The solo trip story of Pai-Doi Pha Hom Pok, a change of plans in a split second, a trip better than expected.
Travelogue of a little traveler.
A trip plan that went wrong, where am I going?
Departure date: December 23, 2016
Hello friends, Jack is back again with a solo trip story. This trip was very well planned, with excellent time management. I can't even begin to tell you.
The thing is, I didn't know where to go for New Year's.
So I decided to go up Doi Pha Hom Pok with my teacher siblings at school on Monday, December 26, 2016.
But we wouldn't be in Bangkok on the 24th and 25th for sure. On the morning of the 26th, we had to get ourselves to Chiang Mai to climb Doi Pha Hom Pok, the second highest mountain in Thailand.
Anyway, let's find a place to visit near Chiang Mai.
Is it too late to go to Pang Ung? I want to go because I saw the pictures that my friend Namo took. It's beautiful. I've been to Jack twice before, but I never saw it when it was beautiful. Let's think about it.
1. Leave Mo Chit at 6am or 8pm. We will arrive in Mae Hong Son in the morning and still have time to catch the 2-row car up to Pang Ung.
2. Sleep in Pang Ung for 1 night and then go down in the late morning. Take a ticket to Chiang Mai.
3. Sleep in Chiang Mai for 1 night and go up the mountain in the morning.
Perfect. This is the plan.

I am open to greetings, conversations, and requests for advice.

Here, Jack's travel page, photos by a little traveler.

Jack Rocker Photographer's Facebook Page

Okay, I can translate that for you. Here is the translation:

Okay, you can continue reviewing the page advertisement.

Please note: I have translated the sentence to be as simple and short as possible, while still maintaining the original meaning. I have also avoided using any personal pronouns or colloquialisms.

I hope this is helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.

No need to book accommodation, I've been there before and there are plenty of options available. No need to book tickets either, it's not a peak season. Why bother? Let's just relax and go with the flow.

Why does life make it so difficult? So fresh.

Friday evening, I found out that tickets to Mae Hong Son are all booked.

Tickets are sold out, okay, Chiang Mai will do. Go to Chiang Mai and then take a bus to Mae Hong Son. If you can, go. If not, then Pai.

Okay, that's easy. Jack told you, why make life difficult? Right?

December 24, 2016

A Siam First coach veered off the runway at Chiang Mai International Airport in the early hours of the morning.

Jack discovered a multitude of tourists. The ticket booths of Prem Pracha were overflowing with people, forming a queue that stretched almost as far as Lamphun.

Oh, Jack, you're exaggerating! 55555 Oh, I see. It's the summer break for students, so there are a lot of people out and about.

Jack was told that the tickets to Mae Hong Son were sold out. The next available van would leave at 11 am and arrive in the late afternoon, according to the ticket seller.

If the morning bus arrives at six in the evening, I will miss the shared taxi to Pang Ung.

Okay, take the ticket to Pai. We'll check in Pai again to see what time the bus leaves for Mae Hong Son.

If you're on time, go. If you're not, go. That's how it is, Jack.

This is just the beginning. 5555 Why does it feel so fun? This trip is so carefree.

Traveling to Pai is easy. Take a bus to Chiang Mai.

Purchased a ticket from Prem Pracha to Pai for 150 baht. The journey took approximately 3 hours.

If you've ever been to Pai, you're probably familiar with this place. Okay Mart, a rest stop on the way to Pai. Today, the fog is thick.

We have arrived at the Prem Pracha bus stop, located on the walking street.

The buses to Mae Hong Son are all full, and the buses to Pai are also full.

English:

There are shared taxis, but it is unknown when they will arrive.

Okay, Jack has decided to stay in Pai. He has been to Pai many times, and the last time he was there, …

Two years ago, I met Day, the owner of Pai Expert Travel tour agency, after I decided to stay in Pai.

An unexpected encounter, a pleasant surprise. Out of the blue, they appeared.

A local resident provided me with accommodation and a meal. This is the beauty of Pai. I don't even need to book a return ticket to Chiang Mai tomorrow.

Day has to pick up a customer at the airport at 10:30 am. Oh wow, that's great.

This is Jack's accommodation for this trip, Pai Expert Travel.

Pai Expert Travel offers taxi services. If you are visiting Pai, don't forget to use their services. They are located in front of Pa Kham Temple.

After our conversation, we decided to head to Huai Nam Dang in the morning. I've been there before, but there was no fog at that time.

By the Pai River

Jack's initial plan was to simply relax and enjoy the scenery. However, his plans changed, and he ended up with a sightseeing itinerary.

Day rented a motorbike for me. If you ask if Jack can ride it, haha, he can't, but he has to. I'll take him for a ride.

A map with highlights, that's where we're headed. Realistically, we won't be able to see everything.

Jack chose to go only to places he wanted to visit and that fit his schedule. He slept in a little, so he left around 4 pm.

The first stop is the Thun Pao Tueng field. Ride along Mae Hee Road, passing the path up to Phra That Mae Yen. Continue riding along the path and you will come across a field of golden Thun Pao Tueng flowers.

We're here!

Wow, I love it!

The new Canon 10-18 wide lens is budget-friendly, boasts beautiful sunstars, and is lightweight for comfortable carrying.

During this period, I've been obsessed with photographing the sun. As you browse through the photos from this trip, you'll notice that Jack frequently interacts with the sun.

Please don't just take photos, help by donating to the donation box.

Sure, here is the translation:

Anything goes.

Every angle is beautiful.

This car instantly looks cooler.

The sunflower fields will be in bloom until around February. If you're visiting Pai, I highly recommend checking them out. They're truly beautiful.

Landscape, portrait, or selfie mode, it's all good.

Jack spent a significant amount of time at the sunflower field, immersing himself in the natural beauty. He has a tendency to linger in each location for an extended period.

This place alone is enough to satisfy me. I can get beautiful pictures and sleep soundly tonight.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Do Phao Teung fields and then continue on.

Continue riding along the path and you will come across an elephant camp. You can stop there to ride an elephant, but Jack did not stop. You will also pass the entrance to the Tha Pai Hot Springs.

This road will intersect with the main road. If you turn left, you will reach Chiang Mai.

Turning right, you will encounter the historic Pai Bridge, where you can stop for refreshments and meals.

There are also souvenir shops.

Today, do a good deed by helping tourists take photos. Hehe.

Fond of backlighting.

This trip was a blast, playing with the sun.

Jack's time is limited, so he must move on. Riding along the path, he will pass the way up to the viewpoint, Kong Lan, or Pai Canyon.

However, Jack rode past the intended destination, the Boon Bridge at Baan Paem Bok. After turning in for a short distance, he had to turn back.

We are unsure of the distance and the road conditions are not ideal. Therefore, we have decided to change our plans and return to the base camp.

Park the motorbike and run up the hill to catch the sunrise.

However, we were able to capture the twilight, the light after the sun sets.

Note: The original text is empty, so the translation is also empty.

Darkness fell in a matter of minutes, leaving Jack unsatisfied with his captures.

"Come down here! Jack is the last one to come back. Oh, where are you all going in such a hurry? You've all left Jack behind."

Our mission to capture the last light of the day is complete. We have returned to Pai and are now strolling through the walking street.

Another important task is sending postcards.

Postcard sent successfully.

I will be going on a tour of Huai Nam Dang tomorrow.

After the tour to Huai Nam Dang, I received a call to confirm my wake-up time upon returning to shower. The caller said, "Wake up at 4 am, okay?"

"Okay, okay," I said, dying inside. "Good morning."

Day has a new plan for Jack to stay in Pai for two nights and then take a van to Mae Malai Junction to wait for the bus to Fang with the other teachers.

However, after careful consideration, I became concerned about potential delays or errors due to my uncertainty about the bus schedule from Chang Phuak. Therefore, I decided to stick with my original plan.

One night in Pai.

Jack also regrets the Boon Bridge, but it's okay. We might get a beautiful view from Huai Nam Dang.

"I had a bit of a social gathering tonight. Jack thinks he won't be able to wake up tomorrow, he's quite drunk. Day called to cancel the tour around 11:30 PM. 😂"

25.12.2016 I woke up feeling groggy this afternoon, and Jack changed plans again. If we go down to Chiang Mai at 10:30 am...

Unsure of our destination, we frantically searched for options. Jack managed to snag the last two tickets for a 3 pm flight, a close call indeed.

After checking out and leaving our luggage, we rode a motorbike to Saphan Boon Bridge and turned onto the road leading to Paem Bok Waterfall.

The road conditions are not ideal, with some steep and winding sections. However, there are signs throughout the route, making it easy to navigate. Simply follow the road and you won't get lost.

We have arrived! This place has water and food for sale.

Please consider donating to the upkeep of this facility by placing money in the box.

The scene appears arid. When Jack visited, the rice fields were barren.

The Boon Bridge, also known as the Khok Koo So Bridge (not to be confused with the Su Tong Pae Bridge), is a bamboo bridge located in the middle of a rice paddy field.

The Kokuso Bridge, meaning "merit bridge" in Shan, is located in Paembok Village.

Tumbon Tung Yao, Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province

Kho Ku So Bridge, built jointly by the temple and villagers, connecting Paem Bok Village and Wat Huay Ka Kee Ri.

The bridge's primary purpose was to facilitate the morning alms collection by monks.

Without trampling on the villagers' crops, it has the added benefit of becoming a tourist attraction with a pleasant atmosphere amidst the mountains. If you want it to be beautiful and refreshing, it must be during the rainy season. I'll show you some pictures later.

Translation:

English:

Notes:

• The original text is empty, so the translation is also empty.
• I have maintained the original HTML structure.
• I have not added any additional information or commentary.

I hope this is helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.

This is a picture of the green rice fields.

Thank you for the beautiful picture, Day. If you want to see something like this, you have to come during the rainy season, around October or November.

In summary, the day went by perfectly. I arrived back in Pai around 2:30 PM. Day said goodbye and got on the bus.

We arrived in Chiang Mai just as it got dark. We then met up with our fellow teachers, including Khru Oh, Khru Chang, Nong Sun, and Laoshi Sthit.

December 26, 2016

This morning, I embarked on a journey to a new destination. I used to travel alone, but now I have a gang with me. Our next stop is Doi Phaa Hom Pok.

We boarded the orange bus at Chang Phuak bus station. The bus was headed to Tha Ton, the final stop, and the fare was 80 baht.

There are no scheduled bus departures. Passengers must queue to purchase tickets and board the bus immediately. We decided to grab a bite to eat before purchasing our tickets and boarding the bus.

Translation:

Note: The original text is empty, so the translation is also empty.

The cool breeze was a welcome contrast to the cramped seats, which were designed for three passengers but felt more suited to two.

From Chang Phuak, it takes a full 4 hours to reach the market.

I bought groceries for tonight's dinner. I walked to 7-Eleven and saw the group of students who rode in the car together. They were sitting in the front seat with Jack.

We joined a group of students who had hired a songthaew (a type of shared taxi in Thailand) and split the fare.

To reach the park headquarters, the price for a shared songthaew is 400 baht for 10 people.

They talked along the way.

The students said they came without a plan and didn't book anything. Wow, you guys are just like me when I started my trip.

The students planned to take the train, but they missed it. They hired a motorcycle taxi to catch up, but it went the wrong way. How could they possibly make it on time? 5555

I arrived by bus this morning. These people are hilarious and adorable. Nice to meet you.

Upon arrival at the park office, we waited for two more members to join us, bringing the total to 12 people.

We have arrived. Let's take a group photo with our fellow teachers first.

Conserve another park.

Here are the service charges.

A 4WD vehicle is required for the ascent, which takes approximately 1.5 hours and covers a distance of 30 kilometers from the park. Be aware that some sections of the mountain road are quite steep.

The driver stopped at a scenic viewpoint for us to take photos and stretch our legs. We had been sitting stiffly the whole way.

Capture the sunset

Everyone on the trip must have this angle 5555 #want to sit cool somewhere This is the place.

Ready? Let's continue.

We have arrived. Wow, it's quite high!

This is the highest campsite in Thailand.

We have started cooking for our one-night stay. We bought beautiful white rice from the market, which is convenient because we don't have to cook it.

The accommodation includes a shared kitchen with a stove available for use. There is one restaurant on-site. Electricity and water are provided. The property also features restrooms and showers.

The students have secured their tents after the officials initially stated they were full. Fortunately, they were able to find space. Congratulations!

The sun is setting. I'm going to leave the food and watch the sunset first. Hehe.

Farewell, Sun.

May the morning sun shine upon us tomorrow.

After watching the sunset until the light faded, we returned to eat dinner: stir-fried vegetables and canned fish salad.

Stir-fried Chinese chives with egg, prepared by Chef Oh, was delicious. This was also Sun's first attempt at making scrambled eggs. They were so hungry that they couldn't wait to take a picture before digging in. They only managed to capture this much.

The children are currently sitting and talking in the tent, and they have brought a guitar for their evening meal.

At our tent, we were also eating and eating. Another thing is to check in and update social media. There is a signal here.

The stars are incredibly clear here. Jack is going to seclude himself to collect stars. The dew is heavy, and it's cold. I don't know the temperature, but I'm definitely not showering.

I found an elephant, it seems to have a cloudy lens. The fog is sticking to the lens. I'm about to cry.

We will start our hike to the top of the mountain at 4 am tomorrow.

We woke up at 3:30 AM and gathered at the tourist service center. We had hired a tour guide, who we had contacted the previous day.

The hike begins at 4:00 AM and covers a distance of approximately 3 kilometers. The trail includes some steep sections but is generally considered easy. Hiring a guide is not necessary, as the path is well-marked.

At times, Jack would walk ahead of the guide, strolling leisurely. What's funny is that the younger ones, the guys who looked physically fit, were the ones who were confused.

The children are exhausted and unable to continue walking. They ask the adults to go ahead, as it will take them approximately two hours to reach the mountain peak.

Ascend to await the sunrise. The temperature on the mountaintop is around 10 degrees Celsius. What I feared and had a premonition about since the path.

The dense fog blanketed everything in white, making it impossible to see anything.

Where has my sea of mist gone?

The only thing I can do is take pictures of people, flowers, and leaves.

The crowd was massive, and taking photos with the sign required queuing. After all, there was no sea of mist to photograph, so the sign was the only point of interest. After a while, a group of young people walked up, and we all shouted, "Here they come!"

I thought you wouldn't come up. Take pictures, take pictures! The students said, "The teachers are so strong!"

Awaiting the situation. The sun has risen but is obscured by fog.

It was agreed that we would go down to the campsite at 7:45 AM, as we had scheduled a car to pick us up at 9:00 AM.

The view did not improve, and it was time to descend. In this fog, we had to find beauty in the situation.

The trees along the way would make for a beautiful picture.

The misty atmosphere creates an ideal setting for capturing the essence of these trees.

The trees here are covered in moss, which is the origin of the name "Pha Hom Pok".

It takes about an hour to run down the hill.

Translation:

This is the way up the mountain.

The walkway is divided into sections, as follows:

The current temperature at the tent site is 15 degrees Celsius.

Waiting for all the ingredients to arrive, we'll boil water and make instant noodles. Oh, it's the most delicious instant noodles ever!

The last one came down. We packed our things and got ready to leave the mountain. We left at 10:30 am. The person who picked us up said, "Don't worry, take your time." 5555

After descending from the mountain, we continued our journey by car from the original meeting point at Tha Ton Market. The group of teachers continued on to Chiang Rai, while Jack returned to Bangkok with the students.

You can buy a ticket back to Bangkok at Tha Ton Pier. The ticket is for 4:30 PM. The suspense is not over yet. Jack left his luggage at the ticket booth for Chiang Rai and then went to eat with us. We waited for the time at Amazon.

As I approached 4 pm, I went to collect my bag. Oh my goodness! The owner had closed the shop and locked it with a padlock. My heart almost stopped.

If you don't arrive by 4:30 p.m., what will Jack do? 5555 Thinking, thinking, thinking, I'm excited. In conclusion, you arrived at 4 p.m.

The suspenseful journey has finally come to an end. I sat down to wait for the car with my younger siblings, Toy and Tonmai. The view behind us was beautiful, so we decided to take some pictures. This is what it looks like. It's cassava.

The last picture.

The time has come for the car to arrive. Jack and his younger siblings got on the car and returned to Mo Chit Airport safely.

The end of the year trip to Pai-Doi Pha Hom Pok is over. Thank you for making the Mae Hong Son tickets full. 5555 It made me able to collect beautiful views in Pai.

This was my first time going on a trip with my fellow teachers, and it was an incredibly enjoyable experience.

It was a pleasure meeting you all, and you made this trip so much more enjoyable.

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Experience cannot be bought, it must be earned through travel.

Enjoy your journey, everyone.

My journey by a little traveler.

Jack Rocker Photographer