I Love Teh Lonely Planet
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| "Doi Tung...
travelling after 4pm - when traffic thins out - is not advised except along the main routes. It is not safe to trek in this area without a Thai or hill-tribe guide simply because you could be mistaken for a United STates Drug Enforcement Agency agent (by the drug dealers) or drug dealer (by the Thai army rangers who patrol this area). You may hear gunfire from time to time, which might indicate that the rangers are in pursuit of the Mong Thai Army (MTA) or Karen rebels"
-pg 456, LP guide to Thailand
heh I'll tell you all how it goes 2morrow |
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| scary :S |
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| dan i wanna see those pictures from the crocodile farm!!!!! |
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| best of luck! I think they might mistake you for a drug user if anything... |
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| ooo. i can't wait to go to thailand:)! |
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| yah i cant wait to go back either... my dad is leaving today *cries!!!!!!!!!!* |
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| nimi...im so excited if we go together this summer!!! |
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| kinda like not the best time to go for some tourism dont y'allz think ?!
at that time if u go to Thailand its 2 help out
my 2 cents |
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| most of thailand is untouched |
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| yah its only the islands that are touched.....
and i still want to go t thailand... |
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| me too
my family is going back this month :( |
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| you could go together weeeeeeee! |
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| heard |
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| Had a lil adventure :)
Rented a motorbike from Mae Sai, the northernmost town in Thailand, right on the Burmese border. The roads to the peak of Doi Tung (Doi means mountain) were decent on the way up, and the views were incredible.
On the way down, I tried driving down a steep, more challenging side road in order to visit hill tribe villages along the way, primarily Akha. In one beautiful village called Ban Phahee, I met an english-speaking local who offered me a cup of freshly-roasted coffee, which is the commodity that the village farms and sells. He also mentioned that tomorow is the Akha New Year, which will be celebrated by the killing of a pig and a big feast. Would I like to spend the night in the village, he asked.
I replied that I had to return to Mae Sai to return the motorbike, but that I would try to rent the bike for another day and make it back before nighttime. What followed was a race against time, because I left the village at 5pm, dusk was approaching, and it was a difficult half hour drive back to Mae Sai.
The road down from Ban Phahee was quite dangerous. Paved all the way, but incredible steep and winding, with one blind turn after another. I had to pass a few millitary checkpoints on the way, but was waved through. Apparently since the decline of opium in the area, the army is focusing more on illegal Burmese immigrants.
I was nearly back at Ban Phahee when darkness finally set in, and with no streetlights, I only had the small headlight of my motorbike to guide me. All I could see in front of me was a small circle of light. Before I knew it, I arrived at an Akha village - but it was the wrong one! I had missed the turnoff for Ban Phahee and ended up somewhere further down the slope.
Fortunately, the first family in this Akha village that I encountered was exetremely generous, and invited me to have dinner with them and spend the night. If not for their display of kindness, I would have been in pretty deep shit. The dinner was delicious, and they allowed me to sleep on the only bed while the family slept on blankets on the floor.
About 7pm, when light came out, I was able to make my way to Ban Phahee and take part in the New Year's Feast. I missed the slaughtering of the pig, but got to see it being prepared. I was then invited to sit down and try to stuff as much meat in my stomach (and drink as much super-potent Akha whiskey) as I could. |
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| it is mean of you to have them sleep on the floor |
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| ^^i didnt know till after, dont make assumptions |
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| Damn that sounds like fun. |
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| i love thailand
MY DADDY LEFt *cries* |
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| Are you just going to stay in Siam or visit neighbouring countries? |
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| man,i really hate arizona,its so fuking boring!..so please mtv,pimp my ride!lmao. |
I Love Teh Lonely Planet
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