I took interest in the town of Myawadi located at the border which was the news focus in autumn 2007. This city has been the main gateway for people fleeing the severe repression of the safran revolution by the governement of the union of Myanmar (Burma).

This particular town is separated from Thailand by a river which in only 40 meters wide in places.That’s why many Birmans try to cross it in order to earn a better living in that neighbouring Eldorado.

One can often observe three to six people clinging to some truck’s inner tubes or on boats crossing the river both ways. This is not getting unnoticed by the numerous frontier guards that have a “interest” in ignoring those border crossings. Less visible is the huge cargo traffic transiting every day across the river. It looks like everybody has a great interest  in having a sheer strainer-like border but photographers are not always welcomed.

A thai part of the river bank has been annexed by the Birmans along a footbridge that draws the border line. Illicit street vendors offer their cigarets, viagra and even ecstacy (burman laboratories speciality) under the amused gaze of the frontier guard standing a few meters away.

This report has been for me the opportunity to discover quickly (a bit too much) a part of that poor country where people wear longyi (a kind of unisex skirt) and tanaka (a yellow wood powder) on faces as a beauty product.