After 3 days on the road we have spent the night in Chiang Rai the capital of “The Golden Triangle”.
Upon arrival last night we received good news from the rest of the group that the cars will be cleared today Tuesday and they should get on the road in the afternoon and the plan is to meet us at the Chinese border on the 21st which is only one day late for our crossing.
After leaving the River Kwai area 2 days ago we headed north through vast areas of Sugar cane and Cassava (tapioca) farms and numerous roads stalls with people selling market garden produce. We then cross a range into the Chao Phraya River valley with rice paddies everywhere. It was flat. We finished that day heading over to travel along the Myanmar-Thai border area. Over there the farming was very intense with corn and sugar cane on the sloops and rice paddies built on the flat part of the gully where it was too wet to grow corn and sugar.
The main tourist attraction along the way seems to be caves and waterfalls as all the tourist signs are pointing to cave and waterfalls. It’s only natural when the country side is limestone ranges and mountains with tropical downpours everyday.
That night was spent in a nice little Hotel costing us $15 per room for the night with air conditioning. The weather had been so hot and humid, when we filled with fuel in the afternoon we stood in the 7-eleven store air-con for about 20 mins eating an ice-cream; just as a reprieve from the heat and to rebuild some energy for the rest of the drive.
The morning started yesterday with us following the River that divides Myanmar and Thailand. This road was very winding and rough in place with it taking 3.5 hours to do 120 k’s before we found a nice little road side stall for fried rice and egg for Breakfast. Lunch most days is we share half a bar-b-qued chicken from a roadside vendor and always picking the one that still hot on the fire. 
As we head east toward Chiang Mai we crossed a high mountain range where all the cabbages are grown on the cool mount slopes. Once we reached the valley floor again we were back with the humidity and storms.
We stopped for a rest at a hot spring park where all the tourist soak their weary feet in the Hot spring water and visit the numerous shops surrounding the springs.
I have added photos to the post from the other day when I had technical issues.