North-west from Bangkok, lies Mae Sot, a legal crossing point to Burma, the country from which many of the town’s residents have fled. It is an interesting way between the two similar but vastly different countries. There are also many forest and parks around Mae Sot.

Thick forest and rugged mountains divide Kanchanaburi from parts further north. This is Taksin Maharat National Park, home to elephants and other wildlife, near Mae Sot.

Nearby Nam Nao National Park is where Thais go for the novelty of feeling cold. The name means "cold water'. It was 3 degrees when we stayed.

A songthaew heads to the Burmese border, one of the legal crossing points for farang, between Mae Sot and Myawaddy.

The Burmese presence is very strong, with various ethnic groups living in exile here. Mae Sot is apparently a good place to seek out vintage British motorcycles from the Raj!

You can find some unusual things in the markets. I hope they are destined to be treasured pets, not soup.

Without any real "must see" attractions, most farang rush through town the the border, missing the colour of the town.

It's not just people that cross between the two countries. Plenty of trucks and small time traders cross the bridge over the Moei River.

The ethnic mix of Mae Sot shows up in the cuisine. There is a cooking school which covers, Shan, Karen and Barma food.

Mae Sot's schools put on a show while we were in town. Probably not for our benefit, but I'm not sure what it was all about.

Some types of Thai formal are chakkri, chut Thai, ruean ton, and "siwalai"- a corruption of the English "civilised"!