Take Me To… is an ongoing series of travel recommendations provided by the experts – Peace Corps Thailand volunteers who have been there! If you’ve traveled to or live somewhere interesting in Thailand, submit your recommendations to us at pctm.stickyrice@gmail.com.
Kiera Hurley, Mae Garland, Emily Hoffmeister, 135 YinD
The Journey There
Kiera: Pai, or Bai, if you are trying to pronounce it so a Thai person can understand you, is a small mountainous town 4 hours north of Chiang Mai. The journey takes you up a windy road until you’re dropped off in hippie central, wandering around Walking Street.
Mae: The curvy road has garnered a reputation for inducing nausea in those who dare traverse it. However, we believe it can be easily cured with a hefty dose of Dramamine 30 minutes before departure. Pai is situated in the province of Mae Hong Son, which borders the country of Myanmar (Burma). The location feels quite extraordinary. On one hand, you are surrounded by people who look as if they just finished weekend #2 at Burning Man, but on the other hand, you are in a conservative village that has prevalent Muslim and Buddhist communities. All of this is taking place while the tourist industry booms, and the people of Burma fight for a democratic republic 91 miles away. So much to take in!
Emily:
Bai! Let’s go to Pai!
Over the mountain we must go, to get to our cabin where we can flow.
Bravely, we traverse the winding road. Savely, Dramamine helps our nausea slow.
When we arrive, it’s rather divine; like bees, we flock to our hive, ready to jive.
Our oasis is called Pairadise, and it will more than suffice.
With games to play, open spaces to lay, fish to feed, books to read, views to oo and awe, and mindful reminders, we could find no flaw.
The House, or, Pairadise
Kiera: PAIradise is where we resided for a glorious 5 days. The resort was an oasis of peace and serenity. Our home felt as if it was crafted specifically for us. It was filled with positive quotes that kept us tuned in to the beauty of the present. There was tons of natural light spreading throughout the house, a spiral staircase, a cute orange mini fridge, ground pillows, balconies with Mountain views, and a giant rock star.
On the first day, I received a message from the Hummingbird team that to receive a special gift, we could all write down 5 things we were grateful for about ourselves, nature, strangers, things, and friends. The special gift was a free juice which we all savored with our breakfast. My favorite part about Pairadise was that it seemed to have everything we could possibly need + more. Gluesticks for scrapbooking? Bongos for a drum circle? Sticky notes to write down our intentions and core memories for the day? Fish food? Apples to Apples? Emotion games? They had it all, and we took full advantage of the resources.
One of my favorite memories from the house was on a night we had all gotten dressed up to go out, and we were outside dancing, drinking wine, and taking pictures in the golden hour. The house held the most amazing energy, and it felt like a women’s retreat with all my best friends. Thank you, PAIradise, for cultivating a space of love, beauty, and radiance.
Mae: My favorite part of the house was the beautiful upstairs deck. It had a view of the mountains and so much plant and animal life. This was the perfect place to do morning yoga or gab with a friend!
Fav Memories
Mae: Kiera and I tried to wake up for the sunrise at 5:30 am, and it was overcast and rainy, and miserable. We hardly spoke and then went back to sleep.
Emily:
One sunny day, we were whisked away
transported by the river, we waited for tubes,
and they sure did deliver, it was totally rad dudes.
There must have been 250 of us all floating together,
our group held hands and linked ankles, trying to stay tethered.
We drifted over the ebbs and flows, content and mellow,
with periodic reminders of “bums ups!”! when the waters got shallow.
As we drifted down, there were a few stops
we piled our tubes on a bank and admired the backdrop.
Under the mountains, we played volleyball, danced, jump roped, body painted, played in foam, people watched, and took to the river.
Amidst the chaos, one of my favorite moments was when we took a pause.
We sat in the waterway holding hands,
and shared what we were grateful for just because.
Advice
Kiera: If you’re planning a trip to Pai, there’s plenty to do to enjoy yourself. Take a stroll down Walking Street where you can find amazing jewelry, delicious food, and lively bars. Go up to Pai Canyon for sunset to walk along mountain ridges and watch the sun go down. Check out Om Garden Cafe for a freshly made breakfast with the most peaceful vibe. Head to the Circus to watch a lively fire show, and eclectic performers knock your socks off. Go to Reggae Pai and jam out to reggae music. Head to Pai with an open heart and mind, and you’ll be sure to have an epic time.
Mae: Dress appropriately when out in public, try many foods on walking street, wear bug spray, and enjoy the company you’re in. If you want to be really well-liked, ask the local reggae bar to turn down the music, and then leave shortly after.
Read Kiera, Mae, and Emily’s previous articles and contributions.
Read more from the Take Me To… series!
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