November 28th, 2006
Author: jillyjilly
Pai. A small in town in the northern mountains of Thailand. I wish that I could have seen this town ten years ago before it became completely overrun by tourists. Difficult to find a menu without western food in this area, every other building is a guesthouse, trekking service or restaurant. Prices are quite steep. To enjoy the true beauty of Pai, you need to break out of the town limits, cross the river and explore the mountain areas. Our original intent was to take a trek here, but it’s a bit too cookie cutter and way too overpriced. So, we set out into the hills on our own.
Pai highlights:
The collection of insects and small mouse friend that enjoyed eating Laureen’s apple and soap. Good times sleeping with these little fellows for one night.
Chris, grabbing a bottle of what he thought was “strawberry water”. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never erally witnessed strawberry water before. well, as he was drinking this chalky pink mixture he had me try it bc something didn’t quite taste right. I take on sip and exclaim, “this drink tastes just like peptobismal!” Justine looks at the bottle and calmly sattes, “I think you’re drinking medicine.”Chris refused to believe that this could happen until Justine took note of the medical symbol on the label. Ahhh….
Taking a walk one night and finding that numerous dogs were obsessed with Justine’s ankle. They kept running up to her and hanging around her right ankle. Turns out Justine had a tad bit of poo pretty much all over her leg. As if that wasn’t funny enough… we turned around to walk home, so that she could clean up. It wasn’t until there was more light that I turned to speak to her only to find a nice smudge of poo all over her chin. Wow… does that really happen? If you are Justine it does. (I might add that this is probably the hardest that I have laughed in quite a long while).
Hiking through the hills and stumbling across a small village that welcomed us in, immediately. Before you knew it we were working. Pounding rice. Carrying large bundles to and fro, so that people could continue to work in the heat. It was as though our fee for passing through was to stop and work for a short bit. Surrounded by stacks of rice limbs and men standing in a circle slamming these limbs onto a wooden platform until rice kernals come flying out onto the ground below us. Incredible to see the many steps that one has to go through just to reveal a small grain of rice. The men were quite excited to have us jump right in and work with them. Here we were surrounded by persons of all ages performing hard physical labor and each one of them laughing and smiling. Some of them jumping as high as they could to show us there form, as if we were judges grading them on a scale of 1-10.
Playing in waterfalls with no concept of time. Racing back to our motos that Laureen is driving for the first time. She battled it all… dirt roads, fields, rain, driving through pricker bushes, mountains… motos are a fun way to see your surroundings. Upon driving away from the falls a few children ask me, “waterfall?! waterfall? You see?!”
I reply “yes. Very beautiful.”
They then stick out their hands and try to charge me twenty baht for looking at the land. It gave us all a great chuckle. The flip side, it just goes to show the reality of some of the lifestyles and dramatic differences in economy.
Lastly, I left Pai only to find that I, as well, had stepped in a nice pile of fresh shite. I felt it fling up onto the back of my leg. I smiled and shook my head. “Pai.”
November 17th, 2006
After back from my mother town (maehongson) to get some special scoop i had pass Pai on 6 pm then i think i need to sleep here to get some little relaxing we have get the room on PaveeGuesthouse with 300/night 1 Bed 1 TV it’s ok for us tonight we just need to get the party only for this trip 
Then after take the shower we had walking from our room to visit Mitthai Postcard shop
and then walk back to 7-11 to get some water and then walking to our party many place have been setup here Pai look like Khoasan Rd so i just back to the room with some beer to drinking with my friend and the last we know we can fund without any light and any music
New day coming wake up early with a cup of tea that they serve to us then be4 go to chiang mai we had the breakfast on All about coffee
and take some cool photo here next place after our breakfast we go to Hauy nam dung it my first time to visit here
So beutiful i’m promise my mind i will come back agian with camping after we got fresh brezz then we go to the real life at Chiangmai
next time full trip will coming to you
Enjoy Pai and Love them
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P.S More picture about this trip here
 http://ilovepai.com/gallerry/minitrip/
September 8th, 2006
The journey to Pai was again spectacular and we ventured through some beautiful hill country and it has to be said steep and windy roads but Pai was well worth it! Its a v laidback little town and a bit of a backpackers haven really!
Pai proved to be our first attempt at killing ourselves exercise wise by sensibly hiring mountain bikes in the heat of the day and attempting to ride 8km to a waterfall which was all uphill! You can imagine how enchanted I was! Why do you think I never rode a bike growing up…hills I hate them and it proves how unfit I am (that’s the real reason!) My husband - Mr Stamina - just keeps going while I puff and pant away geting frustrated with the gears (can you believe I’m 27 and have never used a bike with gears before! How embarassing!) Anyway, after stubbing my toe about 6 times and swearing like a good ‘un, we finally reached the waterfall which was lovely and worth the perspiration but was I glad the way back was all downhill! Think I’m going to have to work on the old fitness levels!
In the late afternoon, we went to a nearby elephant camp and went on an amazing trek on the back of an elephant around the Pai countryside and through the river! We timed it just right as it all happened just as the sun was setting - stunning and really peaceful! It could even have been classified as romantic - although I’m sure Paul would disagree! He was too busy taking pictures of the elephants going to the toilet! NICE!
We finished the day having a very chilled out meal in a little restaurant which I think led to the demise of my tummy over the next few days…..
by
dawn_smedley
from http://www.travelpod.com
September 3rd, 2006
Chiangmai Thailand i think every one know this province b4 come to Pai Today i want to suggest you if you planing to visit Chiangmai b4 Pai
Today place i want to show you is “Walking street sunday market” (i translate from Thai’s words lol)
on the Tha-pae Street you will found big walking market in Thailand with a lot of hadicraft artwork also local gift and decorate following on street you will heard music from singer
this walking street market i belive they are longest in Thailand about 2-3 Km to walk but you will not tried you will enjoy on both of your side then you will think 1 day is not enuff for you
This festival is only 1 day/week on Sunday only
many place to visit in Chiangmai b4 go to Pai
sorry if my language are Poor
i’m trying to improve the English for you: Pai ’s Lover
August 8th, 2006
by anni
from:http://anni.whereareyou.net/index.php?intMessageId=35865
SPLASH! and lost of giggles. you just got hit by watergun…or even better, a bucket full of COLD water.
happy happy songkram that is. thai/lao/khmer/buddhist/whatever new year. also known as water festival. year 2549 starts also in pai with celebrations all over the town. tommorrow, hopefully, the last day when everybody goes to the temple in the morning and lits a candle for good luck. and well after that i guess more throwing water.
before ten on my way to yoga class everything is peaceful, but when we get out…by 12….thisit how it looks: people standing in front of their houses at least every second family is on the steet - and as home and shop/restaurant/business is the same house you can work and celebrate same time) , with large bucket of water, smaller ones (or cool waterguns) in their hands. and when ever motobike, car or anyone by foot walks by…they throw water. cars and motos even stop and wait for the water. and well…pick up cars have ten people on the back with the water and they throw it also. many times little girl got cold shower from car without noticing in advance. you walk all day long soaked, until around 6pm it is safe to change for dry clothes and stay dry till next morning.
but i kinda like it. walk with water bottle in my hand and whensomeone throws water i can defend myself (or well…as if it was possible). everybody is walking paint in their face and clothes wet and everybody is smiling and laughing. families and friends are gathering. from the babies to the grannies everybody is with. and all the falangs among them.
well not all. michel, titus, simon and rest of the guys at the guest house tend to stay there till 6, for not to get wet. and well that is also kinda wise. they drive motobikes, and it is not always easy to control the bike when someone throws large bucket water in your face. my new israeli friend yuval (or something) already got to hospital, 2 days before this all carnival thing was supposed to happen. people started slowly slowly but he got hit by loads of water an fell from bike on the way back from waterfalls. now it is 5 days and he still has to go to hospital everyday to change bandages etc. and what i heard 2000 people have been injured already and 200 died or so, all over thailand during these celebrations. hell of a new year this is.
but pai….ohpai ohpai. it is still the haven i remebered. this time at poms guest house. listening to all the dreams he has. having my daily morning coffee in the kitchen, and shake after yoga. and mam is the same crazy yoga lady. and my home hippies monika and alex are coming back…and michel and his wireless internet….and lots of new people.and i got bamboo tattoo….and done some necklaces and took some photographes….and so many things
still… am a bit tired to move around all the time, so i decided i stay here longer. i still dont feel like going finland but my dream about nepal seems like it is not going to happen. the situation there has gone bad bad bad….and am crying for that, and for myself too. but trying to figure out what to do next. maybe india….i’ll find after songkram.
now time for the nightly wonder as it is safe to go around the streets…..
sabai sabai, shanti shanti. my friends
Chris, grabbing a bottle of what he thought was “strawberry water”. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never erally witnessed strawberry water before. well, as he was drinking this chalky pink mixture he had me try it bc something didn’t quite taste right. I take on sip and exclaim, “this drink tastes just like peptobismal!” Justine looks at the bottle and calmly sattes, “I think you’re drinking medicine.”Chris refused to believe that this could happen until Justine took note of the medical symbol on the label. Ahhh….
Taking a walk one night and finding that numerous dogs were obsessed with Justine’s ankle. They kept running up to her and hanging around her right ankle. Turns out Justine had a tad bit of poo pretty much all over her leg. As if that wasn’t funny enough… we turned around to walk home, so that she could clean up. It wasn’t until there was more light that I turned to speak to her only to find a nice smudge of poo all over her chin. Wow… does that really happen? If you are Justine it does. (I might add that this is probably the hardest that I have laughed in quite a long while).
