After a 8 hour overnight bus ride from Bangkok I arrived in Mae Sot. I just checked into my hotel and unpacked. There were 4 security checks along the route today, 2 more than normal. The Thai immigration and police folks are working overtime, checking for drug and human trafficking activity.
The hardest part of the trip for me was lugging my heavy camera bag along with my 59lb donation suitcase.through the streets of Bangkok and through the Northern Bangkok bus terminal "Mochit". Just when I thought I had finally found my bus platform #38 things got worse. A Thai boy showed up with a lit up orange wand (Harry Potter like) then led us all through the running bus clogged streets up and over multiple curbs to another waiting area. 15 minutes later a Thai woman led us over another 4 or 5 curbs to our tour bus, thank goodness my bag had wheels or I would never had made it!
After that things went well. I was given a prime seat on the bus up top in the front allowing me to stretch my legs. Was seated next to a young police recruit and we spoke a bit. On my left was a young gitl from Burma and an older man I do not think he was family (trafficking the young pretty girl?)This poor girl seemed frightened, she had scared eyes especially the multiple times she was asked to show her passport by intimidating men hovering over her in uniform (including the rude bus driver). What will her life be like? Took her photo will post it later.
Will get some sleep and then do an afternoon visit to the dump. Many blogs and updates to follow, stay tuned. Nighty night!
Note* My second donation suitcase is in storage waiting in Bangkok for my next trip to Mae Sot in around 20 days. Hopefully less lugging through the streets with that 50+ pounder.
The hardest part of the trip for me was lugging my heavy camera bag along with my 59lb donation suitcase.through the streets of Bangkok and through the Northern Bangkok bus terminal "Mochit". Just when I thought I had finally found my bus platform #38 things got worse. A Thai boy showed up with a lit up orange wand (Harry Potter like) then led us all through the running bus clogged streets up and over multiple curbs to another waiting area. 15 minutes later a Thai woman led us over another 4 or 5 curbs to our tour bus, thank goodness my bag had wheels or I would never had made it!
After that things went well. I was given a prime seat on the bus up top in the front allowing me to stretch my legs. Was seated next to a young police recruit and we spoke a bit. On my left was a young gitl from Burma and an older man I do not think he was family (trafficking the young pretty girl?)This poor girl seemed frightened, she had scared eyes especially the multiple times she was asked to show her passport by intimidating men hovering over her in uniform (including the rude bus driver). What will her life be like? Took her photo will post it later.
Will get some sleep and then do an afternoon visit to the dump. Many blogs and updates to follow, stay tuned. Nighty night!
Note* My second donation suitcase is in storage waiting in Bangkok for my next trip to Mae Sot in around 20 days. Hopefully less lugging through the streets with that 50+ pounder.
