The Burmese border and simply dropping down the mountain side belonging to Thailand.

Limited and rare features of freedom are granted to certain residents by the Thais.

If the Karen mis-behave, punishment can be very severe.


It's really 'The Mad Hatter's Tea Party' gone terribly wrong:-

Thai security agencies made surprise raids and checks on border based Karen social organizations on Tuesday morning.
Thai police and army started the search operation at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. They searched the houses of some Thai-Burma border based Karen leaders and pro-democracy NGOs.
"They searched 12 places today. But they have not replicated the operation at other places. I think this is their initial step and don't know what will happen next. As far as I know they are focusing on arms and ammunition during their search operation," Khai Mar Kyaw Zaw, editor of Mae Sod based Karen News, told Mizzima.
The rumour of the Thai search operation has been spreading over the last few days but most people did not expect it would happen as early as today. The Thai security agencies came with a detailed list of names, addresses along with photographs.
"We have heard that the Thai authorities would come and search our offices. But they haven't yet come to our office. We won't flee from our offices as we are not into any unlawful activities in Thailand," Hla Henry from Karen Internally Displaced Persons Committee said.
Security has been tightened ever since unknown assassins shot dead Karen leader Pado Mahn Sharlaphan at his residence in Mae Sod.
"I think after Pado Mahn Shar's death the Thai authorities do not want another killing on their soil so that is why they came to our offices and checked valid documents. If we can't produce valid documents to stay in Thailand, they told us that we should not stay here. I think this is the implicit warning given to us for our own security. Then we have to move to other places, we have no other way. This is my view of the current Thai operation," Pado Hla Ngwe, In-charge of KNU Information Department said.
But the people suspect there is some sort of pressure from the Burmese military regime behind the current operation.
"I see this is as pressure exerted on the Thai government by the Burmese regime because these organizations are revolting against the junta while staying on Thai soil. The junta wants the Thai government to expel us from the country. On the other hand, the Thai government does not want to rub the Burmese government the wrong way so it is exerting pressure on us in this way," Khai Mar Kyaw Zaw said.

Try, just try to imagine that little lot on a very vast scale under a couple of feet of water at least in the monsoon season, and all it entails.

[Mathos]

Don't let the sun go down on creation.




As long as the rock keeps spinning we can probably see a day when all of this comes to a full stop.




It's no different than staring at (Joseph) John Merrick.




The symbols of perfection looking at all they can possibly visualise.




There are no doors or locks on her bathroom.



What can I be when I grow up Mummy?

Well mummy just happened to be born in that particular camp,
she has no idea, what there is two miles down the road in any direction.



No, it's not a border crossing either.

It's the entrance to a camp.



Just crossing a rickety old bridge like this one,
at least gives you a sense of liberty.



This is one of the much better sections,
you wouldn't want to spend the whole of your life here surely.



There must be lights burning brighter somewhere!


There must be lights burning brighter somewhere
Got to be birds flying
Higher in a sky more blue
If I can dream of a better land
Where all my brothers walk hand in hand
Tell me why, oh why, oh why cant my dream come true

There must be peace and understanding sometime
Strong winds of promise that will blow away
All the doubt and fear
If I can dream of a warmer sun
Where hope keeps shining on everyone
Tell me why, oh why, oh why wont that sun appear

Were lost in a cloud
With too much rain
Were trapped in a world
Thats troubled with pain
But as long as a man
Has the strength to dream
He can redeem his soul and fly

Deep in my heart theres a trembling question
Still I am sure that the answer gonna come somehow
Out there in the dark, theres a beckoning candle
And while I can think, while I can talk
While I can stand, while I can walk
While I can dream, please let my dream
Come true, right now
Let it come true right now
Oh yeah




It's enough to drive you totally insane, just thinking you were part of it.



Joseph Merrick - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Among them included the song titled "John Merrick Lectures".
In 2006 Buckethead released the album
The Elephant Man's Alarm Clock again referencing Merrick ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Merrick - Cached - Similar


It's possible to find 'rear doors' to some of the camps.


Every picture tells a story.



Flobo has covered a great deal of these mountains with me.

In between the Treks last year when we were out in
the east for about 16 weeks,
we stayed a while in The Mae Sot Hill Resort.



It was reasonable.


Quite a nice pool as well.




About 1,000 baht a night for the two of us inclusive of breakfast.


In the past we have taken refuge so to speak in these bungalows a couple of miles outside of town.



Much better than the old days, I can assure you of that.

I'm smoking as well.

January or February 2007.



Basic but reasonable.

About 500 baht a night for the two of us.



Mind you, we went out one night and were confronted by a pretty angry snake.

C'est la vie.


Then again, what do you read into a purposely broken twig and a puff of smoke at a certain time.



There must be a route somewhere around here.



There is of course.

Whoops!



Almost forgot this one.

If my memory serves me right.

The Falls here at Umphang are actually the 6th largest in the world.


Not a lot of people know that.


Good idea to view these photographs on full screen.

You will get much more out of them.

[phuketbound]

Wow, awesome photos! Those falls are truly a sight to see. How rough was it getting to those falls? You and Flobo are quite the adventurers.

Did you stay at DK hotel that you mentioned in Mae Sot? How was it?

I am a teacher, but I'd be going to work for an NGO. As I have read, there are many NGO organizations around there. Did you get a chance to meet any people from the NGO groups?

[Mathos]

Wow, awesome photos! Those falls are truly a sight to see. How rough was it getting to those falls? You and Flobo are quite the adventurers.

Did you stay at DK hotel that you mentioned in Mae Sot? How was it?

I am a teacher, but I'd be going to work for an NGO. As I have read, there are many NGO organizations around there. Did you get a chance to meet any people from the NGO groups?

There are numerous NGO groups all over Thailand, as in virtually all third world countries.

One of the biggest problems in the Mae Sot area and indeed in other border towns or regions in general is the exploitation of these poor wretched Burmese souls.

The Karen as previously mentioned are in situation with an historical record going back since the end of World War 11 especially.

The Cyclone disaster back last year also caused a mass exodus of survivors, which by the way was far more costly in the number of human lives than was disclosed or admitted via the Junta. The same was apparent following the Tsunami, Burma did not go untouched.

After the cyclone, there were thousands of human bodies, dead animals and all that results with such a disaster lying and rotting, especially in the Irrawaddy Delta.

Many survivors made their way to Mae Sot across country by whatever means they could cadge or pay for via Myawaddi.

The Backpack Health Worker Team, a medical relief group assists greatly in the region (You would need to be super fit and reasonably proficient in the medical sphere to enlist) as do assistants of Doctor Cynthia.

You do not mention the kind of work you would like to do, or are fit enough and knowledgeable enough to carry out.

There are no easy tasks from what I have seen in those areas especially.

NGO's around the world are engaged together to try and stop the trafficking in human beings. When they manage to make a decent in-road they make the adjustments to carry out repatriation, the problem at times though is that some of these mis-guided souls, preferred the life in slavery so to speak and make their way back to it. Consequently it's somewhat difficult to strike gold with the numerous problems and mafia type interference in the overall picture.


You could always contact The Director at Human Trafficking.

Burma is certainly a major source for Human trafficking.

Men, women and children are exploited and basically used as slaves for whatever purpose deemed fit, in Thailand, China, Macau, South Korea, Pakistan and other such countries.

They number several thousand each and every year.




You'd be amazed at the numbers of poor souls coming across these mountains every year, thinking they are going to "The Promised Land."

They are NOT.




There are numerous dirt roads high in the mountains.

You don't need an Oxford education to appreciate the ease of which trafficking in human beings, drugs, illicit or fabrications of other goods are being shipped through either.




When you see the facial looks of total despair on these people at times, men, women and children, it's harrowing, and that's putting it extremely mildly.

Look at the baby.

What in the name of everything holy, is there with regards to a future for that poor child?

There's little or no sensible birth control.



Then again, would you want to spend your whole life in a place like this?

[Mathos]

You mentioned The DK Hotel Mae Sot:-

I have many years back stayed at The DK hotel in Mae Sot, then it was about
80 baht a night.

Pretty basic it was as well.

It's vastly improved now, quite a decent place, Flobo and myself popped in a year and a half back.

How things change in ten or twelve years.


Then again, Flobo and I have lived in the mountains for weeks at a time. We are familiar with difficulties.

That's by choice though.

There are some great memories.



It gets really cold high in the mountains at night.




Makes places like this resemble The Hilton on Park Lane.


You can think some of these places look good.




Think again.



Looking pretty, and being fit for human habitation are two totally different meanings.


We have come back from those mountains in very poor condition indeed at times.

To mention nothing with regards to the bug bites and lice.




These poor souls have to contend with such an existence because there is no way out.

Take a really good look at these next two photographs:-





All that timber, dry and aged.




Imagine a fire.

Terrifying.

They would be fried alive. A fire would no doubt occur in the dry season, the streams are dry, the rivers are low.

Don't even think of things like Fire Engines or professional firemen.

It's not realistic to think that way.



Another dirt road high in the mountains going into Burma.


The same road will be totally washed away when the rains come.

But they will replace it come November or so.



You can get an idea from this River bridge support stanchion, just how high and powerful the monsoon rains can make things up here.

[Mathos]

Had to show this one, it's how they make the entrance to a Pa Dong refugee camp look so nice.




In Burma, a section of town, note the lowland dwellings for the poor and the general state of their homes.



Then of course as you look up the hill, there is a large private residence for the affluent owner, almost on a par with The Temple.

Systematic control.

We all do it.

NB

Electricity and Satellite dishes for the wealthy too.

The electricity to this town is brought in by overhead cables from Thailand.


They switch it off when they have disputes, which occur on a regular basis.

Plays havoc with Premiership Football matches, the contents of the freezers, to say nothing at all about the fans and air conditioning.



Life can be outrageous at times.

[Mathos]

Umphang and The Thi Lo Su Waterfalls.



This is an area map we used in the region.





It was given to me.

Interesting too.

It's a very difficult area to trek though.

Getting to the falls is not that bad.

You can drive most of the way (the highway across the mountains is VERY dangerous though) and then (in the dry season) walk about two, maybe three miles to the actual falls.

Quite pleasant as well.

However, the place is a real hot-bed for snakes.

Giant wasps or hornets as well, plus the usual bugs here and there, plus loads of those giant bees.


We made our own way and hired a pretty decent guide in the area for separate jaunts.

This link has been advised to me as being good, but I have no direct knowledge of the operators.

6 DAYS UMPHANG WATERFALLS & HILL TRIBE CULTURE Private tour (MAQUM6)
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
Klong to enjoy tremendous waterfalls and isolated caves. Umphang is a small town inhabited by perhaps 3000 citizens, primarily Karen, Mon, and Thai. ...
pdf.profilrejser.dk/.../6_Days_Umphang_Waterfall_Hill_Tribe_Culture.pdf - Similar

We found it an extremely wild area, with no signs of development regarding tourism.

This was the office area for the Police Chief and his private airstrip.



This is the runway:-



It had a great official sign on it as well.



You couldn't make stuff like this up.

Could you.



Some beautiful areas though.



We are both glad we did the same though.



However, it was somewhat dangerous from time to time.



If you don't have the adaptability for such treks and hardships.

Stay away.

Both myself and Flobo were there last year, we both realised it was a place we should have tackled in our younger years.

A bit difficult to say the least when you are in your 60's.

Still interesting though.

But relaxing after was much appreciated.




You have ages in life when you do a good trek and start to think about doing another.

After that one, we were both simply glad to be back in civilisation..

C'est la vie.

You realise when you are pushing it.

[phuketbound]

Amazing pictures, and travelogue. You really have done and seen so much. You both sure deserve a break. You must have quite the stories to tell your children and grandchildren.

The poverty is apalling, and I have heard of Dr. Cynthia what they do up there. There are a lot of good folk doing what they can. Not all the NGO's are there to exploit the refugees, that's for sure.

When were you last there? 2007?
I have read that just this month, they opened PB Air from Bangkok to Mae Sot. Did you see the airport in Mae Sot?

[klongmaster]

Mathos & Flobo: In the past I had trouble opening this thread or parts of it...I've just bought a new computer and have revisited the thread and read it from start to finish...not in one session though!...

Certainly makes you think about the inequalities of it all...your effort in uploading the pics and writing the accompanying commentary is most appreciated...

PB Air operates three flights weekly operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between Bangkok and Mae Sot, Tak province. Flight 9Q852 departs Suvarnabhumi Airport at 7am and arrives on Mae Sot's tarmac at 8.30am. The return flight leaves Mae Sot at 9am and lands at Suvarnabhumi at 10.30am. One-way tickets cost Bt2,900.

[Mathos]

Amazing pictures, and travelogue. You really have done and seen so much. You both sure deserve a break. You must have quite the stories to tell your children and grandchildren.

The poverty is apalling, and I have heard of Dr. Cynthia what they do up there. There are a lot of good folk doing what they can. Not all the NGO's are there to exploit the refugees, that's for sure.

When were you last there? 2007?
I have read that just this month, they opened PB Air from Bangkok to Mae Sot. Did you see the airport in Mae Sot?

Yes, I am of the well balanced opinion that there are far more good people on the planet, than there are of the bad.

You asked:-

When were you last there? 2007?

In the above posts I have made several references to last being in Mae Sot last year 2008.

I have seen the airport on the outskirts of Mae Sot, however judging from the photograph Klongmaster has kindly put on in the post following your own, there have been major improvements to the same since we last saw it, which would have been some fifteen months ago.


The air-strip photographs I have shown on the posts above are of course the landing strip at Umphang, not Mae Sot.

With regards having tales to tell, yes we have many.

We have had some amazing experiences and witnessed things that perhaps we should not have seen.

I have done some work on a book I am considering writing, but I'm mixing what we have seen with a fictional character, (travel books are ten a penny) in the hope it might just make a 'seller'.

We will have to wait and see.

Thanks for your interest in our experiences and the thread in general.

Appreciated.



The above map will give you the location points of many camps throughout Thailand.

It is over two years old and I rather think the figures are anything but accurate, there are probably five or six times as many refugees as quoted, at least.

[Loy Toy]

Another wonderful adventure you and Flobo have introduced to us mate.

Thank you again for spending your time and sharing with us!

[Mathos]

Mathos & Flobo: In the past I had trouble opening this thread or parts of it...I've just bought a new computer and have revisited the thread and read it from start to finish...not in one session though!...

Certainly makes you think about the inequalities of it all...your effort in uploading the pics and writing the accompanying commentary is most appreciated...

PB Air operates three flights weekly operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between Bangkok and Mae Sot, Tak province. Flight 9Q852 departs Suvarnabhumi Airport at 7am and arrives on Mae Sot's tarmac at 8.30am. The return flight leaves Mae Sot at 9am and lands at Suvarnabhumi at 10.30am. One-way tickets cost Bt2,900.

I'm glad you have managed to view the photographs at last KM, you have made reference to not having access to the same several times.

Interesting photograph of the air-port at Mae Sot, it looks to have been
re-developed somewhat since we last saw the same, from memory that is.




A couple of interesting photographs here as well.




The Elephant especially is a very majestic creature.

I hate to see them shackled though.

[Mathos]

Another wonderful adventure you and Flobo have introduced to us mate.

Thank you again for spending your time and sharing with us!

Thanks for the appreciation shown LT.

Glad you enjoy the same.

[RPETER65]

Much of Thai history can be traced along the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Today. the Chao Phraya River remains the most important waterway for the people of central Thailand.

Nevertheless, the long route from the Ping watershed in Chiang Mai to the Chao Phraya River and on through Samut Prakan Province to the Gulf of Thailand remaining vital to Thai life.


It passes through 1,085 kilometers of Thai rural and urban countryside.


It carries with it the history and culture of the country.


Bangkok and The Chao Phraya River has changed in many ways over the years, these photographs are from the very late 1980's and maybe 90/91






There must have been some high levels of polution over the years.



The large majority of these residences are long gone from the banks of The Chao Phraya.

Nostalgias creeps in when I look back on the same.






Even The Floating Market has chanhged dramatically now.

Do you have any old pictures from the Ping river, my wife and I live along the Ping river about 35 kilos north of Nakohn Sawan

[Mathos]

RPETER65 asked:-

Do you have any old pictures from the Ping river, my wife and I live along the Ping river about 35 kilos north of Nakohn Sawan

I'm quite sure I have some old hard photographs RP.

They are going to take a bit of finding though.

I won't have time until later on in the year, but I will have a look about October or so.

Give me a reminder if I don't put them on here.

Cheers and thanks for the interest.

[Scottish Gary]

There is a book out called Restless Souls by an Irish Journalist who lives in Mae Sot. The book is actually about the characters who operate on the Thai/Burmese border and he talks a lot about Mae Sot.

[Mathos]

There has been as great deal written about Mae Sot Gary.

Some of the folk who used to frequent the town and surrounding areas wrote mountains of stuff.

They thought, (as I did once upon a time) that relating some of the horrors would help somehow or another.



Sadly.


It doesn't.


Sorry I missed the entry you made on here.
Hadn't looked on the same for a while.

I need to find the time to write up more on my Oriental threads.

[addo]

Mate a fantastic read and excellent photos I really enjoyed them I think I'll have to make my way up there.
Cheers and thanks again.

[Mathos]

^ Thanks Addo, glad you have enjoyed the same.

[Tupelo]

I'd love to meet any bird watcher interesting in a morning or 2 of medium serious bird watching... first week of July when I'm in town. Let me know.

Alternatively, recommend a place and I'll go with someone else.