Tachileik

Tachileik is in Shan State, Eastern Myanmar, on the border with Thailand. Understand Although just 5m across the river from Mae Sai, the most northern town in Thailand, Tachileik is in a whole different world. The happy outgoing atmosphere that you have been used to in 'the land of smiles' in Thailand evaporates instantly and is replaced by a slightly uptight one. This is not to say that the Burmese people are not welcoming, indeed they love tourists and are very keen to sit down and talk (when they think they are not being watched), but do not expect to feel at ease here, and do not be surprised if you are followed by government people throughout the town. As long as your purposes are legitimate, you follow local rules and customs and you don't go around making a spectacle of yourself, you will have a great time in Tachileik and the boarder area of Burma. The town is a typical border trading town with a twist. The majority of people crossing over to Myanmar are Thais shopping for bootlegged Chinese goods in the market. Alternatively some Thais cross to play golf on the only course in the region so expect to see the very surreal site of large groups of people crossing the border carrying a set of clubs. There is also a small casino in Tachileik catering even to 'low' rollers. You may even find a 10 baht roulette table. If you are expecting to see 'the real Myanmar' this is not the place to do it. If you are 'Stamp collecting' in your passport, want to see something a bit more visceral than what you find in Thailand or are at a loose end in Chiang Rai for the day then this is a good place to go. The great thing about visiting here is the ease of entry to the border area, getting another stamp in your passport and getting a flavour of life in Myanmar. Get in From Thailand It is possible to enter Myanmar at the Mae Sai border post. A 14 day visa is US$10 or 500 Baht. Note, if your US$10 is not in pristine condition, the authorities will not accept it. They really want 500 Baht instead since it is worth US$16. The visa is only good for the Tachilek-Kengtung area and is not valid for travel to other parts of Myanmar. Be warned that the Myanmar Immigration authorities will hold on to your passport for the duration of your stay in the country giving you an entry permit instead. You will get your passport back on crossing back over to Thailand. Holders of a normal one-month Myanmar visa cannot use it to enter at Mae Sai. Be sure that you have the appropriate travel documents to re-enter Thailand at Mae Sai, you will only be able to get a 15 day entry pass into Thailand rather than the usual 30 day one that you get at the airport. If you have an actual visa and want to keep it, remember to get a re-entry permit in advance. In case you are a Thai citizen, you can make a temporary border pass at the Immigration office about 2KM before the border on Pahonyotin Rd in Mae Sai for 30 baht. All you need is your bat prachachon (ID card). By air Air Bagan and Yangon Airways fly to Heho via Kengtung daily. Air Mandalay offers a non-stop flight to Mandalay. All have connecting or continuing service to Yangon and other parts of Myanmar. By road Shared taxis (US$12) and buses (US$8) run to Kengtung (4-5 hrs) in the mornings. A permit is necessary but bus and taxi drivers can make the arrangements (don't show up at the last minute). Onward travel from Kengtung to Mong La on the Chinese border is possible with permission from Myanmar immigration, easily organized in Kengtung. Get around Tachilek is small and there are plenty of trishaws for hire. Motorcycle taxis and car taxis are also available. The bus station and airport are outside town on the road to Kengtung. Take a pickup or hire a taxi to get there. See Shwedagon Paya. The main pagoda in town, it is large and gilded. Not to be confused with its namesake in Yangon! Market. The local market, populated by vendors from villages near and far, is worth a visit. The market closes in mid-morning, so go early. A second market caters to day tourists from Thailand. Do Try your luck at the Regina casino, a short 100 baht tuk tuk ride from the border.They're the same people who own the golf course. Definitely for low rollers, you can play roulette with 10 baht chips. They've also got black jack, craps and gaming machines. If you change 2,000 baht into chips you get a free Thai lunch. You can change left over chips back again afterwards. A casino minibus will take you back to the border. If you go in a group, you may want to try in the meeting centre in British Columbia International School Tachileik, located in the southwest of the city, you will have to rent the meeting room, there will be a melody played at around 3 pm, it's not to stop the meeting but it is used everyday for the school. In the meeting room, you will see an opened cupboard and lots of arts designs on the wall. The meeting can be between 10:00-18:00. Unofficial meetings from Thailand are usually held here. Buy Tachileik market is much like any market you would find on the Thai side of the border except that it sells a large quantity of items that would get you into a good deal of trouble with your customs authority back home. You can find all the latest DVDs at prices ranging from 40 Baht. As long as you don't go mad with the quantity you should have no problems getting them back into Thailand, as for taking them back home, that depends on your countries customs policies. Expect, occasionally to see wildlife, endangered animal pelts and skulls, though these are rarely seen in the main part of the market. Local handicrafts range from kitsch to genuine Shan clothing. Knocked off prescription drugs (in particular Viagra) and X rated films are carried around by very annoying, but licensed hawkers. Knives and guns are freely available. Do not buy cigarettes as they are usually Burmese knock offs put into western branded packages and will likely get you into trouble with the Thai Customs when you try and return into Thailand. (also, they taste *terrible*) Be wary that if you do intend to shop here the Thai customs authority screen every bag returning to Thailand and do not take kindly to many of the things sold in the market.This applies mainly to returning Thais however, foreigners' bags are hardly ever screened as long as the bearer looks presentable. Eat Cook Thao Restaurant (ร้านอาหาร กุ๊กเต๋า), No. 6/20 4 Mekhong St. - Tachileik, Myanmar (East on NH4 from boarder, right on second soi past Mekhong River Hotel & Casino), ☎ +66 (0)85 721 5286, [1]. M-Su 10:00am – 11:00pm. Open air Thai Style with private salas available. Thai cuisine with a touch of Burma and China. Great food, friendly, clean. Staff speaks enough English, owner speaks very well. Great place for good food and relaxed friendly atmosphere. 30฿ - 250฿.  edit Drink Sleep Most tourists to Tachilek pop across the border from Thailand for a night and there are many hotels in town. Prices are usually quoted in Baht but dollars are welcome. Budget Dream Flower Hotel, ☎ +95 84 51318, + 66 814737904. Recently renovated, the hotel is nice, neat, quiet and tidy, albeit in a concrete building.  edit Allure resort and casino, Baydar Street, Tachilek, [2]. Luxury hotel and casino aimed at a Thai clientele. 3000-30000 baht.  edit Get out Mae Sai in Thailand. Note that, since 2006, a permit is necessary to exit Myanmar at the Mae Sai border. The permit must be obtained in advance from the MTT offices in Yangon. This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!