Chiang Mai Tours - CHIANG RAI - CHIANGSAEN - GOLDEN TRIANGLE

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CHIANG MAI

TOURS & ACTIVITIES

TOUR CM09

Tours & Activities

cm09

CHIANG RAI - CHIANGSAEN - GOLDEN TRIANGLE
DAILY 7:30 A.M - 7:00 P.M.

The world-famous point where Burma, Laos and Thailand meet

Full-day tour to Chiang Rai by road along picturesque scenic routes.

Pass beautiful mountains and valleys to visit Chiang Saen, the old capital of the Lanna Kingdom.

Visit the Golden Triangle and Mae Sai - which is the top north town in Thailand.

And further to Thai - Burma border line ($5 to Burmese authorities to cross the border).

On the way back visit hill tribe villages and Hot Spring. (Lunch included).

THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE

MAE SAI

SUAN CHARIN RESORT

THE MEO

Also known as the Hmong and numbering around 85,000 in Thailand, the Meo are the second largest group of mountain people here (after the Karen) and account for 15% of all tribesmen here. Possibly originating in Mongolia, they are to be found throughout southern China, in Vietnam and Laos.

The Meo are sub-divided into 'white', 'blue' and 'armband' groups, based on the style of the women's clothing. Confusingly the 'blue', whose womenfolk wear distinctive indigo-dyed pleated skirts with batik designs, are also known as 'black', 'flowery' and 'striped'!

Familty ties are strong in Meo communities, one of the results of the severe persecution they have suffered for generations in China and Laos, forcing them to constantly search for safe locations. Perhaps their extremely strong urge for independence and freedom has stimulated many concerted attempts by authoritarian regimes to drive them out or wipe them out.

The Meo came to world attention in the 60's and 70's due to their fierce resistance against the communist Pathet Lao, with background aid from the USA. Meo groups in Thailand comprise many refugees from Laos and indeed many are still housed in refugee camps

Primarily farmers, they prefer to site their villages at high altitudes (1,000-1,200m) to grow rice, corn and opium. Needlesss to say, they have been the object of much attention by authorities urging them to cultivate other types of cash crop than the infamous poppy. These moves have also caused the Meo to look for different types of income and over the past 15 years or so they have acquired the reputation of being astute traders, often buying produce from other mountain peoples and selling it for healthy profits in the markets of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Their religious beliefs combine worship of ancestors with the spirits of nature and shamanism. They tend to be cautious with strangers, but become friendly and hospitable if their confidence is gained.

Information obtained from:
Window of Chiang Mai, published by the Knowledge Center, 79/1 Kotchasarn Rd, Chiangmai 50100

Adult(s): Child(ren):

Date:
Time:Full day

No pre-payment required with confirmed hotel reservation

Pick-up at airport or hotel included in prices

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