Pai: Thailand’S Mount Backpacker Paradise (Or Hell?)
I didn’t similar Pai. Wait. Check that — I liked Pai, I exactly didn’t love Pai. For years, travelers accept told me how much they loved Pai. “It’s aaaaa-mazing! It’s hence much fun. There’s salubrious food, incredible drinks, as well as beautiful mountains. You’ll never desire to leave,” they would explain, every bit if talking close the Garden of Eden.
When I started traveling this region inward 2006, I rarely heard the shout out Pai mentioned. It was far off the beaten path, as well as dorsum hence I was all close staying on the beaten path. Over the years, Pai grew inward fame every bit a goal where people smoked weed, drank, hiked, as well as did yoga. Having never been to Pai, I decided on this trip that it was fourth dimension to lastly banking corporation represent out what all the fuss was about.
Driving through northern Thailand into the mountains, my autobus twisted as well as turned. The route to Pai has over 700 turns, but I barely noticed them every bit I stared out the window at the densely covered hills rolling similar waves into the horizon. It was light-green every bit far every bit I could see, as well as I was over again struck past times the beauty of the Thai countryside. We drove on for hours every bit our autobus driver auditioned for an unseen F1 judge. But the heart-stopping speed was worth it to ane time over again reckon such beautiful tropical forests.
As I explored town afterward that day, I understood why backpackers dearest Pai, why they write hence effusively close it as well as accentuate the globe dearest when they shout out it. Nestled inward the mountains as well as surrounded past times waterfalls as well as wondrous hiking trails, Pai is a tiny town where life moves at a measuring that would frustrate fifty-fifty the most laid-back Spaniard. It’s also a Western paradise: there’s organic food, wheatgrass shots, specialty teas, as well as Western nutrient inward shops lining the streets of the town. Additionally, drinks as well as accommodations are cheap, as well as the political party goes late.
It is a backpacker’s mount paradise.
But it was oft exactly those things that turned me off to Pai. The town is only likewise touristy as well as culturally washed over for me. I’m non ane to abhor the tourist trail — I’m writing this inward a Western café inward Luang Prabang, Lao People's Democratic Republic spell having a lemonade. But when people seek out imported food, potable beers from Belgium, as well as when the street nutrient consists of burgers, bruschetta, as well as lasagna, I mean value things accept gone likewise far.
Thailand itself seems to accept gotten lost inward Pai every bit waves upon waves of Westerners as well as Chinese tourists reshape most of town. One had to wander to discovery Thai restaurants that catered to the local population. (They were delicious as well as cheaper than the nutrient flora at the “market” on Walking Street.)
Of course, Pai is non all bad — there’s enough to reckon as well as do. From town, you lot tin sack hike to waterfalls, wander through farms as well as rice terraces where the exclusively sounds are the birds as well as farm animals, as well as cycle to caves as well as to a greater extent than waterfalls.
I particularly loved the 24-hour interval trip to the Tham Lod caves. In mid-afternoon, you’re driven past times ane of the many tour operators (don’t worry which, they all choke the same way) to Mo Paeng waterfall, where you lot tin sack choke for a swim, as well as hence to Sai Ngam (secret) hot springs, a viewpoint, as well as lastly the caves, where you lot brand it correct earlier sunset. After a hike along a brusque path, a Thai guide leads you lot through iii large chambers earlier you lot board a raft to float downward the river that splices this cave inward half. There the cavern opens upward every bit you lot witness thousands of birds flocking around the entrance. It was mystifying, breathtaking, as well as the highlight of my fourth dimension inward Pai.
What I loved close Pai was the setting, non the vibe. In a town that charges you lot to plug your calculator in, I flora watching bare-chested backpackers larn drunkard obnoxious. As to fully showcase what Pai had become, my trip was bookended past times overhearing 2 girls discussing whether they are “damp” or non according to Chinese medicine as well as 2 older guys discussing how Monsanto as well as governments are conspiring to depopulate the world.
I tin sack reckon why hence many travelers come upward hither as well as dearest it: inexpensive accommodation, excess partying, the beautiful setting, the expert Western food. If I were a first-time traveler as well as much younger, this locomote atmosphere would live great. You larn to interact amongst a lot of other travelers, mayhap encounter a few locals, as well as accept a wild time.
But it’s non for me anymore.
The Pai of the backpacker is non the Pai that interests me. I dearest what made Pai famous inward the outset place: the mountains as well as the long wood paths to secluded waterfalls, caves, stunning vistas, as well as a placidity house to read a expert book.
This is where Pai shines. This is what makes Pai the house to be. And why you lot should choke to Pai, rest on the outskirts town inward a lovely footling bungalow, rent a bike, traverse the hills, bathe inward cool waterfalls, or explore some caves.
Pais is much to a greater extent than than a haven for Westerner hippies, backpackers, as well as yoga teachers.
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