The northernmost town of Thailand, Maesai , thehome to the district of Chiangrai is the border to Myanmar. It is a major border crossing between Thailand and Myanmar. Asian Highway Network AH2 crosses the Maesai river to the town Thachilek in Myanma. It appears to be little more than a large open-air market. It is an area that once the hub of opium production, a trade that had much in fluence on cultural practices and lifestyles.