Chiang Mai and a 3-Day Hike through Pai, Thailand
Trip Start
Aug 12, 2008
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2
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Trip End
Nov 21, 2008
Chiang Mai,
Thailand
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
3-Day Hike to Pai:
Mon 18/Aug: Pai is a city 1 hr northwest toward Burma (Myanmar), and known for a more rugged hike than the ones just outside Chiang Mai. It was.
The first day began in a hillside village, the kids are running down the street after the truck that we were piled in the bed of, selling hand-made bracelets for 50 cents (10-15 baht). It rained, making it a bit harder of a trek, the jungle wasn't forgiving either, mosquitos were hungry (it was breeding season), and all insects seemed to be out in full force, even the most spoiled of the group would get used to having half-inch sized ants crawling up and down their legs
Our tour guide, Raffiki, at 65 mph
. At one point we saw a spider that most have spanned about 20 inches with it's feet and all, the body was the size of a couple of small bottles of water. We stayed in a rugged little bamboo hut, raised a few feet off the mud. Played soccer with the locals and jammed guitar with our tour guide. The villagers also joined in, dressed up in their traditional gear, and singing/dancing to their own songs. It was a fun night.Tues 19/Aug: The highlights of the day were swimming in a waterfall in the valley of this one jungle. This is heaven in hot northern-Thai weather. Heaven I say. As well as riding elephants through the rivers. We hopped on 3 to an elephant and they took us and our gear for almost 2 hours up and around the streams, alongside a herd of water buffalo, or maybe bulls, I don't know the difference - they had horns and were near the water. Our elephant was a headcase, she kept leaning over a 50-60 ft cliff to break off trunks of bamboo, I swear we were gonna die a few times. But what can you do? If the elephant wants to do something, you're going with it. The guides would sling shot them to keep them in line. The end of the day meal was good too. This was a pre-paid hike, and the food and experiences were all awesome. Healthy portions were given to everyone, and everyone agreed on how tasty the meals were.
Thai soccer, we lost. It was the Brits' fault
Wed 20/Aug: The last day of the hike was very hot, without a cloud in the sky to shield the sun. We were also outside the jungle now, walking along vast rice patties, and over rolling hills. Shade was scarce, but golden. We cooled off on a trip down a river via hand-made bamboo raft. This was fun, although much more intense than anyone had estimated. One raft broke upon impact. I had fallen off, and floated down river a while, kicking rocks in-between. Lauren got slammed on the head by a bamboo pole when I tried to muscle our way out of an unavoidable tree/bush. Scrapes and bruises, but a cool event.
We ended the hike and were trucked back to Chiang Mai. We celebrated by piling 10 people into a Tuk-Tuk (3-wheeler taxi with 1 backseat and a make-shift awning on top), and weaving through the streets to a burger and fries place. Our most expensive meal in Thailand yet, but well worth it. Double Cheeseburgers with Chili Fries.
We also jammed out with some locals at Riverside Bar and Restaurant along the river in Chiang Mai. The local live bands played all top 40, even some Hip-Hop, made for a great setting to slam some beers with the people we'd met. That night we slept in...
Overall Chiang Mai was super charming, and a great Thai city. The weather was a bit more forgiving than Bangkok, for sure, and the food was seriously good. I'm pretty easily pleased with food, but Lauren likes to eat certain meals at certain times, so put it this way, nothing was left on either of our plates for any meal - and we enjoyed all. If you're in Thailand, check out Chiang Mai for sure.
