Summer Style Pai - Mae Hong Son - Chiang Mai 20 Degrees Take You to Chill

Hello! After a long break from travel reviews,

This trip will review "Summer Style Pai - Mae Hong Son - Chiang Mai" at 20 degrees Celsius.

The journey took place from April 26, 2016 to April 29, 2016.

From Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son, a total of 3 nights and 4 days for 4,160 baht.

The trip was initiated by two friends, one with a desire and the other with a willingness to fulfill it. The close friend, with almost four days of free time, declared that she would not be content to simply stay in her room. The question then arose: who would be responsible for making this happen?

One Week Before the Trip

Narrator: Where are we going?

Friend: I don't know yet. (That's the answer.) She wants to go to Chiang Mai.

Narrator: Have you booked anything? Transportation, flights, accommodation? Can I see your plan?

Friend: (Silence)

Driven by our insatiable wanderlust, we embarked on a relentless search for the perfect getaway. Browsing countless websites, we stumbled upon an irresistible deal: round-trip flights to Chiang Mai at an unbeatable price of 1,450 baht per person. Without hesitation, we seized the opportunity and booked our tickets, eager to embark on an unforgettable adventure.

>>>>> DAY 1 April 26, 2016 <<<<<

Our roundtrip flights were with Lion Air.
Snacks were provided on the flights, consisting of one piece of pastry and one cup of water.

10:20 AM, we arrived in Chiang Mai. Our next destination was the Arcade Bus Terminal. We booked van tickets to Pai with Prem Pracha company for 150 baht per person per trip.

Initially, we looked for the 15-20 baht white air-conditioned buses, but we couldn't find them. We asked a taxi driver, and he told us it would take a long time, so we decided to take a red songthaew instead.

The first songthaew driver we asked, "How much to the Arcade?" He shook his head. We asked the second driver the same question, and he also shook his head. I looked at my friend and said, "Go ahead."

Then she looked back and asked, "50 baht?" Um…

After searching for a while, we found the van parked at the old building.
The journey took about 3 hours to reach Pai. Of course, we had to rely on Dimen, a motion sickness medication.
We split the pill in half, 25 mg each. My petite friend slept all the way to Pai.
I knew I was feeling the effects halfway through, but I didn't vomit. However, I felt lightheaded and almost sat on the lap of the person next to me.
( If I do vomit, I'll let you know the coordinates later. )

Approximately 2:30 PM, we arrived in Pai safely. Since we hadn't booked accommodation in advance, we started looking for a place to stay. We walked to the riverside and found a hotel that we liked. We asked the price, which was 700 baht. We walked back and forth and asked if they could offer a discount. They agreed to reduce the price by 100 baht, bringing the total to 600 baht. The hotel, NAMU HOTEL, is located on the walking street. It has air conditioning, a fan, a wardrobe, a bed, a water heater, a TV, and a refrigerator. The room is spacious and not cramped. The room is clean, and the walls are made of polished concrete, which gives a cool feeling.

Pai district, Mae Hong Son province, is located next to Chiang Mai province and borders Myanmar. Most people prefer to visit during the winter season.

The charm of Pai district lies in the Pai River and the community lifestyle. Many people from various provinces and countries flock to visit.

It's like being a foreigner when visiting Pai. There are mostly foreigners, and even fewer Thai people.

After a refreshing nap, we headed straight to the iconic wooden bridge in front of our accommodation, Pai in Dream. The Pai River wasn't overflowing today, but it wasn't completely dry either.

The "Walking Street" market takes place every day from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. It features traditional performances, live music, food stalls, and poster shops.

After sitting for a while, I started to feel nauseous.
I found a place to vomit near a lamppost.
** We were unable to gather any details about the shops and restaurants in Pai. ** I need to rest for a moment.

It is said that if you visit Pai and don't try Khao Puk, it's like you haven't been to Pai at all. Khao Puk is a local dish made by pounding rice and grilling it. It is typically served with milk, wrapped like a roti, and cut into bite-sized pieces. The texture is crunchy and satisfying.

"Mala" could be a spicy pepper, but I'm not sure. I'm asking while walking and doing errands (vomiting)."

Fried dumplings for 10 baht.

>>>>> April 27, 2016 <<<<<

This morning, we woke up early to reach our distant destination, the Rak Thai village. We had booked accommodation at the Liwaen Rak Thai Resort.
After calling the car rental shop, we learned that they open at 8:00 AM.
It is said that when visiting Pai, one must try the local porridge. It was delicious and affordable at only 25 baht.
Our next stop was the Santichon Village, Yun Lai Sea of Mist.

After a refreshing cup of tea, we continued our journey for three hours. We took the route from Pai to Pang Ma Pha, passing through the villages of Ban Mae Kampong and Ban Rak Thai. The total distance was approximately 130 kilometers, not too far, but the route involved ascending and descending mountains with numerous sharp turns. We took breaks whenever we felt tired.

Exhaustion melts away upon arrival at our accommodation. It's no wonder why so many people choose to stay here.

While other places swelter under the scorching sun, here the air remains pleasantly cool. Even with today's power outage, we slept comfortably in our room.

Lee Wine Rak Thai Resort offers a comfortable stay for 900 baht, including breakfast and a 5% discount coupon for dinner.

Guests can also enjoy a 10% discount on souvenir purchases.

For room reservations, please contact Lee Wine Rak Thai Resort at 089-552-8650.

Evening view from the Liwaine Rak Thai kitchen.

For dinner, we enjoyed a meal at the kitchen of Lee Wine Rak Thai. The menu included stir-fried chayote, Yunnan-style three-flavored fish, and minced pork omelet, with a total cost of over 500 baht.

After lunch, we went to enjoy the view.
The dam in the mist is the Ban Rak Thai Lake and a viewpoint.

The good news is that the phone signal is back, *only for TrueMoveH*. However, the bad news is that the power is still out. We were starting to worry that we would be hot, but we weren't. We slept comfortably watching HTV. #TeamSom

(The power went out at 10 pm that day, and the weather was so cool that I didn't need to turn on the fan.)
(I went out to collect elephants and stars at 3 am, and the fog was so thick that my clothes got wet.)

>>>>> DAY 3 <<<<<

Good morning! We checked out of our accommodation and are now on our way to Pang Ung. We wanted to arrive early to see the morning mist over the water. Note: We didn't have breakfast at Lee Wine Rak Thai because the kitchen opens at 8:00 AM.

Source: 20 degrees Celsius is cool. It's summer, you know!

Dam in the mist, or mist in the dam?

The drive from Rak Thai Village to Pang Ung, a distance of 13 kilometers, takes approximately 25 minutes. There are road signs along the way, so there is no need to worry about getting lost. However, I was a little apprehensive as I approached, wondering if I was on the right track. 555

The majority of the local population engages in agriculture as their primary occupation. Based on my inquiries, garlic and shallot farms are prevalent. However, the most noticeable crop is cabbage.

We have arrived at ... Pang Tong Reservoir (Pang Ung).

However, there was no mist floating on the water today. I wasn't too disappointed, as I had already consoled myself before coming.

Our stay at Pang Ung was short-lived due to the fear of scorching sun. We hastily returned to Pai via the same route. However, our first mistake emerged: we had failed to book a return ticket from Pai to Chiang Mai. Upon checking at Pang Mapha, we discovered that all tickets were fully booked! The earliest available slot was at 13:00, which we reluctantly accepted as it was better than being stranded.

During a rest stop, I witnessed a young child, approximately 4-5 years old, exhibiting signs of nausea. I foolishly made a remark about the child's potential to vomit, only to find myself unexpectedly experiencing the same fate.

** Due to the character limit of the post, please continue below. **

Thank you for watching and listening. ^^ Feel free to ask any questions.

Next stop, Chiang Mai.

After getting off the van at Akat, we had our eyes on the Diamond Grand Hotel, which is next to Akat, since the day we arrived.

So we went in to ask about the prices. 4th floor = 490 baht, 3rd floor = 590 baht, 2nd floor = 690 baht.

Of course, with our looks, our social status, and our wallets, we chose the 4th floor. It's economical.

The room deposit is 200 baht.

We rented a motorbike at bikkychiangmai for 200 baht per day, which is already a discounted price. If you are a member of their website, you can get an additional 25 baht discount per day per bike. We used their service before and were satisfied, so we decided to use it again.

Note: When returning the bike, we used their airport pick-up service, which costs an additional 50 baht. This was more convenient and cost-effective compared to taking a taxi.

Huay Kaew Reservoir (near Chiang Mai University) is said to have beautiful scenery, friendly people, and good events. It's a great place to visit!

The body craves fermented fish paste. We visited this restaurant based on previous reviews, and it's still located on Nimmanhaemin Road. This time, the bill came to a little over 100 baht, but I can't recall the exact amount.

Following dessert, we headed to ihko THE VOLCANO, located behind Chiang Mai University. This establishment offers Butterbeer, which my friend ordered. She jokingly commented that it lacked the "Harry" label seen in the picture, revealing her true identity as a fan. The staff at this establishment are known for their attractiveness, particularly among the male and gay clientele.

>>>> DAY 4 April 29, 2016 <<<<

Today was a very busy day. She had time until noon, but she had a lot to do.

The First Restaurant: "Khao Soi Simeo Jai"

Located at the GPS coordinates provided, "Khao Soi Simeo Jai" offers a standard price of 40 baht for its dishes.

The restaurant boasts a diverse menu, and we ordered a variety of dishes, all of which were delicious. We highly recommend trying this restaurant.

The dessert shop "Cheevit Cheeva" is located near Nimmanhaemin Road. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and has a pleasant atmosphere, which is likely to appeal to young people. The B.stawberry dessert, priced at 169 baht, is reminiscent of a childhood treat made with condensed milk and ice. It is recommended to try this delicious dessert.

I think it's sold out, right? No, it's not sold out yet. "Guroti and Chachak Shop" on Nimmanha Road. The shop will serve hot tea first. The price is...normal roti is 29 baht, tissue roti is 35 baht. Watermelon smoothie is 50 baht, I think.

Total 9,000 baht. This is the remaining balance.

This marks the end of our "Summer in Pai - Mae Hong Son - Chiang Mai" trip.

This trip taught me the importance of embracing the unexpected. Be prepared for the heat, but don't let it deter you from experiencing new things. Don't let the season be an excuse to stay indoors. My information may not be complete, so feel free to ask questions through messages or comments. I'm happy to help.