Train, Tourists (damn I'm one?), and Chiangrai

What's up ya'll?
Sooo I just spent my first full day with Dr. David who works with the hill tribes near Chiang Rai. We (obviously since I'm on the comp) have not gone to the hill tribes yet, just drove to a boarder town near Burma (Myanmar) to pick up some medicine. I'm calling in Burma b/c he is Burmese and left to finish med school in India due to the military government. They are the ones that changed the name to Myanmar, and he assures me that the Burmese ppl do not accept this and when the miltary government is overthrown, the ppl will have it renamed Burma. He has been gone from his country for 21 years and is unable to go back or contact is family b/c they would get in trouble with the government who screens all incoming email, mail, etc. Sad. Makes my homesickness quite pathetic.
I took an overnight train to Chaing Mai and then a bus to Chiang Rai. First of all, I need to say that the ppl in the dang forum about travelling in Thailand are complainers! The bus I rode was like an airplane it was so nice! They served us Oreos, water and I little wipe to cleanse our hands. AND the toilet was totally western (like with a seat), not a bucket like some dummy in the chat room declared (though many of the toilets in Thailand are squat toilets, which means there is rough edges on the side to grip your feet, then you squat and pee, and rinse it down with a few scoops full of water that is sitting nearby. It's not too bad). Hmm... Anyway, I am not worried about taking an overnight bus to Udon Thani in 2 weeks anymore. Yay!
Next to me on the sleeper train were 4 girls from the US and Canada that were on a guided tour (I heard them talking about prices and this one ran at $4000!!) and they were soooo annoying. I hope that Thai ppl don't think of me that way, though I'm sure they do. :-( Ugh. Anyway, one thing in particular that appalled me was that the tour was taking them to see the "long neck Karens" which if you've watched the Discovery Channel at all, it is a tribe that thinks it is beautiful to have really long necks and so the women weld metal ring around their necks as they grow up, so that it stretches out their necks. I can't believe they take tourist to go LOOK at these ppl!! They are like zoo animals! They are ppl! I talked to David about it and he said that they actually moved the tribe from their native place in the jungle-y hills, to within 15 miles of the city, and they are fenced in a small region, and they told them to build all their houses and everything, and then they bring tourist to come and look at them. Hmmph.
Okay so I'm done ranting, and talking about depressing things that none of you prob care about but me, but I still think you should be aware of how NOT to act...and if I ever hear any of you participating in human zoos, you can't come over to my house anymore! ahha, i'm just kidding, didn't you ever say that as a kid? well, it would just make me think less of you, maybe. I don't know, I would probably rationalize your actions in my head somehow but it would give me a lot to think about anyway.
I looove Chiangrai! It is super hot, but it is very green and much more peaceful of a city. I can't wait to go to the hill tribes, and I will let you know how that goes when I get back!
XOXO
(Sorry no pics)