Still meandering about Northern Thailand, I left the last post hopping onto the next bus out of cultural capital Chiang Mai, looking for a taste of Pai. I had to get through the journey first though, and a journey it was.
133km. 4 and half hours. 762 turns. SORRY WHAT?!
Yes, you read that correctly.
But man is it worth it! Brave it by bus like I did, or if you’re completely mental, go by bike.
Way before I’d got to the town, I’d heard raving reviews about Nolo Hub hostel. It was a little pricier than the average for Pai, but when I arrived I could see why. It’s the love project of Aussie owner Jordin, and it’s evident how much work he’s put into the place straight away. If the beautiful surroundings and short walk into town aren’t enough to tempt you, the beds are amazing, they put on nights out and events every night, they have a chill out area on the roof, and they have not one… but two CUTE DOGS?! Can I get a “shut up and take my money”? 😛
The only downside during my stay at Nolo Hub was that the Thai royal family happened to be staying in Pai the first weekend I arrived, which meant we couldn’t use the outside areas in the evenings! Not their fault, but some warning would have been great – the last thing you want when you’ve paid to leave your family home for 6 months is a curfew 😛
Now onto why Pai is such a special place!
It’s small!
And that’s a good thing! Rent a scooter from one of a hundred shops in the town for 80-100 baht per day, and you can get to anywhere you want within a few short minutes. Really helpful if you plan to stay at one of the beautiful hostels on the outskirts of the town because… scooter = breakfast within minutes of waking up ❤
Also great when you’re on a budget! The thing I often found frustrating in the bigger cities is getting around can really run up a tab – something I’ll talk more on in my Bangkok post coming soon.
The street food market!
Every night in Pai, the town lights up, and for 200m right through the centre of it, you’ll find a bustling market full of street food vendors with all sorts of options ranging from typical Thai and South Asian food, to Israeli cuisine catering to the huge Jewish community frequenting Pai, and more crêpe stands than you can shake a French stick at.
The sights!
A small town? YES! But plenty to see? ALSO YESSS!
White Buddha
Pai is surrounded by some fantastic sights, not least of which is the White Buddha standing (well… sitting) watch over his town.
It was the first local venture out with my new Israeli friend Tali. We met in Chiang Mai and travelled all through Thailand together so you’ll see her pop up over the next few posts! She is a babe!
Make it up the final 353 steps and you’ll be blessed with a remarkable view of the whole valley. Be sure to dress accordingly though – as with many tourist destinations and religious complexes across Southeast Asia, you’ll be required to cover up before being allowed to enter.
Bamboo Bridge
Probably my favourite place to visit, this place is absolutely dreamy!
Upon arrival you’ll already feel like you’re walking into The Shire, but take a few more steps and you’ll see a bamboo bridge snaking its way through lush rice paddy’s that looks like it could go on forever.
Queue a sassy Project Runway Thailand Audition…
And just like that… we were back on the bikes and off to the next spot!
Mor Paeng Waterfalls
I can almost hear you screaming “enough of pretty sights already, what we really want is a waterfall you can fly down at dangerous speeds”. Well aren’t you in luck!
If you’re already heading out to the Bamboo Bridge, take a short trip to Mor Paeng Waterfalls where you can glide down this natural rock slide! Take a look…
I met lots more friends as the week went on, switching my new home at Nolo Hub for a tranquil hostel on the other side of town. If you’re looking for peace during the day, UP2U hostel is the PERFECT choice! Just take a look for youselves…
Still only 5 minutes walk from the centre of town, you get this incredible view of Pai river and the surrounding wildlife (no I’m not talking about the river tubers floating by) from the veranda, kitted out with hammocks & giant cushions (what more could you want?). Or head down to that lovely balcony right on the rivers edge. I think this place cost me around £5 a night and it’s yet another great example of just how far your money stretches in this part of Thailand – be wary that this isn’t quite the case in Bangkok and the Thai Islands so make the most of it!!
Honourable Mentions
Putting this post together has reminded of just how much I packed into my time in Pai. I’ve written tonnes and still have so many more things I could talk about and recommend. I won’t go into immense detail, but here’s a few honourable mentions and photos that deserve to make an entry…
- Almost Famous Cocktail Bar! (their mojitos are THE BOMB! <3)
2. Backpacker’s Paradise Hostel and their incredible fire shows! Also known for some exotic milkshakes 😛
3. Green Restaurant on the main street for the best Pad Thai in town! I think Tali and I hit this place up at least once a day 😛
4. Pai Center Restaurant for awesome breakfast… and the best damn Mango and Passionfruit smoothie you will have in your life!! It became routine to start the day here, and you should too if you make it here 😀
And some final photos that I want to include but can’t seem to fit anywhere!
Writings these blogs reminds me of a lot of memories from my travels in 2019, and looking back on my time in Pai, I think is really is my favourite of the lot! The friends made, the adventures, getting a hostel crowd on their feet all singing along to Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds (until 30 seconds later when the hostel told us all to shut up because the Royal Family were trying to sleep). Pai had everything I was looking for when I left the UK, and a whole lot more.
A Pocketful of Postcards 