Pai with mom "Happiness in a magic bottle"

The van brought us to the local terminal,which is quite small, in Pai before 4 p.m. As promised, I rang the hotel manager once we arrived to inform her our waiting point and she sent a staff to pick us up right away. Mom and I didn’t wait long before the fairly shining black giant pick-up came in.The chuaffeur got out of the car and walked with a friendly smile directly to us as if he knew we were the quests to be transfered.However,to make sure we were the right persons, he made some conversations and referred to the voucher.  

The car was huge.The wheels were so thick that the car's body was lifted up very high from  ground. That kind of jumbo-sized car must have been very favorable among those freight&carriage business  owners in Thailand,I supposed. Perhaps for stability,good transport,geographical combat,weather condition or whatever reason it was,I didn't know exactly.By the way,my two brothers in Bangkok each had such a car too. It was not easy to climb up into it, I had to help pushing mom till she’s on the back seat,and yet we were brought to the hotel comfortably.

Pai that day was overcast and somewhat stuffy.There might be some rain later,I guessed. We had slept much during the trip, we therefore were not feel promptly exhuasted and planned a visit to town after some rest,disregarding the weather. There was motorcycle renting service at the hotel. I rented one to use around, I rode with my mom on the rear seat.

The weather in Pai in the evening we arrived

In town that evening,there was a kind of food and local arts festival.It was good that we could spend time strolling at the place,looking at some local products and tasting some good foods at the same time.

Pagodas and Bell at Wat Luang

Back to the hotel not so late, we spent some time watching t.v and then slept quite well till the next morning.

We both loved the hotel very much,particularly the balcony that we could admire green nature surrounded as well as Pai river that flew along the waterfront pavilion next to our room.

Cozy time at the balcony

The next morning after simple local breakfast at the hotel, we went out touring around, again by motorbike. Started with the local market and riding in and out many soi´s* in Amphur Muang. Then to see some paddy fields and some rural life on the outskirts. I tried not to make the trip too busy or tough for mom, realizing that she was not prepared to be on challenging itinerary.And I knew that actually,she prefered to stay at a place rather than to move from place to place. But each stop we made we spent time sitting and talking to the locals,though they were less talkative than I was. It was somehow quite relaxed and not tiresome at all.

Favorite Lunch for 10 bath 

After delicious but light lunch at a local restaurant on hill,we rode slowly back to the hotel, not on the same way up.But before we arrived,I couldn’t help stopping by and staying for a while on the waysides. I was attracted by some simplicities of the countryside; open pavilion and wooden houses and so. By the time we got at the hotel, it was almost time for diner. Mom was exhausted and hungry,I knew, but she would never become sharp or fierce dog.Instead she kept silent and was patient.My mom,in that evening,was just another hunger who found no fault with cooking. She had such a good appetite after all. 

Paddy field along the way

So after eat right, we both slept tight.We had nothing to rush for the next morning, our touring programme the next day started pretty late, almost noon really.We rode out of town to visit both well-known and unknown sightseeings.There were many places that we couldn’t reach. Some places were too far to go and others were not known the right direction nor location. But shortly, we were quite happy with what we had seen and where we had been.Then it was time to ride back to our accommodation before dark and to prepare to leave to Chiang Mai the next day.We still had time to spend at the balcony before and after dinner. And some pleasurable t.v time before falling to sleep.Mom and I had some good memory to talk about. And what I did next when we were in Bangkok was to have pictures printed in album so that mom could show her neighbor friends.This happiness I put in a magic bottle for her. 

* soi is a Thai word means a path or small road

Northern style houses

Thai Northern Style Pavilion

Many Possibilities

Open Pavilion

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The Journey to Pai

 

Pic.fromWiKipedia

Have you ever been in Pai of Thailand ? I have once few years ago with my mom.Pai is a small town in Northern Thailand, close to Mayanma’s border. To be precise, it’s in Meahongson Province a neighbor of Chiang Mai. Actually I’d never looked at the map where exactly it was untill we were back and looked afterwards at the position of Pai, kind of proud to be very north and very far away from town behind those moutains. If you’ve never been there before you wouldn’t have any idea how wind the road is. However my mom and I were there and here is the story behind it.

Well, an idea of going to Pai was popped up in my head after my annual flight booking to Thailand in 2011.I just wanted to go somewhere aside from Bangkok and Phattalung, my hometown during my stay overthere.Preferably in the North of Thailand, mountainous area, someplace outside the cities and towns,surrounded with nature, park and that would be suffecient concept of my “get away” for the time being.

So when the word “Pai”came into my mind and after searching for some means to get there. I confirmed my intention.And let my mom know about the plan.

One of my missions,after my dad passed away many years ago,is taking my mom for a short vacation somewhere during my yearly home visit in Thailand.Because my mom and I love seaside and beach, I thus often offer her a trip to seashore villages and she never rejects or argues.On the contrary, she loves it and always accepts the invitation with pleasure.

Flying from Bangkok to ChiangMai

Our destionation this time was different but trust me it rendered more excitement to both of us, especially to my mom.

The “Pai Trip” was made at the begin of August.The fact that my mom’s birthday was on the 9^th and 3 days later was marked “Mother Day” of Thailand.We booked the flights from the 8^th to the 13^th. And that ‘s,for my mom, considered already a long holidays.This trip was then a present for her birthday too. 

in the sky above the clouds

To get to Pai, we took the flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai then at Chiang Mai Arcade Bus terminal with a van to roadend in Pai.The distance from Chiang Mai to Pai was actually just about 150km (93 miles) but cause of the steep and winding road, traveling time was taken longer than that of the normal route. In fact I prefered to provide more convenience to my mom with the flight from Chiang Mai to Pai as well but there was no air service available at all to there. We had no other option than bus service then.(By the time you’re reading this, there’re probably flight sevices available directly to Pai—if you are planing your trip to there,you should find recent information about it)

My mom had been experiencing health difficulties with carsick many times during traveling. Time after time of discomfort and poor ailing, she learnt how to handle it.And so before traveling this time, as she realized that we had to struggle hondreds of curves over the road. She (perhaps and I ) would face terrible suffering from vomitting of this serpentined journey, she was very well prepared with a handbag filled with all kinds of medications. No doubt, my mom was for me my mobile living medicine cabinet. And I should inherit these discreet and prudential charisterictics of hers,truly.

Balcony of our hotel room

To prevent the sickness, she suggested  that we take in some tablets after meal.After about half an hour,we got into the car and it worked perfectly.My mom and I slept deeply the whole way though there were two stops,we woke up, got out of the car for the break with other passengers at the meeting point. After  looked at some green surroundings and breathed some fresh air,we got back to sleep again easily in the car once it ran off on road.

WatLuang Temple in Pai

So after those hours of peaceful adventure,we arrived safely, I would like to underline, and happily.I’ll tell you more about our trip in Pai when I have more time, that’s for today.

Hope you enjoy reading,

Pari
 



Thai Style Pavilion on the bank of Pai river

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