Time for Pai?

Setting Off

We set off for Pai at 8.30am as a longer travelling day with a planned stop.

The journey today summed up our trip with lots of steep hills up and down and windy roads. Despite our route, which is basically the Mae Hong Son loop from Chiang Mai, with nearly 2000 bends every now and again there will be a sign warning of sharp curves ahead. This sign could quite easily be every 10 yards.

The roads on this part of the journey are much smoother and without potholes but the drops and hairpins still make it interesting. Our Tuk Tuk lasted the day with no breakdowns just quite a bit of backfiring, another on the convoy had a petrol leak but was fixed quickly.

We visited Nam Lod Cave on our way, this a big set of caves. We only went in the first cave, which we enjoyed. Lots of the stalactites and stalagmites look like different animals which the guides pointed out to us and we could see the similarities.

Burning Down the Undergrowth

Although we don't think it is the official burning season we have seen some fires each day. Our guide suggested the fires are started by people who collect mushrooms which are growing underground, as they believe makes them grow better and also easier to find. The fires have been more interesting than the cloud of smog we'd read about as seen some only just started and others that have been going for a while. We did wonder how the fires didn't catch the electric wires which can be quite low but our guide advised they don't and often cause blackouts! It seems there is a massive operation underway to build tall concrete poles for the wires and cables which we imagine is related to this.

The government is trying to stop the practice of burning and impose fines if people are caught but as it is a countryside thing, not many people are caught.

A Slice of Pai and Other Food

After this we arrive in Pai, definitely the liveliest place we have visited. It's popular with backpackers so us oldies are a bit out of place. Every second shop is a weed shop.

We both had pasta for tea as a break from Thai food, again with our South African friends

The food on this trip has been excellent and in many of the out of town places very cheap. Our lunch with 2 mains and 2 cokes cost just over £3! The only dodgy food we've seen is a bowl of uncooked pork on top of a post in the sun. When we asked about it the guide explained that's how they get it crispy! I continue to stick to chicken and Karen to veggie meals.