Borderline

Yesterday we visited the mighty Golden Triangle, at which the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar converge - an area which used to be very unsafe because of the drug smuggling across the borders.

(Ha, I stole that last bit from Wikipedia, you can tell because I don't talk like that - and never use the word 'converge'.)

Sadly, there were no Opium dens on our travels, next to no drug smuggling and certainly no tussles with the Burmese freedom fighters. We did however skip gayly, Rocker and I, over the border into Myanmar (the Country Formerly Known as Burma), where the Government Officials who fingered our passports were very smiley and happily answered all questions regarding their fair country (I didn't ask any, I was too scared, having just been told by our guide that tourists are often swept from the border into the heart of Burma and 'ripped off' after being passed on to 'other parties').

*Gulp*

But it was all fairly jolly and we got a few brand spanking new stamps for the passports. Time spent in Burma (AKA Myanmar): Ten minutes. Cost of getting Visa stamped: 500 Baht (about 7 GBP, 10 USD). Learning experience: Priceless.

After that off we went for a boat ride with our fellow group along the Mekong river and around the actual Golden Triangle, where you can see from the boat where Burma and Laos meet Thailand. Some sort of under the counter behaviour seemed to occur because before we knew it we were coughing up for a 'special' boat trip which carried us over into Laos, where we disembarked the 'Man With The Golden Gun' style boat and stepped off into a whole new world.

Or not. Save the Snake Whiskey being dished out to all who set foot there, this could of been any market place in Thailand. But no matter, at least I can say I visited three countries in one day and not be lying.

On the subject of Snake Whiskey, I flirted briefly with idea of bringing some home for my brother and grandfather but decided against it. As a former snake pet owner I decided it was a little bit too cruel and creepy. So sorry guys, you'll probably get something else, slightly less macabre.

A good day, had by all.