Pairadise

Daniel has a small tobacco tin that he carries around Auckland with him. It has a painted blue background with a little figure on it and the words that read 'Pai is Beautiful'. He's found it serves as a useful converstaion piece at the busy backpackers where he works, drawing comments such as 'oh, so you've been to Pai...' or 'so who is this Pai chick anyways?' A great way to meet people he tells me.

Although I've been to Pai before, in fact, because I've been to Pai before, I wanted to return. I was there at Christmas time when the days are hot and nights are freezing and the morning is covered in mist. I only had one clear day this time but the thunder and lightening and monsoon rain was beautiful just the same. It let up enough for me to wander around and see as much as I could in those few days.

I was lucky enough to be travelling in low tourist (farang) season, and although I did meet a few farang, I had the best time touring the valley with Tutu - one of the Thai girls who works at Villa De Pai where I stayed. She was new to Pai herself and had a rare morning off so we took the opportunity to see the area and do some photography. It was a relief to be on a motorbike after the previous day's bicycle ride that had left me completely exhaused.

Those that experience Pai are very relucant to leave. I met a guy there who'd planned on a few days and had been there 3 weeks and counting. Another for over a year. And although I didn't want to go either, there was much more Thailand exploration to be done. But it can be concluded that I don't need a tobacco tin to know that Pai is beautiful.

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