DAY 7 - Making Friends

From being in Bangkok (in the middle of the country), I was officially up North. After arriving at Chiang Mai station at 7.15am, I grabbed a taxi to the minibus place which ended up being down a mash-up road with lots of flooding and potholes (I’m glad I didn’t decide to walk). In Chiang Mai there are lots of group taxis but I opted for a grab for ease - I also was not aware that they had group taxis here lol. I managed to get on an earlier bus at 8.30 instead of 9.30 (costing £5 for 3 hour journey), and still managed to squeeze in a Thai Tea from a beautiful farmers market I found.

The journey to Pai is notoriously vomit inducing due to the twisty roads, but being the sleepy girl that I am, I managed to counteract this with multiple naps throughout the journey.

When I arrived in Pai the weather was torrential, after a rainy walk to the hostel I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it was time to make some friends which is why I opted for the hostel.

I wandered into town and found a lovely spot to have rice, pork and cabbage lunch (£1.40). I called Denkie and had a long overdue catch up. I began to notice that Pai is particularly cheap, where a full meal in a restaurant with beers is about £4 and a Thai Tea is about £1 (this is how I have come to test the economic rate of an area).

I came for a swim and sunbathe and this evening everything changed…I met my first proper friend called Megan. We decided to grab some dinner where we went to a glorious restaurant where I had my best meal yet. It was glass noodles with fresh herbs and veggies. I also tried fried morning glory which was 10/10, if you come to Thailand you have to try it.

VEGGIE GLASS NOODLE SALAD AND FRIED MORNING GLORY (THAI VEGETABLE WHICH LOOKS LIKE A CELERY). MEGGIE GOT A CURRY

Following this we wandered the night market and picked up a green tea mochi, and a mango and Nutella pancake, Megan got a coconut smoothie.

Pai was looking very promising for food as the small town is basically set up for Westerners. The Thai people speak very good English and there is a big variety of vegan and veggie food (especially helpful for the fish allergy).

We went for some cockytails and watched some live music, and I was pleasantly surprised by the comfy beds at the hostel, I would highly recommend Buzzas in Pai.

DAY 8 - Foodie Heaven

Meggie and I went for a vegetarian breakfast which was delicious, but rather earthy for my liking. For example, my Thai tea had a soil like taste and I imagined this is something a raw vegan would enjoy. I am not a raw vegan unfortunately.

EARTH TONE CAFE - ABOUT A 10 MINUTE WALK FROM OUR HOSTEL

We got our nails done in town and came back to the pool for a sunbathe and a nap. Unfortunately, I awoke with a mosquito bite on my lip and felt like Kylie Jenner.

We met up with Meggies friends who are travelling for a year as digital nomads for a passionfruit mojito (£2 at happy hour) and called my Louis to let him know I was thinking of him (as I usually do). We went for a delightful meal where I tried Papaya Salad which is very famous here but a little spicy and had some of Meg’s Masaman Curry (also very famous) and then got some beers at a jazz bar.

VERY SPICY PAPAYA SALAD, VEGGIE MASAMAN CURRY AND NOODLES (VERY GELATENOUS AS YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL - THINK MOCHI TEXTURE)

We then returned to the night market for the second round of mango and Nutella pancake. I always fancy a mango juice rather than a mango smoothie which I am yet to find in Pai, so a pancake with fresh mango is the next best thing (Meg and I love a sweet treat after dinner).

DAY 9 - Tourist Day

After a poor nights sleep I was feeling apprehensive about our mega busy tour we had booked (which consisted of 8 different stops over 8 hours). We had some avocado toast and free coffee provided by the hostel and started our whistle-stop tour of Pai (£18).

STOP 1 - Big Buddha

Finally, meggie and I sought out some Khao Sao, a coconutty broth with noodles which was absolutely delicious. This is the first time I have properly tried street food and it did not disappoint.

STOP 2 - Natural Springs

THE WATER WAS VERY GOOD FOR THE ECZEMA ON MY HANDS, I WILL TRY TO FIND SOME MORE SPRINGS ON MY TRAVELS, HOW EXCITING!

STOP 3 - Viewpoint

BOUGHT MYSELF A NICE GREEN RING AND BRACELET

STOP 4 - Weird Mock Chinese Village

MOST BIZARRE BIT OF THE DAY. A FAKE CHINESE VILLAGE WHICH WAS REALLY RUN DOWN AND DILAPIDATED. BIZARRE IS THE ONLY WORD I CAN THINK OF.

STOP 5 - Coffee and Viewpoint

A BEAUTIFUL POINT TO STOP AT. I WILL TRY TO GET HOLD OF SOME WATERCOLOURS TO PAINT IT. GOT A NAUGHTY LITTLE THAI TEA TOO

STOP 6 - Waterfall

PAMBOK WATERFALL - WAS A BIT MUDDY AND TIRED AT THIS POINT SO APOLOGIES FOR THE CRAP PHOTO

STOP 7 - Bamboo Bridge

Surprisingly my favourite spot of the day and a highlight of Pai. I must admit it's a bit of a tourist trap but such a good spot for photos and seeing some greenery. Meg and i were quite DELIRIOUS at this point so everything was hilarious.

STOP 8 - Canyon

The canyon was so cool - would definitely recommend

OUT WITH MEG'S FRIENDS FROM HOME - MOLLIE AND HARRY <3

PAI CANYON - FORMED THROUGH WEATHERING AND LANDSLIDES

DAY 10 - TIPSY TUBING

Today was the mega big fun day of tipsy tubing. People come to Pai just to do this, but you basically get pissed and float down a river in a rubber ring. I was supposed to leave Pai on this day but extended due to tipsy tubing (factoring in the hangover). It was possibly the most fun I have had in my life, if you come up here you literally have to do it. The cost was £5 but you had to buy your own booze (buckets about £5) and i ended up the perfect level of tipsy for tipsy tubing. I did, however, get properly bitten by mosquitos so pray for me not to get dengee fever.

I didn't bring my phone so thought I did not get any photos, but yesterday at the hostel we were speaking to an English girl who saw a load of people in dingies coming down the river, so she took a photo. Turns out, i am in the photo which is fabulous.

After a brief power nap we hit the town for some dinner and drinks

DAY 11 - On The Hunt For A Hangover Cure

Meggie and I woke up not feeling our best selves are a solid 12 hour boozy session. We decided to seek out some Thai tea and nurse ourselves back to health (all day).