After two night sleeping rough and having early mornings, the last thing I wanted to do after a night in a comfy bed was get up early again. But the golden triangle was calling.
We arrived downstairs just in time for our minibus and set of on our journey. Along the way we stopped at various sights. the first being the hot springs.

The springs we in the middle of a market. So i grabbed a coffee and headed over.Massive jets of water and steam erupted eery few minutes. Sending out a waft of mist and increasing the strong Odour that surrounded the grounds. A mixture of the natural sulphur that heated the geysers and the eggs the local women cooked in the pools to sell.( for those who have seen the labyrinth, think bog of eternal stench).
Happy to board the bus and escape the vile punishment my nasal passages were being subjected too, we made our way to the White temple.
It was beautiful. Pure White inside ad out, one of a kind in Thailand. Surrounded by a most filled with koi, we crossed the bridge to find a second over a sea of statues hands grasping faces torn in anguish. Bringing to mind the river sticks and the souls reaching out for the boatman. Someone had obviously sneaked in at some point and had painted the nail on one hand bright red.(hilarious). A quick look round yet another Market. My third pair of sunglasses in 3 weeks and back on the bus.
When we finally arrived at the golden triangle we boarded a long boat and our Guide gave us a run down of the area and the history.
For those who don't know, the golden triangle is a point In the Mekong where three countries meet. Laos,Thailand an Myanmar(Burma). In the centre of the Mekong of a small Island called no mans land or black gold island. This is where the opium trade started.
Belonging to no country this Island was the perfect place for drug growing and dealing.
The guide explained usually the dock in Laos and you can buy duty free there, but due to gang related gun activity the previous night, they wouldn't be doing that today. Making me slightly nervous as i was due to enter Laos in three days time.
After a quick lunch we were off to the burmese border, yet another Market.( by now you may realise, where ever farang go, there's a Market). And finally we were off to what I thought would be the highlight of my day. The long neck Karon tribe.
The Karon tribe are famous for the ring around the woman's necks. From the age of 5 as they grow more rings are added till their necks are twice the length of normal.
It was horrible. A human zoo
Consisting of young girls in a Market set up in a random field. Where you were expected to pay for photographs and buy there knock off merchandise.
I walked in and walked out just a quickly. It felt wrong. As we were leaving a small two year old child smacked Emma.
We weren't the only ones who felt like that. Two or three others had the sane opinion and waited at the bus for everyone else.
Experiencing different cultures is a great thing. If you can find the real thing.