Mae Sot - The Border Town Almost Nobody Visits
Lost in Mae Sot: A First-Timer's Misadventures in Thailand's Border Boomtown Ever heard of Mae Sot? No? Well, you're missing out on one of Thailand's most fascinating border towns! Nestled against the Myanmar border in Tak Province, Mae Sot is like Thailand's wild west. It's a cultural melting pot where Thai, Burmese, Karen, and international NGO workers create a uniquely vibrant atmosphere that's nothing like the Thailand of tourist brochures. But it is more than that. It's also a safe haven for refugees from Myanmar escaping the armed conflict over there. Actually, many Burmese work in local factories to earn a living. The sad truth is that many of them are technically illegal, and so they're often underpaid and don't enjoy benefits such as public health care. However, if you're just passing through as a tourist, you'll hardly see anything of that. Getting There (Or Trying To) Getting to Mae Sot requires commitment and possibly quest...