Blogs from Pai, North-West Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 4

We had to leave pai today but we couldn't say goodbye more of a so long because we know we will be back one day. Both brad and I fell in love with pai it's a special place that we will always love. I feel like we found a hidden treasure a hide away not many people will get to go to in their life. The little hippy town was where I think we both really chilled out for the first time. Alex and Matt left after 2 nights so we had 2 nights just the 2 of us and it was so lovely. We chilled by the pool, read, listened to music and was in bed by about 10/11 haha right pair of oldies but it was so needed and now we are on our ... read more

So we are in pai after a very windy sickly bus journey here. It only took just under 3 hours but I definitely think the worst 3 hours since I've been here!!! It's worth it though I've never been anywhere like we are staying it's literally paradise!!! Kerry (mummy Thompson) found a hotel for us but it was fully booked so brad found phu pai art resort and all I can say is WOW the view is out of this world. We look out to mountains and trees everywhere, it's breath takingly beautiful I don't even know if we will want to leave here after 4 nights!! Each couple has their own hut to stay in! Literally like something you see in the magazines or on TV I am still pinching myself that we are here! ... read more

Pai...well...let's just say I can now say "yes" when someone asks me if I have ever been to Pai. It's been many years of people telling me "it's such a special place", or "you will LOVE Pai". When I ask them why it is so important that I need to go there, they say such things as "live music everywhere", "small mountain town", "it's just a special place", or many other phrases about it's wonderfulness without any specific reasons. Just the feeling of the town. After being in Pai for at least a week, here is my impressions of this place. A backpacker haven whose only difference from that of places like Vang Vieng in Laos, Ko Phangnan, or Sihanoukville in Cambodia, is that it is a smaller town, the streets are narrower, and the locals ... read more

And so it was with some melancholy that I said goodbye to my home away from home that is Bangkok, and took the long (but it must be said, very comfortable) 16h overnight train ride up to Northern Thailand. This would be my second time in the region - the first was just over a year ago, barely months into the beginning of my travels, when I entered the country in the north from Myanmar. I'd originally planned on spending time there before I headed down towards Bangkok, but an unexpected visit to the capital by my grandma saw me zooming down by plane to meet her there for the few days she was going to be in town. And with it went my original plans of exploring the much talked-about northern loop of Pai-Mae Hong ... read more

The mini bus drive to Pai took around 3 hours and was up hill and windy most of the way. Arrival in the village of Pai was just in time to check into a guesthouse overlooking the surrounding hills and perfect for watching storms move in and out. We headed out for some lunch but struggled with this, not through shortage of eateries but, as we quickly realised, because most of the village were only just waking up and at 1pm it was breakfast time not lunch time. We opted for an omlette and then spent most of the afternoon wondering what the deal was with this strange quite isolated but popular village. It is obvious that Pai has seen an explosion of tourist activity in just the last few years and shops, cafes and markets ... read more