Day 6 was another rest day. We've never been good with rest days. Sitting around. Not doing stuff. Instead we decided that the best way to rest would be to spend the day touring the area around Pai.
Click here if the map/picture thing doesn't load
First, we headed back to Good Life for a breakfast of tea, wheat grass shots, borsche, eggs and tomato. It was fantastic!
Before heading off we moved accommodation. Although our bungalow was fine we'd come across the opportunity to get a fantastic room just down the road for an excellent price. A big balcony looking out over a beautiful garden and the Pai river, a huge room, possibly the most comfortable bed in the world and even an outdoor shower. Goodbye bargain bungalow, hello reasonably priced luxury!
Once we'd shifted our stuff to our new home and fuelled up the bike we headed off to try and find a “healing pyramid” that was marked on our map of Pai. We were curious and figured it was as good a starting point as any. On the way we passed a mysterious building that had been done up as a Chinese castle. We never conclusively found out what it was. Leading suggestions were a hotel or a temple. It had huts out out the back that looked like they were accommodation as well as a restaurant. No idea what the main building was or will be. Whatever it is, it has a nice view from its roof.
While wandering the grounds we also discovered this swing/ferris wheel. It really needed four people to make it work but we gave it a good go with just the two of us.
Continuing on our way we eventually came to the conclusion that we wouldn't be finding the healing pyramid. We passed a gate displaying a bunch of signs for Reiki, yoga and meditation classes. Most likely it was in there.
After looping around to the opposite side of town we stopped at a cafe called Coffee In Love. It's quite a famous cafe after featuring in a popular Thai film. Although the smoke hid much of it it still has a wonderful view. The day was already warming up so iced coffees were in order.
Just a few minutes down the road is Pai Canyon. It's certainly not the largest canyon in the world. It is however quite pretty, it's free and you're able to wander around however you see fit. You can be as adventurous (or not) as you like. The tops of the ridges have been worn flat by the feet of the more hardy souls.
To get from the car park to the canyon walk through the shops to the paved walkway. When we were here previously in 2009 the paved path didn't exist. You had to slog your way up a steep dirt track. We did the same this time and were almost there before our jungle adventure path joined the convenient paved path and we realized there was an easier way. Ah well, live and learn.
On the way back to town we passed a rail bridge built by the Japanese as part of the infamous Burma railway. If you read the fine print you'll learn that the current bridge was actually built after the war. The one built by the Japanese was destroyed. The current bridge is however roughly in the same spot.
Elephants also made a surprise appearance in our trip back to town. We passed two places where there were elephants doing their thing. We saw another on the road. Surprise elephants are always nice. It's something we've sadly not encountered outside of Thailand.
It wasn't long before we were back in Pai. It's quite a scenic little area filled with art galleries, organic farms and meditation retreats. After a shower and a bit of a rest in our glorious room we took to the streets to eat, drink and people watch. The crowd is interesting and varied in Pai…
Mae Hong Son Loop Day 6 Costs
At the time 30 Baht was about $1.
Breakfast. 1 chai tea, 1 wheatgrass, 1 borsche, 1 fantastic tomato and egg creation = 220B
Accommodation = 780B
Petrol = 230B
2 x iced coffee @ Coffee In Love = 120B
phone credit = 100B
Beef burger, chips and coke = 99B
Tofu vegie burger = 49B
Watermelon shake and banana shake = 40B
Bonus extra video
Here is a look at the two places we stayed at Pai during this visit. Hopefully it gives you an idea of the range that is available.
- Mae Hong Son Loop Preparations
- Mae Hong Son Loop Day 1 – Chiang Mai To Mae Chaem
- Mae Hong Son Loop Day 2 – Mae Chaem To Khun Yuam
- Mae Hong Son Loop Day 3 – Khun Yuam To Mae Hong Son
- Mae Hong Son Loop Day 4 – Hanging Out In Mae Hong Son
- Mae Hong Son Loop Day 5 – Mae Hong Son To Pai
- Mae Hong Son Loop Day 6 – Exploring Pai
- Mae Hong Son Loop Day 7 – Pai To Chiang Mai
- Advice For Doing The Mae Hong Son Loop
You know what, I might have that magic tomato and egg creation for dinner tonight. Simple and tasty!!
I’m jealous of your future cooking 😀 Its a real shame we didn’t arrange things so we could spend longer in Pai. A few more days by the river and wandering along to Good Life to eat would have been great.
I heard Pai was incredible and it looks like everyone was right based on these photos.
Pai certainly is great. The only problem is that Pai is a place like no other in Thailand althougheEntering Pai is like entering another hippy town anywhere in the world. The only difference is that there are local Thai people around. That aside, it is so GOOD to be able to get fresh vegetables cooked the way I would want! Check out the roast veges at the end of this post – Day 5 of MHS Loop. Thanks for visiting 🙂
nice pic and nice blog. thanks
Thanks for visiting 🙂
What is the name of the second place you stayed, please?
We stayed at the Pai River Villa right in town. Our room overlooked the river and the hotel’s vegetable patch 🙂