Mae Sai
Mae Sai is the northern-most city of Thailand. A bustling border town with markets that are huge considering the rather small size of the town itself. Located in an agricultural region, it is an excellent place to find fresh produce, mountain grown coffee, as well as taking a quick day trip into Tachileik, on the Myanmar side of the border.
The city is popular with visa runners who cross the border every thirty days to obtain a new one month stamp in their passport. Recent changes to policy on the thirty day stamps that now limit each individual to three such entries in a 180 day period will affect Mae Sai to a degree, although trade with Myanmar is still the main economic force in Mae Sai.
Nearby is the infamous Golden Triangle, several hilltribe settlements, and a growing number of luxury spas catering to both Thai and overseas guests.
Across the bridge in Myanmar (Burma) is Tachileik, a Burmese copy of Mae Sai, with a large, busy market full of bargains, beggers, and some truely odd things for sale. If you need a gun, a fake Playstation, or a white tiget pelt to make a fur coat from this is the place to go. Unfortunately the fake Playstation is about the only thing you will get back across the border. Some things not to bring back into Thailand are pornography, weapons, endangered species furs, playing cards (nasty fine), Burmese women, and of course drugs. Only a real idiot brings drugs into Thailand, or anywhere in Asia for that matter.
Don’t think that you’re smart and will just sneak something cleverly past the friendly man at the Thai border either. It’s not unknown for the sellers to turn in the buyers for a cut of the fine plus their goods returned, or so we’ve heard.