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Published: January 28th 2014
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View from my cottage
Rice Paddy Fields, Palm Trees, Crickets, Frogs, and Pond Skaters So tonight marks the last night of my time in Pai. Its been the most idyllic, peaceful, and relaxing place of my journey so far. Its the only place that I don't want to leave however I have done my stint here and seen everything there is to see so time to move on. I am going to miss this place a lot! Anyway, i'll back date a few days...
Sunday 26th at 9am I checked out of "Wait For It Guest House" in Chiang Mai. A mini bus came to collect me at 9.30am and we set off on the road to Pai. It was only a 10 seater and we had to pick a few people up around Chiang Mai and within two stops we were full. We headed off to Pai, on the same round that I had attempted, earlier in the week, to conquest on the moped. One thing became apparent pretty quick and that was the distance that I had ridden on the geewizz moped..... It was miles!! As the journey progressed the roads became ever so slow and steep due to the mountains. Two hours in and we are still going up and down
mountain roads. The scenery was epic to start with but once you've seen one mountain/rain forest view they all pretty much start to look the same. The minibus was in 1st and 2nd gear all the way through the mountains so it was slow and bumpy but then I saw a sign saying "Pai 5km" And I was soooo happy. I couldn't wait to get out that minibus! The worst thing is, I have to do it all again tomorrow on the way back as it is pretty much the only way in and out of Pai.
When I got here I was a little baffled as everywhere classes this place as a city.... Its as much of a city as Wroughton is.... Anyway, there were no tuk tuks or taxis to been seen and it soon became apparent that you have to rent a moped to get anywhere in this place. I only found this out once I had found, paid for and got to my complex in a taxi. The Thai lady said "We have no car... You need bike" So the taxi driver took me back to town where I rented a 125cc Honda with gears...
"YEEEAAH" No more moped, now I'm on a real bike haha... Once I got it I went and got some food, checked out the "city" and came back to the cottage and chilled out. I was a little scared on the first night because of so how remote this place is. Its just a constant noise of Crickets and Frogs and Birds which is great but daunting too when your not use to it. I slept with my knife under my pillow that night. The nights and mornings are cold here. The days are 30-33 degrees and the nights are about 10-17 degrees. Sun comes out at 9.30 and burns off all the mist and goes down at 6.30 but to be fair, its so intense during the day that a short day of sun like that is perfect...
Monday 27th I decided I would get up early and head out on the bike but that didn't happen. I didn't wake up until 10am so I missed breakfast. Luckily I had some munch in the fridge which I chowed on. Headed out on the bike to Mae Song Water Fall. Wasn't the greatest but still nice and still quite
steep. I was there for about 45 minutes, hopped back on the "Ducatti" and went to find Pai Canyone. On the way there I stopped at a bridge that was built by the Japanese army in World War 2. Nothing special, just another army bridge similar to the ones I grew up around in Upavon on the tank crossings... Left there and went to the Canyone. Yet again my fear of heights was confirmed. At the top of the Canyone you could walk out onto ledges to get a better view but the walk ways to them were so thin and every time I tried to go across "My Minds Telling Me No"..... "And my body" was saying the same (#RKelly) lol It was tooooo scary for my liking so I thought I would play it safe and get my selfie from a safe point. From there I went to the natural hot springs. One of the springs was so hot that it felt like I had put my toes into a cup of tea.. I didn't stay long as it was soo rammed with Chinese doing poses for camera pics... I thought I was bad but you ain't seen
nothing until you see these! I left the springs and went to a Stone Forest.. Yep, that's all it was, loads of big stones that had rolled down a mountain and spread out across a field. I was there for a little while though as there were people riding elephants so I watched that for a bit. Left there and went to two temples. Didn't get any photos as they were pretty much the same as all the other temples I have been to. After there I went and checked out and outdoor pool and relaxation area.. It was far from relaxing though, was like a 18-30's pool party. While I'm only 31, I can't handle that anymore so I jogged on from there. By this time I was nearly back in Pai so I went and grabbed some munch, grabbed some beers (Couldn't buy any until today really due to the elections in Bangkok) and came back to the cottage and attempted to write this but then my internet dropped out and didn't save none of it so I thought sod it, I'll do it tomorrow.
Today, Tuesday 28th, I got up early and went for breakfast at
Clearly me at the Water fall edge
So glad I bought a little Tripod with me lol the front of the complex. The butter for the toast was made from what I can only describe as sugar cane.... It was gross. They cooked the sausages in this too so they were also gross. I had been craving a cup of tea for ages so this morning I had 5, and one more this afternoon just to satisfy my requirements. I headed out on the bike after that to a different "Public Pool" which wasn't in the centre of Pai and I am so glad I did. I was the first one there and only 2 other people came during the whole day so I had a 25 metre pool and the whole sun deck to myself (near enough)... Got a good tan today but also got a mega sore sunburnt nose!! Earlier I went out and grabbed some food. I had Chicken Tom Yum. It wasn't YUM at all and the fact that the portion was so large that it came in a glass triffle bowl put me off. Anyway, I ate it and people watched. One thing is for certain, Chinese people cannot ride motorbikes AAATTTT AALL!
So that brings you and me up to
date. Tomorrow I leave here at 9am. I get back to Chiang Mai at 12. I then catch another bus at 1pm to take me to Chiang Rai which gets me there at 4pm so tomorrow is going to be a day of travel... Great, can't wait for that one!
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