I arrived in Pai and fell in LOVE. A small town located in northern Thailand, Pai is a laid-back town buzzing with romance and eclectic energy. Funky coffee shops and bars line the road, each with unique decor and colorful murals and paintings thrown on the walls. Lights and lanterns light up the street each evening, casting a colorful glow on the people below. Food vendors sell corn-on-the-cob, Roti (an Indian-style crepe), Thai iced-tea and smoothies, fried bananas on a skewer, black sticky rice with sesame seeds and traditional Thai cuisine. Shops also line the main road, spilling onto the sidewalks each evening. The owner sits quietly in the back reading or knitting while tourists browse the colorful array of t-shirts and skirts, cloth sandals, woven hats, beaded jewelery, journals and note cards, purses and bags. Music pumps from the each restaurant - jazz, hip-hop, Latin - filling the air with a blend of sounds and melodies. The vibe is relaxed, yet the main road bustles with opportunities for any visitors - bamboo-rafting, motorbikes and bicycles, spas, elephant treks, yoga and meditation retreats, a trip to the local hot springs.
After meeting a new friend over Coconut Curry one evening, the two of us set out to explore Pai by motorbike. Upon receiving instruction and passing a drive-test on the back roads of Pai, we were deemed ready for the road! A little more than one day and 170 kilometers later, we had explored the surrounds of Pai extensively - beautiful mountain roads winding to the summit and back, locals working in the terraced landscape and fields, a walk along the WWII Memorial Bridge, an elephant camp and the opportunity to watch the giant animals eat and drink, several cascading waterfalls with locals lounging about, untouched hill tribes off in the distance along with the chance to play and laugh with some local children, and a handful of brightly colored temples scattered around town.
