We took a tuk tuk to the border, just to see what it was like up close, even though the bridge connecting Thailand and Myanmar has been closed since the Thai election. There is a market running along the river, mostly containing counterfeit electronics and Buddha statues, but the market was dead and the salespeople apathetic.
We walked along the narrow Moei River, and watched the people and cars move around the streets of Myawaddy in Burma on the opposite bank.
But the town had a creepy vibe, and we all got really cranky as soon as we got there–all 3 of us just wanted to leave. I was glad we went though–it was a palpable reminder of where we were.
Sam got disgusted with me every time I took a photo of a child and gave me a speech about child exploitation. It’s not that he wasn’t (sometimes) right, but I’m a sucker for a cute face, and was usually clicking away before I gave it much thought. (Now I give it a lot more thought before I take out my camera.) I gave this little girl my bracelet. Sam was really fed up with me after that.
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