Of all the 7 places I have stopped by during the journey, Pai is the place that I truly relaxed. The funny thing is I never heard about Pai before let alone included it in my initial travel plan. It was recommended by a fellow traveler I met in Siem Reap. Getting opinion of a place from other traveler is better than relying on a guide book. A town with such a funny name should be fun, right?
Pai is a small town located north of Chiang Mai, on the way to Mae Hong Son. Mae Hong Son is where the long neck women live.
However, I didn’t go there. I only stopped at Pai.
I left Chiang Mai for Pai together with Annie and Monica on a local bus. On the day we went there, most people are already going back to Chiang Mai because the 3-day reggae festival in Pai just finished. At first, I was a bit disappointed because I just missed out on such a happening event. It is not everyday I can see Bob Marley look-alike singing reggae tune in Thailand. However, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it means the place was less crowded, easier to get accommodation, prices were back to normal, less noisy and it turned into a very romantic place.
With all the waterfalls, hot springs, canyon, sunset view over the valley, scenic village roads, romantic restaurants along Pai river and the laid back lifestyle, Pai is the perfect place to be with your love one. The best way to discover Pai was with a motorbike (100 Baht a day). If you are a fitness junkie, you can try bicycle. This is also where I had the best accommodation throughout my journey. The bungalow style room with spacious bathroom reminded me of Bali.
Starry night. I know you can’t see clearly. But trust me, it was really a starry night.
Riverside bungalows covered in morning mist
Reggae music with reggae people
Our “bungalow” room
Welcome to Pai
Mor Paeng Waterfall
To swim or not to swim?
Swim!
We found this sunflower field on the way to Mor Paeng Waterfall
Annie visiting a Chinese village
At waterfall
Tha Pai hot spring
Elephant ride in the village
Such an adorable dog. Asking for chips from us.
Sunset view from Wat Phra That Mae Yen Temple
Dinner beside Pai river
What to do after dinner and have nothing better to do? Try different poses for photograph of course.
Releasing our sky lantern into a starry sky.
Enjoying morning coffee at a roadside cafe.
Sunset at Pai Canyon
Group photo before we part ways. On this journey, we have crossed path and you have left footprints in my heart which I will cherish forever.
After relaxing in Pai for 3 days, I embarked on what turned out to be the most grueling and torturing journey for the whole trip.
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I have a good pair of legs to climb up mountains, a good pair of eyes to see unfamiliar sceneries, a good pair of lungs to dive deep into the ocean, a good pair of ears to listen to musics of faraway land, a good stomach to get adventurous with foreign foods, a good pair of arms to hug those who meant a lot to me and a good back to carry my backpack across countries...
Ben, i like d photoes that you took, u captured so beautifully…
I also found Pai a special place and well worth the bendy road from Chiangmai. We were there for the Wednesday market when the Hill Tribe people came down to buy and sell their produce. We met Geruda, born in US now living in Pai with his wife Lotus. He wrote the Pai Poems and dedicated them to the Thai, farang and hill tribe people who live together in peace and friendship in the Pai community.
Hi Margaret. Thanks for sharing your experience. Do you happen to have the poem and share it here? Thanks again.
hi ben,
nice photo’s there…..I’ve been to pai a few times for the past few years…most of the time during my visit to chiang mai. I love this place so much…and….miss this little town so much! I’ll be back to CM soon….hope i can spare some time and visit pai again.