Getting to know Mae Sot

Today we explored our hometown of Mae Sot. It is well known for being a bustling trade hub and also for its substantial population of Burmese, many of whom are refugees who can not return safely. It is one of the most important gateways to Burma with black-market trade between Myanmar and Thailand bringing in the majority of its income. The town has many western visitors who work and volunteer here and also a simmering tourist trade.

For an even better view, click here.
http://maps.google.co.th/maps?hl=en&q=mae%20sot%20&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Even before we had started exploring, we were tempted by a yummy snack. There is no danger of us going hungry in Mae Sot as there is a huge range of things to eat. We've tried street food, traditional Burmese and Thai food and even Mexican! We are concerned we might not fit on the plane home!!

Bananas with butterscotch sauce - yum!

All week we have come across an array of stray dogs which can be quite upsetting. This dog clearly has an owner who loves it very much and we appreciated its Scottish bow.

Scottie dog

We had a lovely time wandering around the market. There is an amazing array of fun and interesting things to see. The market sells pretty much everything from food stuffs to clothes. We managed to buy a few presents and now our purses feel significantly lighter!

Busy market street


Could you fit anymore on there?

Everywhere we go, we have our teacher's hats on. Were pleased to see that the majority of produce was produced locally. This ties in nicely with our food miles comparison.

A familiar sight


An unfamiliar sight!

We stopped and had a delicious lunch to the great amusement of some teenagers. Little did we know that we were so hilarious! Luckily the owner of the market stall was taking things a bit more seriously.

Preparing beans

Leaving the market we stopped off at Borderline to have a cup of tea and to enjoy the exhibition. Borderline is a rapidly growing collective which supports local women's groups. The money raised supports the goals of community development and women's empowerment. We had a look around the shop which sells beautiful handicrafts made by local artisans. We managed to spend even more money here!

http://www.borderlinecollective.org/

We managed to visit Wat Aranyakyet temple which was stunning. We particularly liked the mirrored effect on the outside which caught the sunlight. There is quite an ethnic mix in Mae Sot with some practicing Buddhism and others Islam and Christianity.

Peace and quiet

It was lovely having time to wander around today and there are lots of sights to see. Some of the sights however are more relaxing than others.

Keeping busy at the weekend


Hold on tight!

We have had a truly lovely time so far in Mae Sot. Its a bustling town that has got something for everyone. Despite being perceived at times in the past as 'unstable', we have felt very safe here. The people are friendly and welcoming and we love Mae Sot's rickety charm.

Typical Mae Sot street