Part 1: Back to Pai Again

This is the first part of a series about Pai, a popular tourist destination in Thailand. The link provided leads to a blog post in Thai about the author's experience in Pai.

The van was scheduled to pick us up at 6:00 AM, but we had to wake up much earlier due to the drawbacks of sleeping in a dormitory (20 beds, 40 people). Every time someone got up to shower, it would jolt us awake. For example, around 1:00 AM, some foreigners came back and showered loudly, waking us up. Then, around 3:00 AM, the driver woke us up to pick up the people who had booked a tour to Pang Ung. As a result, we didn't get much sleep. However, we accepted it as a trade-off for the low price.

The viewpoint is less than 20 minutes from the accommodation. All vehicles must transfer to a local pickup truck for a round-trip fare of 300 baht. If you come with a large group, it's convenient, but if you come with a small group, it can be a bit inconvenient. (However, if you come by motorbike, you can ride up directly.)

Upon arrival, an additional entrance fee of 20 baht per person is required. Visiting during the festival season is not recommended as the queue for exchanging tickets for tea can be lengthy, with exchanges only permitted after 11:00 AM. This is inconvenient, as most visitors would not stay that long. (We visited in October when the crowd was smaller, and we were able to exchange our tickets for tea immediately. It was a shame to miss out on this opportunity.) However, there are food stalls selling tea, rice porridge, and youtiao at reasonable prices. As our primary purpose was to view the sea of mist, we did not purchase any food.

This is Yunlai Sea of Clouds Viewing Point. It's crowded with people who arrived before us. Everyone is waiting to capture the sunrise. The weather is pleasantly cold. I like it.

The sea of mist arrived as scheduled today, thick and dense. It was truly magnificent.

Relaxing for the eyes and mind, even though the photo spots are not as private as other months. But what can you do? Traveling on holidays means accepting things like this. Hehe.

I don't think it's the right time to confess my feelings. I'm too shy.

The sign was packed with people, it was crazy.

The cool air and a hot cup of tea, what a perfect combination.

There are tents to sleep in, which is exciting.

Wait, I see a sedan. How did it get up here?

I'm leaving now. I'll come back again when I have the chance.

After taking photos to our heart's content at Yun Lai, we called the same car we had taken to get there to take us back to our starting point, Santichol Village.

Today, there are many people. Let's do it. I want the children to have fun. This is the way to go. Let's swing the swing. It only costs 25 baht per person, and you can have fun.

The man was very pleased with himself, having successfully teased the girls into screaming with laughter.

The swings at Santichol House are located in two areas. The area where we are playing is the safest, as it has a safety harness and backrest. The other area does not have these safety features, so please be careful when playing there. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Entering the shop, we were greeted by a thick fog and a wide selection of souvenirs, including plums and tea, available for tasting and purchase.

This is another swing that says there's nothing to hold on to... But if you've finished primary school, you can try the high school swing. No restrictions.

The dew is falling in sheets. If Thailand were colder, the dew would probably turn into snow. I really want to experience that. Once in my life, I have to experience snow! 555

What is it? Guess.

The chestnuts here are quite delicious. Thank you to the host, T'oy, for bringing us here.

I wish I could take more photos, but there's still a long way to go. Let's go have breakfast at the same old place, another round of Pad Thai in front of the van. Then we'll check out and head to our beloved Baan Rak Thai. I've been waiting for this for almost a year now.

This is a must-visit spot for anyone traveling along this route. The stunning views from Doi Giw Lom are perfect for capturing unforgettable photos.

This is a free swing, feel free to play, but be careful not to fall.

We then stopped for noodles at Ban Ja Bo. We arrived too late, and the sea of mist had already dispersed. (If you want to see the beautiful sea of mist, you can stay at a local homestay or camp. I guarantee you'll be satisfied in the morning.)

The restaurant was packed, and we had to wait for a table. The best seats with shade were all taken, but we were lucky enough to get a table inside. The view was beautiful (especially if you come in the morning), and it's probably the most scenic noodle shop around. However, we arrived late, so it was just an ordinary restaurant. The taste of the noodles wasn't anything special (in my opinion), but considering the view, it was worth it. The noodles cost 35 baht, but the view is worth 3.5 million baht, haha.

If you are interested in staying at a homestay, please contact Mr. Sonchai Phrainettham, President of the Baan Jabo Community-Based Ecotourism Group, at 080 677 5794 for more information and to book your accommodation in advance. I will definitely visit this place again to see the sea of mist.

We continued our journey and stopped at the Luk Khao Lam viewpoint. Here, local people sell various products, including rice, sticky rice, and riceberry rice. We bought a lot of them because they were much cheaper than in Bangkok. If we had the capacity to carry more, we would have bought even more.

For woven fabrics, bags, and sarongs, it is recommended to purchase them here as the prices are lower compared to other places.

The next stop is to enter the city of Mae Hong Son to pay respects to the Buddha. If you come to Mae Hong Son and don't pay respects, it's considered that you haven't arrived.

Doi Kong Mu Temple: A Sacred Symbol of Mae Hong Son

The Doi Kong Mu Temple, a revered landmark in Mae Hong Son, stands as a symbol of the province's rich history and spiritual significance. This sacred temple, a cornerstone of the local community for centuries, draws countless visitors seeking blessings and cultural immersion.

It's almost 3 pm. Let's stop by one more place and then head to our accommodation. After all, our main focus is on the accommodation, isn't it?

The Legend of the Sutongpei Bridge: Wishes Granted at the Center

The Sutongpei Bridge is believed to grant wishes to those who stand at its center and make a wish. With limited time, we were unable to reach the end of the bridge (a shame for those who didn't, as they might need to return!). An early morning visit is highly recommended, as the afternoon sun can be quite intense.

Our home for the night is "Lee Wine Rak Thai". We would love to stay here longer, as it was incredibly difficult to book, but unfortunately, we can't. We arrived at 5:00 PM, which is a shame.

Our rooms are located on the upper floors, which may be difficult for elderly guests to access. Even as a young woman, I found the climb challenging. If you have mobility issues or are traveling with elderly individuals, we recommend booking a room on the lower floors. (However, the view from the upper floors is truly breathtaking!)

The view around the accommodation is stunning.

Guests with accommodation reservations should arrive before 5:00 PM to avoid traveling in the dark, as the road is uphill and potentially hazardous. For those planning to have dinner, the kitchen closes at 7:00 PM, but orders can be placed until 8:30 PM. We recommend arriving early to secure a table.

Table reserved and food ordered, while waiting, let's take some photos.

Every corner is beautiful. If I come again, I will cut all the other places and come here only. 555

New coffee shop on the property (2nd floor)

Dinner time has arrived. At Dong Cha, you can't miss the chance to try their wide variety of teas. But the most famous one here is the "Yod Nam Khang" tea. It's fragrant, refreshing, and truly satisfying. ....... Sip, savor, and enjoy the ultimate refreshment.

Aside from tea, there is also famous wine. If you come here, you must try it. Otherwise, you will not reach Li-wine. Hehe.

We are a group of 9 people, so we ordered a set menu to save money. If you want to order anything extra, do it at the beginning because it gets busy during the festival and the food will take a long time if you order later.

After finishing their meal, they could buy souvenirs (be sure to compare prices with other shops, as there are many shops selling them, hehe). The evening atmosphere was so pleasant and relaxing.

Let's walk up to the accommodation. Who said the higher you go, the colder it gets? But for us, the higher we go, the more tired we get. 55

And then we arrived at the accommodation. Our room could sleep 8 people, but there were 9 of us. We couldn't add an extra bed because the space was limited. If we crammed 3 people into one bed, it would be very uncomfortable, especially since none of us are small. So, our friend Toi generously offered to sleep on the floor. Big thanks to our big brother once again!

Sleep soundly until morning, then wake up early to watch the sunrise together. Don't miss capturing the morning atmosphere of Ban Rak Thai, which is just as beautiful as Pang Ung.

Breakfast here is served at 8 am (not exactly early, haha, compared to other places), but it's good because it allows us to take photos before the meal.

Early in the morning, before tourists from other accommodations arrive.

Remember, the early bird catches the worm when it comes to tourist attractions.

I wish I could freeze time right now.

Early in the morning, monks will come to collect alms.

The area is heavily guarded by the disciples of the monk.

She stole the spotlight! 55 She didn't say she wanted to be on camera, but she's adorable.

After breakfast, which will be a buffet of rice porridge, deep-fried mantou, stir-fried noodles, tea, and coffee, we will check out around 10:00 AM and head straight back to Chiang Mai. The journey is not far, but it can take up to 6 hours due to traffic. We need to get back to Chiang Mai to drop off 3 of our friends who are returning to Bangkok this evening. The remaining 6 of us will continue our travels for another day. This is our third visit to Ban Rak Thai, and we will definitely be back again, although we don't know when. Until then, goodbye!

Ending: Link to Thai Readme article