Anyone who goes to Chiang Mai typically makes it 150km northwest to Pai as well. The journey was just over three hours, two of which were filled with 762 curves. Here's a piece of the route:
It wasn't as bad as expected; the worst part was the sound of three others in the van getting sick...that's not uncommon and the driver was well prepared with car sick bags. Thankfully my stomach did fine.
There were non-stop scenic views along the way; this ranks up there with driving Big Sur, Copper Harbor, and Texas Hill Country.
The guesthouse I found was situated a few blocks off of the main drag, on the river with views of the foothills where cattle grazed. It's an open air bungalow with no AC, mosquito nets, and hammocks on the shaded deck. It's quiet here with just a few other guests from America, Germany, Austria, Australia, England. All for just $3.14. That's right, a night in Pai for $pi.
Pai is a much sleepier town than Chiang Mai with lots of backpackers, tons of guesthouses, and killer views. It's small enough that you meet people on the bus who you recognize at the night market, bump into at a waterfall, and share a drink with over live music at night.
The night market was a bit of a change...there was Thai food, but lots of western food too for all the westerners that live and visit here: lasagna, pizza, fried chicken, etc. I tried a Burmese salad which was excellent. Also-a dreadlocks accessory and repair stand, as there's a decent customer base in town.
A smaller town means Pai is a reasonable place to rent a motorbike/scooter. A friend said doing so "is freedom," and I couldn't explain it better. Freedom from tuk tuk's and walking everywhere and not being able to see something because it's a little out of the way. Nothing beats driving out of town, stopping to take in the views, and visiting a roadside stand for fresh lychee fruit. Just outside of this small mountain town are lots of great adventures:
In 2008, a farmer's land unexpectedly split from an earthquake, rendering it useless for farming. He opened The Land Split up to visitors, where you can hike through the small canyon that was created.
After a short hike through it, you are served fresh goodies from their garden on a donation basis: peanuts, potatoes, papaya, banana chips with roselle jam, banana, tamarind, roselle juice and wine. We sat and enjoyed them among the trees they were picked from.
There are a number of waterfalls around Pai, accessible by hiking or scooter. The highlight may have been a 7km (each way) hike through the woods which was rewarded with a three-tiered refreshing, secluded waterfall.
Pai Canyon exceeded all expectations. A mini-Grand Canyon in some ways, you hike along an impressive ridge with incredible views down into the canyon with farmland and mountains in the distance.
Some farmers built a bamboo walking bridge 10ft above the ground, allowing visitors to wander through rice terraces to the sound of cowbells in the distance. We got there as water buffalo were passing through to feed.
One of the best ways to wind down a day of adventure was taking in the mountains from a hammock as the sun wet down, watching a storm roll in, grabbing dinner at the night market, and listening to talent from all across the world at an open mic night under the full moon. I like it here, but it's time to move on.
It wasn't as bad as expected; the worst part was the sound of three others in the van getting sick...that's not uncommon and the driver was well prepared with car sick bags. Thankfully my stomach did fine.
There were non-stop scenic views along the way; this ranks up there with driving Big Sur, Copper Harbor, and Texas Hill Country.
The guesthouse I found was situated a few blocks off of the main drag, on the river with views of the foothills where cattle grazed. It's an open air bungalow with no AC, mosquito nets, and hammocks on the shaded deck. It's quiet here with just a few other guests from America, Germany, Austria, Australia, England. All for just $3.14. That's right, a night in Pai for $pi.
Pai is a much sleepier town than Chiang Mai with lots of backpackers, tons of guesthouses, and killer views. It's small enough that you meet people on the bus who you recognize at the night market, bump into at a waterfall, and share a drink with over live music at night.
The night market was a bit of a change...there was Thai food, but lots of western food too for all the westerners that live and visit here: lasagna, pizza, fried chicken, etc. I tried a Burmese salad which was excellent. Also-a dreadlocks accessory and repair stand, as there's a decent customer base in town.
A smaller town means Pai is a reasonable place to rent a motorbike/scooter. A friend said doing so "is freedom," and I couldn't explain it better. Freedom from tuk tuk's and walking everywhere and not being able to see something because it's a little out of the way. Nothing beats driving out of town, stopping to take in the views, and visiting a roadside stand for fresh lychee fruit. Just outside of this small mountain town are lots of great adventures:
In 2008, a farmer's land unexpectedly split from an earthquake, rendering it useless for farming. He opened The Land Split up to visitors, where you can hike through the small canyon that was created.
After a short hike through it, you are served fresh goodies from their garden on a donation basis: peanuts, potatoes, papaya, banana chips with roselle jam, banana, tamarind, roselle juice and wine. We sat and enjoyed them among the trees they were picked from.
There are a number of waterfalls around Pai, accessible by hiking or scooter. The highlight may have been a 7km (each way) hike through the woods which was rewarded with a three-tiered refreshing, secluded waterfall.
Pai Canyon exceeded all expectations. A mini-Grand Canyon in some ways, you hike along an impressive ridge with incredible views down into the canyon with farmland and mountains in the distance.
Some farmers built a bamboo walking bridge 10ft above the ground, allowing visitors to wander through rice terraces to the sound of cowbells in the distance. We got there as water buffalo were passing through to feed.
One of the best ways to wind down a day of adventure was taking in the mountains from a hammock as the sun wet down, watching a storm roll in, grabbing dinner at the night market, and listening to talent from all across the world at an open mic night under the full moon. I like it here, but it's time to move on.