Chiang Mai/Pai

Okay....let me think....Can't believe we have only been in Thailand since Saturday. We have done and seen so much. Jeff and I only stayed one night in Chiang Mai then headed further North to Pai. Chiang Mai was a lot bigger then I thought it was going to be. So much smaller then Bangkok but still a substantial city. Our travel agent friend Ronnarong hooked us up with a great place there. Almost too good to be true. We are going to head back there for Jeffs last night in Thailand, that is if Bangkok airport re-opens. Anyways, upon a suggestion we decided to rent a motorcycle and head up to Pai. Well let me rephrase that, I was quite adamant that we take a motorcycle to Pai. Not sure if I regret that desicion or not now.

So here's the story...Jeff and I get a late start renting the motorcycle. All the Thais are looking at us like this is a crazy idea. I think they have over-estimated the time they quoted us to get there (3 hours), so we don't listen to them and take off. This is where the fun begins! Jeff and Tasha trying to get out of Chiang Mai is hilarious and embarrassing. I give Jeff so much credit for actually driving the bike but...we basically stalled everytime we came to a stop. For those of you who are not familiar with the city I will tell you the basic shape of it, a square, probably an easy square. Let me paint you a little picture. Jeff and Tasha on a motorbike, huge travel pack semi-strapped on to the back, another back pack on my back. Hmmm wonder if we look like tourists much. It gets better. I am holding on for dear life while also resting a map of a small square city on Jeff's stomach. Don't forget we are stalling out at every stop. I was scared but could not stop laughing and hiding my face in his back, but I am sure at one point he was probably thinking he was carrying a corpse on his back since I was so stiff with fear. He told me to scream if I saw danger that he could not see but instead I would just pinch his stomach as hard as I could. All I could think of is if we died I would have no one to blame but myself. But don't fret we finally found our way out of the square!

So there we are cruising our way up to Pai...and cruising....and cruising....still cruising. Took us 4 hours and I think I'm underestimating that. Since we left late we ended up in the dark on a cold windy road. Oh did I mention the brakes ended up going out? So there we are on a dark, cold, windy road, and once again fretting for our lives. Brakes ended up kicking back in and we rolled into Pai. Pai is a very charming city. Actually Pai is a very charming city when you can finally find a place to stay late at night. Jeff and I were due for some major naps. Took those, got some food after not eating all day and then slept again.

Today we woke up, ate again, then promotly questioned some other foreigners about their guest houses. Found a better one for way cheaper and took off for the day to see a waterfall, stop and got great coffees (best view included), rode an elephant in the river, and headed home. The bike definitely came in handy today! Tomorrow we are out for more adventures in Pai! I will load pics when we get back to Chiang Mai.

By the way, my biker nickname is "Sloth Baby", and I think we have now managed to stall in front of everyone in Pai, it's kind of our thing.

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