Pai is a small town in Northern Thailand with about 3000 inhabitants Our guide book says it was on the "hippy trail" and is good place to chill out after the hectic partying in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. What the book doesn't say is that every tourist, both foreign and Thai, have read this and head to Pai making this sleepy little town anything but sleepy as it multiplies in size from December until March. Fortunately some locals in the know had warned us about this and advised against going until after the Thai holiday week over the 1st was over as it would be difficult to get a room.
We arrived on a Monday, Jan 5 after a 3 1/2 hour bus ride traveling only 120 km but making 762 turns on a windy mountain road - travel on an empty stomach was recommended. I went in search of accommodations while John stayed with the bags. I found these very basic grass huts along the river that I thought would be just fine. Baan Pai Riverside - simple would be an understatement but they had character and the place had a serene feel to it.
Interestingly it was serene until midnight when the party started and went until 5 or 6 the next morning.
Interestingly it was serene until midnight when the party started and went until 5 or 6 the next morning.
Pai has a reputation as being a good place to start a trek, get a massage and find some good vegan food. I hope to try all 3 so we started by talking with Somsak, the manager and a guide for Pai Nature Treks. We didn't do a trek out of Chiang Mai because they all had too many activities - elephant ride, then trek, hill tribe exhibition and rafting - we just wanted to trek a few days and visit a hill tribe. PNT had just that so we signed up for the 3 day-2 night trek leaving tomorrow.
