Ever thought about traveling to Southeast Asia? Well, Thailand is the obvious place to start. Bangkok might as well be a bus station because in order to get to all the wonderful places in that part of the world, you will undoubtedly end up there at one point or another. It doesn't matter what you decide to do, whether to take a slow boat down the Mekong in Laos, go to Angkor Wat in Cambodia or see the Petronas towers of Malaysia, you will be hard-pressed to avoid the hustle and bustle of Bangkok!
That said, Thailand has lots of little nooks and crannies that will make you very sad if you missed them! One of the most amazing of these little towns for me was Pai! Pai is located in Northern Thailand, close to the border of Burma (Myanmar). Don't worry about all the crazy things you heard about Burma as Pai is completely isolated. This quaint little town is in the mountains and it's unlike any place I have ever seen. The entire population measures about 3,000 residents and most of them are expats. The center of town is only 3 streets filled with bars, clubs and restaurants ranging from decadent opulence to the streetside peddlers. And patrons of these establishments vary from Thai vacationers to travelers of all ages from around the world. Should you choose to stay there a week you will feel like you know everyone! In fact, after 5 days, you'll spot the starry-eyed newcomers as if you'd been there for years.
As most small towns go, this one is very different! People who go there for a few days, usually end up overstaying their initial plan. As small as this town is, there is a plethora of things to do and that is the magic of this enchanted little mountain town. A scooter should cost you no more than 80 bhat ($3 US) per day so renting one and exploring the area is an absolute must. Within a 20 minute ride, the magic will be at your fingertips. Picturesque waterfalls, rejuvenating hot springs, ancient temples and an elephant park are just a few of the many escapes to indulge in during your stay.
As small as this town may seem at first, the sheer volume of entertainment is mind-blowing! Hip little bars are found in places you never could imagine! You have poi-spinning dancers as entertainment, while the ultra-cool decor will draw you to others. If live music is your thing, there is an amazing jazz bar with live performances nightly that are actually really good! If you're lucky and a bit savvy, you'll find bars that are so hidden that only someone special will be able take you there. This is a place that will capture your imagination and surprise you every moment that you are lucky enough to spend there.
In short, the experience I had in Pai change my entire trip to Southeast Asia! I initially planned on staying for no more than a couple of days. But when I finally returned the motorbike, I was shocked to see the bill. I lost all track of time and spent close to a month there. But having made several great friends, I ended up traveling with them through Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and saw other people I met in Pai in every one of those countries. I don't regret a single minute of the time I spent there! And should you decide to go there, I guarantee you will feel the same way! Happy travels my friends!
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