My slice of Pai....

I was excited to get to Pai having heard how relaxing it is. I left at 4 pm and the bus picking me up was late so we didn't leave Chiang Mai until 4:45. It was a minibus with about 13 people in it. I took a single seat near the door and read for the first little while. It wasn't long before we were in the hills and I started to feel car sick. I put the book away and tried to snooze instead. It didn't work! Luckily we stopped half way and got out so my tummy had a chance to calm down. We found out then that we would be switching vans so we got a new driver. The new guy was great and cracked jokes with us. Someone mentioned that it would be great if he could go slower around the corners, and he did! We arrived a little late to Pai but not sick! I was told to call my Guesthouse when I arrived for a free pick up. It was annoying when no one answered the phone. I waited for at least half an hour before someone picked up. About 20 minutes later my ride showed up. It was a motorbike with a side car like attachment and it was already full of people and bags. I hefted my big bag on top and got on behind the driver on the bike. A short ride later we arrived at our guesthouse. The other 2 girls had also requested single bungalows but when we arrived all they had were 2 singles and an upgraded cabin. However, the upgrade had no working washroom, no blinds (and it was beside the common area) as well as saw dust all over the floor. It was still under construction. After calling the owner and talking to him, as the guy working only spoke Thai, the girls decided to share a hut. And hut it was. An A-frame building with only a bed, a light, and a fan. I wouldn't mind but I was pretty much sleeping outside as the whole bottom where the floor and the roof joined was open, almost enough for a body to fit through. Anyways, I figured I could rough it.......until it started to pour! By this time it was almost 10 and I hadn't had dinner and it was quite a walk to town. Sinead, one of the girls I'd met, and I decided to walk in the rain with our raincoats. By the time we made it to town, over 20 minutes later, we were soaked right through. We found a nice Italian restaurant that was open and covered (most of the places had no roof and were "open air") and ordered some pizza. It didn't take long for the rain to stop but by then I was wet and freezing cold. We found a bar further down with some live acoustic guitar, wifi, and hot tea. Around midnight we dared to find our way back, luckily without the rain this time. That night it rained again. I was so thankful that my hut didn't leak, Sinead and Janelle's did! That morning we went in search of new accommodations with a better roof and nicer bathrooms that weren't outside and that did work. We found just what we wanted down the hill. Cute little cottages with their own bathrooms. We took three! I checked out of the first place and moved in. A short jaunt over the bamboo bridge took us into town where we spent the next several hours exploring. We ate at the Witching Well for lunch and then decided to go for a swim as it was a very hot day. That evening we searched the market and shops, ate delicious Thai food, and ate homemade ice cream...almond coconut for me! That night I fell asleep to the sounds of frogs and crickets orchestrating their summer symphony (one of my favourite childhood farm sounds/memories) and was care free when it rained again.

The next morning Sinead wanted to rent scooters and go exploring, and so did I....but I was little nervous as well. I tried out her bike but wasn't sure if it would stay upright. Not to mention half the people I've seen travelling have scooter scars. I stayed back and thought about renting a pedal bike, though locals warned against it as there are many hills. Then, while I was eating lunch, someone recommended a guy down the road who gave scooter training lessons. I signed up and he drove me to a quiet road on the outskirts of town. Here I spent 45 minutes practicing revving, breaking, corners, stopping and starting on hills, as well as the safety of a scooter. I felt like a pro by the end and went straight to the bike rental shop. I felt so confident and was worry free as I drove out to discover Pai canyon, a waterfall, and a whole bunch of winding roads. After a few hours I began to head back. Not too long later it started to pour, I was luckily inside nice and dry! Until I decided to have dinner. Once again I put on my green rain coat and walked the puddles to main street. As I made my way towards the restaurant I was the only one on the street! I enjoyed a delicious meal and by the time I was done so was the rain. I stopped for an ice cream on my way back, black Indian tea this time (yum). Sinead and Janelle had waited out the storm and so I spent the evening talking to family and researching my future travels while they had a late dinner.

My last day in Pai was upon me so quickly. I woke up early and had breakfast with the girls, who were catching the earlier bus back. Afterwards I took my scooter.....and walked it back to the bike shop.....it was dead! Moments later I was cruising down the back roads on a new scooter. I found a waterfall, monk children playing in a pond, a temple in water, buffalos, funny signs and beautiful views. After a couple of hours I arrived back at the Guesthouse where I got my bag, checked out and drove the bike to the bus stop. Sadly, I returned the bike before having lunch and catching my mini bus. I wasn't so lucky this time and the driver was crazy! The evil look in his eye and the devilish smirk scared me as we spent more time in the wrong lane than in our own. He whipped around hair pin curves and raced over hills. Some guy in the back lost his lunch on the bags, thankfully not mine! At one point the driver passed a car going well over 100 km while cresting a hill......I seriously wasn't sure I was going to live. He was wildly out of control! Someone is watching over me because not only did I survive the trip, the taxi driver drove me to my Guesthouse for free!

I loved Pai. It's an island surrounded by land. Relaxing and quiet; it was just what I needed. I could have spent much more time there but on I go!