Our time in Thailand had already been a whirlwind, as we flew straight from Darwin, Australia to Chiang Mai in the midst of Songkran, the New Years celebration known for massive water fights in the street and all around chaos. We wanted a few days to relax before spending a week volunteering at the Elephant Nature Park and had heard that Pai, a town three hours north, was the ideal place to do so.
But first we had to get there. The road to Pai is famously treacherous, with hundreds of hairpin turns that make victims of motorbike drivers and turn those riding in minibuses, as we did, ill. Once we arrived in Pai, I wasn’t sure I would like it. The town has a reputation for being a “hippie town,” but the idea of dreadlocked backpackers getting high all day didn’t sound too appealing. Thankfully, there’s much more to Pai than meets the eye.
Sammi and I checked into a Hakka Guesthouse right off the main street, which was a nice respite from the stifling afternoon heat. Our days in the town became quite a routine, starting with breakfast and a walk around town before spending the hottest part of the day reading inside.
One day we rented a scooter, which is not recommended if you’ve never ridden before. You can’t walk down the street without seeing a Westerner with a bloody bandage covering a gruesome road rash.
There may not be much to “see” in Pai in the traditional sense, but it’s a nice place to relax, shop for local crafts and eat well. You can splurge on a nice hotel room or save money on a shabby bungalow in the forest, as well as eat in the best restaurants or subsist on the plentiful street eats.
Renuka says
Not have been, but would like to! Pai looks like a lovely city! I like that sign-posting pic. :)
Rina says
nice article! But there is a lot to see in and around Pai, the Big White Buddah, waterfalls, the hotsprings, the ‘secret’ hotsprings, jungle treks, the Chinese Village, the Canyon, Fluid (on hot days), and more…maybe next time:) safe travels!
http://www.luckilylost.com/#!motorbiking-the-mae-hon-song-loop/ckdw
Caroline says
Hi Rina,
You’re definitely right! But after lots of sightseeing in the weeks prior, I was glad to do very little in Pai!
Thanks for reading
Caroline