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The Myanmar’s can easily come into Mae Sot and the Thai border area
and are prevented to move further east by this way. Myanmar or Burma
is also a huge economical factor in the Mae Sot -and other- areas
since a lot of goods are bought here and moved into Myanmar via the
“border trade”.
The usual gem smuggle route is from Myanmar to Mao Sot, down
to Tak and after to
Bangkok and
Chantaburi. From
Cambodia
it usually comes in via Trat Province in Thailand and also to
Chantaburi.
Border trade is also a other expression for smuggling.
On the
Myanmar side towards
Yangon are again plenty of roadblocks where the
guys in the uniform milk the truck driver like cows
However the really
interesting one is to be found in the vicinity of Mae Sot.
The landscape
around Mae Sot is
tropical mountain jungle with small rivers, waterfalls and
caves. The ideal surroundings for hikes, trekking, rafting,
kayaking or simple walk through the national parks.
The entrance fee for foreigner visiting national parks is Baht
200,- , Thai pay officially only Baht 50,- normally however
nothing at all.
Along the road to the south
to Umphang and to the north to
Mae Hong Song are some so
called Mae Sot Karen refugee camp. But this actually are
villages which just look the same like any other normal Thai
village in the area. The fact is that most "Karen Refugee"
in this area live somehow better than the Thai population
since they are taken care of by several welfare groups from
the European Union, some NGO et. they have modern minibuses
to carry the refugees to a clinic at Mae Sot if there is any
problem.
The only difference in the
living of the refugees to the normal Thai in this area is,
the refugees are not allowed to work and also not to leave
the village, except they have a special permission. The EU &
NGO people supply all necessary items and services they need
to live. The Karen refugees live much better here than in
Myanmar and this is the main reason why they left Myanmar,
its not the Myanmar military. The military story was already
over several years ago but is kept boiling by certain Karen
groups to keep the overseas money flowing. I mean I really
wish that the refugees have a better life, but about 80%
what we hear from the media concerning this conflict is
propaganda from certain groups who make money out of this
situation.
The area south of Mae Sot
is a real beautiful one, its almost a must to do the trip to
Umphang in the south to experience a real
Thailand adventure travel
with lush tropical mountain jungle, river rafting and great
waterfalls (see below). Actually at Umphang is the biggest
waterfall in Thailand and
probably whole Asia.
Mae Sot Panorama
 
Mae Sot flower pond
Mae Sot Buddha
 
Pha Woh Shrein Mae Sot
Mae Sot to Um Phang
A short trip into Myanmar over the bridge crossing the Moei
River could be done, but keep in mind that officially
you will exit Thailand and come back on a new entry stamp.
Due to the immigration regulations implemented in late 2006
this can get you lost in Myanmar when the Thai immigration
wont let you in anymore since they do a different day count
now, check the Thai immigration website
for the conditions.
On the Myanmar
side you are allowed only in the area of Myawaddy no way to
go further.
There
is a brisk trading on gem's, jade and other precious stones
going on along the main street in Mae Sot.
Many
trader inspect gems either with the naked eye, by means
of pencil-light torch or lens -picture left-
who make a living as expert to estimate the value of the
precious stones -here some jade pearls-.
See the Mae Sot video.
Gem trade shop to inspect
gems either with the naked eye or by means of pencil-light
torch
 
Mae Sot Lady with jade on street trading Mae Sot girls with jade bangle chains necklace ring
and
bead jewelry
Myanmar people come in -via the border trade regulations-
to Mae Sot and offer their more or less cheap jade items right on the
road or in a empty shop space they rent for a few baht.
Lots of other Myanmar people work in all kind of services
and nightlife places. Since this is very well known to the
Thai authorities they implemented 3 roadblock on the way out
of Mae Sot towards Tak, staffed by military to make sure
there is no illegal crossing into the rest of Thailand.
The Myanmar’s can easily come into Mae Sot and the Thai
border area and are prevented to move further.
Myanmar is also a huge economical factor in this -and
other- areas since a lot of goods are bought here and moved
into Myanmar via the “border trade”. Border trade is also a
other expression for smuggling. On the Myanmar side towards
Yangon are again plenty of roadblocks where the guys in the
uniform milk the truck driver like cows.
Private Lake Khaomao Restaurant Mao Sot |
The Khaomao
Restaurant -left- with a private lake of in Mae Sot is alone worth
a visit there is hardly a more beautiful environment to be
found anywhere a real pleasure dome.
The Mae Sot
Central Hotel also has a very beautiful located
restaurant beside a pond. |
From Mae Sot
to Um Phang
Namtok Pra Charoen National Park Waterfall Mae Sot |
In order to really enjoy the area, one should have a
vehicle, at least a motorbike, however due to the driving
manner of the people here and elsewhere in Thailand a very
dangerous issue, that very often finishes in the
hospital or in the grave since most of the people don't care
about rules on the road.
From Mae Sot a trip to the south
around Umphang is highly recommended the area is really
great. |
Karen Refuge
Village Between Mae Sot and Umphang |
Karen Refuge
Village or Camp Between Mae Sot and
Umphang |
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If you do the trip down south to Umphang you could also
have a look for some refugee camps,
this are mainly Karen
people who fled Myanmar years ago on the advice of their
headman and live there mixed with Thai Karen. It is very
difficult to look through since Karen are around in this
area since ages, they move more or less freely in this
border area.
Karen are so called hill tribes living in the hilly
terrains of North-West Thailand. Karen inhabits the
today Thailand and Myanmar border area since ages, actually
this borders were brought up during by the British during
colonial times. There are approximately 300,000 Karen living
in the hills of Thailand, that includes the Karen refugees
from Myanmar.
The Karen mainly live in bamboo and wooden houses
-see above- raised on stilts, with pigs, cow and chickens as
the main livestock. Agriculture, if any because the terrain
Karen live is not supporting agriculture due to the steep
hills, is growing rice.
Most of Karen people are animists who believe in
supernatural elements and some are Christians . They perform
rituals to nat's, the spirits of land, water and the house.
They also believe that spirits live in rocks, tree, and
mountains. They believe that this guardian spirits help them
in leading harmonious lives.
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