As I was on a road trip recently, I decided to pass by Dan Singkhon in the border of Thailand and Myanmar. As it was the New Year's celebration for both countries, the border was opened for visitors for four days.
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| Dan Singkhon Pass located in Prachaup Kiri Khan. |
Hopping into a pick-up truck after paying a minimal fee, off I went with a group of Thais. Since the passenger portion was filled up, I was asked to sit in front with the driver thus I was able to take some photographs.
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The main entrance to Myanmar where a check-point
was set-up for immigration purposes. |
The bucolic scenery reminded me of the countryside. The brownish mountains, as it was hot and dry, welcomed us as we traversed the rugged terrains. The dust through the asphalt road were upon us like powder on our faces. This was the first destination, to see the countryside.
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The view along the Tennaserim Mountain was just as refreshing
as the rains of May. |
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| An abundance of palm plantations gave life to the zig-zagging roads. |
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There was a limitation as to how far a distance vehicles
can run through each other's soils. |
As we approached another blockade, it wasn't because of another check-point but it was because a group of people were dancing and dousing each other with water as they celebrate the New Year. I was asked to roll up the window as wetting the inside of the truck wasn't a good idea. The people greeted us with smiles but there was not a single drop of water splashed on us, I mean, to the Thais inside the truck.
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| Oh, uh, water fight! |
Our second destination was this temple, not as ornate as the other temples I had seen so far, but it was different in a sense that it was just a rounded shaped structure with seven almost identical deities representing the days of the week.
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| Stunning from outside! |
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I offered some flowers, a candle and joss sticks to the deity of Sunday,
the day of my birth. |
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| A bell to signal communion, prayer time and other daily activities. |
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| A monk summoned us to gather inside and he blessed us with holy water. |
After some solemn prayers and offerings, we were to go to our third and final destination which was a shopping spree for duty free spirits and cigars. But before we reached the local stores, we passed the same blockade of people and this time, not a single soul was dry.
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You could see in their eyes and faces the joy of celebrating their
New Year in the middle of summer. |
Hoses were everywhere and the Myanmar men were rocking the truck up and down, up and down to the beat of the song they were dancing to. It was chaos and it must be so much fun getting soaked in the heat and I am saying, it must be because I was the only dry soul aside from the driver since I was in front of the truck.
We finally reached the store where two dozens of beer cans were sold for 240 baht only and a bottle of liquor was for a hundred. I was just looking at the commodities wishing they sell chocolates but to no avail. :(
With that disappointment was a great exposure as to how the New Year was celebrated at the neighbouring country. Maybe next year, I might go to the capital city. For now, I wish Thailand and Myanmar a happy new year!
