Pai,
Thailand
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
It was worth the ride (which was more like 3hrs than the 1 we were told) as we arrive in hippydom. The village is a laid back traveller's rest place set in the beautiful hills near Myanmar. It has a great feel. We find a dirt cheep hut (nice though!) and after finally feeling clean again after our Trek and Alicia wandering around half the town in just her towel in order to ensure all our clothes could go to the cheapest launderette we head out into town for dinner. Fruit bags everywhere, fruit shakes everywhere and vendors selling noodles, ideal. It starts to chuck it down with rain so we all pile under one small tarpaulin by a noodle seller. I think the Israeli quietly sitting there reading his book has wondered where this sudden invasion has appeared from. No piece for the wicked as we decide this is as good a place as any for tea and all squeeze round in the plastic seats out of the rain. Our little tarpaulin turns into quite the place to be as a couple of others the Israeli has met come down the street and join us. After a good feed we all move down the street (via the crepe stand!) to be shown some of the bars and live music. At the end of the evening we head back to find the Israeli is in the neighbouring hut - the poor guy really can't lose us!
Thursday morning and Alicia has got up early and gone to more Mai Thai training. Meanwhile the rest of us have headed for breakfast at the 'wellbeing café'. Its another great place and you could easily pass the day here relaxing and conversing as I eat my bacon bagel - the luxuries! However we have buses to get, targets to meet, places to be! We try and shake ourselves out of the Pai mentality, pick up Alicia and head for the bus back to Chiang Mai. Rachel and Eriq need to pick up their bags and then we're off to Laos. The long windy road back is no fun as everyone looks greener and greener as we go!
