Day 4 7th and 8th January 010

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Last night in Chain Mai turned into a double evening.

First part was with a Burmese couple Matt works with, which was interesting seeing the softness off these people very different to Thai, sort of Scottish to English. We talked a lot about the recent history of Burma; were his Father and my Grand Father fought in the same war against the Japenese in 1943/45. Also learnt the recent history about this country.... Britain was there until 1947, logging teak and building railways amongst other things. We created Burma as an administration and forced several ethnic groups together with the Burmese people being one off them. In 1962 there was a militry coup and as I am sure you are aware the military still hold power today. Some of the ethnic groups have sercomb to the Militry but one in particular, the Karen on the east side boardering Thailand, have held out. It is the longest running civil war in the world and shows little sign of stopping, more on that later.

History lesson over back to the evening. Dinner was best Thai Matt style, slap up meal that everybody really enjoyed except me, just not getting this food but beer was fab.

They ran us back to town said our goodnights waved goodbye and dashed back to town. Matthew was taking his good old Dad to the GIRLI district...........WELL as they say seeing is believing. Have no photos but did meet a pal of his and his girl in a bar so stuck on the beers... their good--- The beers!

By now I was starving, so seeing a Macdonalds was just so good, yep had TWO big macs and all the trimmings. FAB.

Friday morning did not feel to good at all but we had to be off to The North West to see Matthews home on the Thai Burma border; place called Mae Sariang .

Drive got better and better as we went deep into the countryside and the mountains, this is an area Westerners hardly get to - real country Thai maybe.

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Photos

Typical loo
A girls deleight,the flusher is a bowl in the water

Road on way to Matt's
The road became windy as we headrd into mountains

Comments

[Olivier KAULEK]

happy New Year
Hi Anthony! I love your way to start the year. Congratulations! I will enjoy following your adventures. Best to you and Matthew (I could not have recognized him since he came home over 10 years ago...) Olivier

[Olivier KAULEK]

happy New Year
Hi Anthony! I love your way to start the year. Congratulations! I will enjoy following your adventures. Best to you and Matthew (I could not have recognized him since he came home over 10 years ago...) Olivier

[Gary Burandt]

Starving
Hey Mate, you're going to starve looking for Big Macs in the outback of Thailand. Try the food, you'll learn to love it. Remember it is not good Thai unless the top of your head sweats. Love the blog and pix. Keep them coming. gb

[Freddye Burandt]

Englishman's Tummy meets Thai food ....Hummmm
I'm probably glad I can't see what Gary wrote about "Girly" bars . . . be careful.

[Nat]

Hi from France
Nice to follow you around ! Send our love to Mat and enjoy your adventure ! xx

[Ant Smee]

Thailand here
Hi Nat Great you are following, lots of adventuers to come. Matt has a bar up here just like The Lemon Tree even have a Thai version of you.. REALLY, but no Thai Mario version. There is a Theo Thai version On the blog enter your email under subscribe and you will get a email every time we file a story Ant and Matt xxxx

[Vicky Smee]

Snowbound Beaconsfield calling!
Great to see and hear what you two boys (!) are getting up to and it sounds such an adventure! We are digging out or in here whichever way you look at it. It seems a million miles away from life here!! Matt please do not lead your father astray, remember he is not as young as he thinks and his heart can't take too many girlie bars!! The beers and the food will be enough of a strain!! Have fun, am enjoying the pics and the updates xx

[Ant Smee]

Having a life changing experiance here, coming at me very fast with Karn leaders, real people living in lower than poverty but so lovly and off to refugee camp. matt has me staying in a bamboo hut and no bed I know. Glad you are in the blog getting reaction from all over the world Never saw agirli was a joke Matt and Ant XXX