The day was a jumble of free rides and having to get local transport. I quickly got a ride which took me to the next town south. A fair distance. The couple who picked me up were very cute. Ofter a few minutes of riding on the back of their pick-up they insisted I join them in the cab compartment. We enjoyed a light hearted chat about a fairly serious subject: inter marriage - she is Thai and he is a member of a hills tribe. They are happy together.
I then had to take a songthaew for a few kilometres. From where it dropped me I started hitching again. The guy that picked me up was most interesting. He is the Camp Commander of one of the largest refugee camps in Tak province. When I got in the 4x4 I saw a loaded revolver stuck between the passenger seat and the handbrake console. He gave me a look that said "don't touch!" I didn't.
I learned more about the role of Thailand and assisting the refugees from Myanmar. When we arrived at the camp he gave me a cup of coffee (it's cold in the mountains where the camp is) and allowed me to wonder into the camp a short way. I met an interesting dude who could speak perfect English thanks to the schools in the camp.
I think the refugees get a better education in the camps than the average Thai kid gets at a normal national school.
From the camp I "had to" take a songthaew all the way into Umphang. It's then that I met Bruno, a French Swiss visiting one of his boyhood friends in Thailand. We got on like a house on fire. It's really weird but I couldn't stop thinking he is what I'd be like at his age (a little over 60).
At the hostel we checked into we met a Belgian couple. The four of us arranged to go on a three day, two night trek.
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