Tak

"Tak!", Geoffrey exclaimed. "What are we getting off here for?" Dek, Geoffrey's driver, was at the wheel, and Geoffrey didn't like not being in control of where we went.

"To take pictures," was Dek's cool reply.

"Tak... lovely place to go when you want to be bored", grumbled Geoffrey.

We pulled into Tak.

Tak is a small city on the River Ping, the provincial capital of Tak Province, of which Mae Sot is also a part. It's a very quiet town, it seems, but I'm told it's popular in the hot season when people come to play in and relax by the river. It's also known for its old wooden buildings.

Ban Chin Alley is especially famous for its well-preserved wooden houses. Walking down the street feels like stepping back in time. The houses are all over 100-years old, and made of teak in the traditional Thai style.

Tak, being fairly rural and remote, seems very removed from the modernization of Bangkok. The air was fresher and cleaner, and there didn't seem to be anyone around. I wouldn't have minded spending some more time there.

Eventually I headed back to the car, parked outside the provincial government building, which was flying the purple flag in honor of HRH Princess Sirindhorn's upcoming birthday. Geoffrey had stayed with the car to work on his crossword puzzle. At his urging, I took the car out to practice driving the square around the government building. It was a little confusing, because Thailand drives on the opposite side from the United States, but not too bad. Geoffrey suggested that I drive back to Bangkok, but I don't have a Thai license though, and anyway I'm not comfortable driving on the busy streets here yet.