Pai, Thailand

Mentioned Thailand, naturally Bangkok comes to mind! So when Lawrence influenced me to visit Thailand, he suggested to visit this little town in Northern Thailand, I was a little reluctant initially, but since I badly needed a break, oh well... so long as he done the research and find me a relatively safe and comfortable accommodation. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, Lawrence was forced to withdraw from the trip, and I took over the research rather unwillingly.

Pai is situated on a highland some 135km north of Chiang Mai, en-route to Mae Hong San, and bordering Myanmar.

Arriving Chiang Mai International Airport, we took Bus No 6 (Bus 11 also goes to Arcade Bus Station) from the bus stop situated at the left hand side of the airport. For 15 Baht per person, the bus took us on a Merry-go-round around Chiang Mai city center before reaching Chiang Mai's Arcade Bus Station some 60 minutes later. It's OK if you take this as an opportunity to look around the city on bus. A cab for about 120 Baht will probably takes 20 minutes. Besides cab, other popular means include Tuk-Tuk (motorised tri-cycle, about 50 Bahts, negotiable) and songthaews (red pick-up, usually 20-50 Bahts per person for trips within the city)

A direct minibus from Chiang Mai's Arcade Bus Station will take about 3-4 hours (at interval of about 1 hour). We paid 150 Baht each for the air-conditioned minibus (Gosh, we almost don't feel the aircon at all!), and upon leaving Chiang Mai, the route's very bumpy hilly road all the way. Local buses cost about 80 Baht, and takes around 4 hours, with a stop for 15 minutes break half way.

Shortly before reaching Pai, there was a security gantry, with armed officers verifying travel credentials. (But strangely, we did not see this upon leaving Pai)

Pai is a serene Bohemia-liked small town. Our minibus dropped us at the town center, and it was a 10 minutes walk to our accommodation, The quarter (right). For around S$150 per day, The Quarter offers free PC usage (with internet) in their Computer Room, free bicycle rental throughout our stay, and free daily breakfast. It's a resort style accommodation with pool and pleasant scenery. Its breakfast is relatively sumptuous as compare to generally high class hotels in other part of the world. Among the elite accommodation in Pai, The Quarter is situated closest to the town, just next to the town hospital, and a mere 5 minutes walk away. Advance booking is recommended, but otherwise, cheap accommodations are well scattered within and around town center.

Pai is a small town beside the river Pai, hence its name. Within the town, there are numerous restaurants, massage parlours, guest houses and souvenir shops. There are hill tribes (such as Karen, Hmong, Lisu and Lahu), padi fields, elephant camps, hot springs and waterfall around the proximity, but these are probably too far for bicycle. Motorcycles are easily available for rental at 100 Baht per day, with additional 40 Baht insurance and a refundable helmet deposit of 100 Baht. Fuel (full tank about 100 Baht) not inclusive of course. But the thing is that, you don't even need a license to rent one, just your passport! There are also tour agents there to arrange visit to the hill tribes, day trip (white water raft, elephant ride) and even trip to Myanmar or China, not to mention Mae Hong San or Chiang Rai. the whole town center can be easily covered within an hour by foot. And typically, one can easily find cheap accommodation within the town center in Pai without any advance reservation. For Muslim, there are also a few unappealing eateries gathered at one corner of the town.

Come evening, the whole town springs to life! With street performers and night markets, you get to savour local delicacies at very affordable price! I was so mesmerise with this lemongrass drink that I helped myself to a few servings from different vendors! They also have noodles, BBQ meats, Indian food, and even this very popular fried pancake stall, selling something similiar to our Roti Prata, but with filling of banana, honey, strawberry jam, chocolate, peanut butter to choose from! There are also stalls who sell gems that they claimed are real rubies and sapphires from Myanmar selling at an unbelievably cheap price! Not to mention hill tribe handicrafts, and the vendors actually do dressed in tribe outfit!

For once, I amost forgot I was in Thailand, but some Bohemian city... and I began to like this place! It was with much fond memories when we boarded the bus back to Chiang Mai.


From Chiang Mai to Pai (excerpt from http://www.thaihermityoga.com/getting_here.php):

Bus
Local Buses to Pai leave from the Arcade Bus Station on Kaew Nawarat Road in Chiang Mai, from platform 13, cost around 80 Baht (approx. US$2), and take 3 - 4 hours to reach Pai. The bus stops once, around half way, for 15 minutes.

The Arcade Bus Station can be reached by taxi, tuk-tuk, sawngtaew (red, two row pick up truck taxis) or local bus from anywhere in Chiang Mai City. If you are going directly from the Airport to the Arcade Bus Station, you can order a Taxi at the Airport, from the stand just outside of the main exit. Please allow up to 45 minutes to reach the bus station.

Buses leave at the following times:
07:00 am, 09:00 am, 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, 02:00 pm, 04:00 pm

Tickets for the Local Bus can be purchased from the ticket booth near platform 13, but ensure you purchase your tickets at least 30 minutes before the bus is due to depart. The telephone number for the Arcade Bus Station is: 053 242 664 (international +66 53 242 664), and for the Bus Company serving the Pai-Chiang Mai route: 053 304 748 (international +66 53 304 748)

Minivan and Taxi Minivans and Taxis will generally be located around the Arcade Bus Station, and have no set schedule. They are usually available between 08:00 and 15:00, and you can simply tell the taxi driver taking you to the Bus Station that you want to go to Pai by minivan, and they will drop you in the right place. You can also book them through your guest house/hotel. The cost is 150 - 160 Baht


Air
SGA Airlines, http://sga.co.th/main/index.php now offer 20 minute flights, daily from Chiang Mai to Pai.

The scheduled flights are:
Chiang Mai - Pai
Daily Flight: 5E 913
Depart: 10.55
Arrive: 11.30

Pai - Chiang Mai
Daily Flight: 5E 914
Depart: 11.45
Arrive: 12.20