Myanmar Burma from Thailand Aug 2014-044

Natalie and I were in northern Thailand visiting the plush Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort. One of the excursions they offered was a day trip to nearby Myanmar and we couldn’t turn down that trip.

Myanmar Burma from Thailand Aug 2014-001

Anantara can arrange for a certified guide and transportation to take you over the border, which is about a 30-minute drive from the hotel.

Myanmar Burma from Thailand Aug 2014

Once you arrive at the Tachileik border, you will need to get out and walk across.

Myanmar Burma from Thailand Aug 2014-021

To get in, you have to pay for a visa which costs 500 baht ($15) or a crisp $10 bill. I paid double since while I was in the office to get my passport stamped, a middle-aged Australian guy begged our group to “loan” him his entry fee so he could catch up with his party. I’m not sure if I got suckered or not but he seemed legit.

Myanmar Burma from Thailand Aug 2014-010

Once inside, we jumped on trishaws.

Myanmar Burma from Thailand Aug 2014-004
We first cruised to a local market where they sell all kinds of crazy things.

Myanmar Burma from Thailand Aug 2014-016

Then we visited the large and gilded Shwedagon Paya, which is the main pagoda in town.

Myanmar Burma from Thailand Aug 2014-036

The locals were friendly and the women all had thanakha cream painted on their cheeks, which is made from the bark of thanakha trees. According to this New York Times article, they wear it for its sunblock and aesthetic qualities.

Myanmar Burma from Thailand Aug 2014-019

We also stopped off at a village to see how to locals live and then headed back.

Two to three hours is all you really need to get a flavor of Tachileik and a passport stamp.

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