During our tour with Jermsak, we stopped to see The Golden Triangle, which is where the borders of Thailand, Burma, and Laos meet. The area is best known for the opium trade that occurred between these countries but has been mostly eradicated (on the Thai side) due to coordinated efforts between the Thai Royal Family, government, and NGOs. Many former opium farmers have replaced opium fields with coffee! The area got its name because the three countries meet in a triangle and Chinese traders paid for opium with gold. We also stopped for a brief visit at the Opium Museum, which was broken into sections which took us through the history of the opium trade and dangers of addiction.
What a fascinating place and opportunity to learn about the trade that defined it for so long!