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Published: June 11th 2007
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How I found about this heavenly spot? ....Yoga has once again lead me to a most beautiful stay. This time it is not in India and called Bangalore but it is Thailand and called Pai. When doing research on internet I found lots of different Yoga places, but most did not seem to catch my senses, it was only when I found the Spa Exotic Home Stay in Pai, way up north in Thailand, situated in the jungle away hustle and bustle.
What convinced me was the combination of new Yoga postures - Thai ones called hermit postures, vegetarian food, a luxury room with a hot tub pumping from a local hot spring, a mineral pool and thai massage. All in all it was different than I thought as I was again the only person taking part in the retreat. On contrary of being boring it lead (as during my dive course) to a more personal contact with the teacher, called Casey and a more in-depth work.
Spa Exotic Home Stay & Yoga The pictures show already how beatiful this place is. Apperrantly a Bangkok women has fulfilled her dream in designing this place. Teak
wood was used as its main building component as it is not eaten by termites. Adding to this earthy feel, she has collected all over the years statues, pictues, figureens and other delicate art just to place it around her spa property. I felt straight away relaxed when I walked in to my bungalow, especially after using my hot tub.
My Yoga teacher Casey, who at the same time is managing the Spa was mostly welcoming and giving me time to relax but offered enough things to do and see in the area to keep my mind interested. Again I happened to be by myself... this must be due to off season. After 3 days an Australian couple joined, which was a nice change.
My daily schedule looked always similar:
8:00 am Yoga session
10:00 am Breakfast (a big one including a fruit shake, fruit platter, pancake, toast etc.)
after I either rested some, went swimming in the mineral pool, sunbathed or took the motorbike to explore the area
4:00 pm Yoga session or Thai or Oil Massage, I actually preferred the Thai massage, it was not as hurting and straneous as
Hot tub
Believe it or not, but I had a hot tub in my little bungalow, with directly pumped water from the local hot springs.... many people like to let me believe. The pressing and pulling of certain point was actually quiet relaxing.
7:00 pm again a sumptious dinner or I went to town by bike eating mango sticky rice, fried chicken with cashews and veggies, hm or the thai soups... I am getting addicted to those.
As you see, no stress, no worries, just pure piece for body and soul.
Ok, enough of making you jeleous 😊. Lets move on...
Pai The town is quiet - but as it is said - a quiet person is hiding many treasures. This applies to Pai too. You just have to be open to rent a motorbike and explore the beautiful surroundings. This way I visited a Chinese Village, trying locally grown tea (semifermented Oolong) in a traditional way of tasting. I was asked to sit down, which I obeyed (a big chinese women manages the business) and was presented with a little cup (tiny) and another thinner cup standing with the top down inside the first cup. I was wondering on how to drink that, so I lifted the top cup up, just to find that the tea quickly
Look outside
when sitting on my bed. The most amazing was though, when standing on my porch to see an elephant around the corner spread into the lower one, offering just two sips of a really nice tea. Hm! Now I can say I am owner of a jasmine tea, rice tea and pure oolong tea. Anyone who wants to try is welcome 😊
Also I visited the local canyon, which I believed to be a small attraction that the locals use for the tourists only. Wow, I was impressed after climbing up a hill a maze of walkways in and around the canyon started to show up. And it was high! On some bits you literally just walked on a bid of sands with a sheer drop on both sides. Also you had to climb to get to the viewpoints, which I happily tested out. Amazing views and amazing heat. After just 30min I decided to drive back due to the heat and my exhausted body. The air that I caught on the scooter afterwards was happily welcomed.
One little insidence, representing how careful you have to be in Asia just to stay healthy happened before I headed back to the town. I got talking to some guys I saw in the Canyon and a cyclist that just had arrived. We
Exotic Spa Home Stay
I think the picture and name says it all. exchanged happy experiences, when the cyclist walked to steps back just to find his head in the roof of the small cover hut we were standing in. Yes, he slit it open. It just happens, without even doing much wrong to it. Luckely the two other guys had a big bag of medicine with them (I thought it was a hospital in there) so we treated his wound and seperated on terms, that he should let it check. - A reminder to be careful or .... how lucky I am that I am small like the Asian people.
However, Pai as town and relaxation point was perfect. I enjoyed rides on the bike watching Elephants, rice fields, temples and the hills in the background. This is one place that I might return to......
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lucy wood
non-member comment
hello
hi, kat, wow this place looks incredible!!! how are you doing? I met up with Ali recently which was great as it's been ages. The stories of your experiences sound wonderful. I'm looking forward to hearing your version. Safe travelling, hopefully see you soon, love lucyxxx