Although i have been Thailand for countless time, but i have never been northern Thailand.
I can never forget what Lloyd told me about Pai in New Zealand, he said that is his favorite place in his 3 month Asia backpacking trip.
Although Malaysia is the neighbor of Thailand, but i never knew a place like Pai in Thai until Lloyd tells me in 2 years ago. He said Pai is indescribable you have to go and stay to experience what is the beauty of this little town.
Since than i was planning to go Pai, but always some other trips came in and i forced to delay Pai.
In September last year, John ask me to pick a destination for our first year anniversary trip, and Pai is my first and only choice.
There is a airport in Pai but i don't think any international flight stop in the airport, so we brought ticket to Chiangmai and take minivan for the 762 curves from Chiang Mai.
Yes, there are only 150km from Chiang Mai to Pai, but the minivan have to take 2 to 3 hours to reach, because there are 762 curves from Chiang Mai to Pai.
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| A is Chiang Mai Acade Bus Station, and B is Pai. You can see the curve from the blue line. |
If you wanna save time, you can choose to take Nok Air from Chiang Mai to Pai, reach in 20 minutes but both way ticket is about RM300 - RM400.
For us, i really wanna experience the 762 curves of the mountain road, Lloyd remind me to not miss the beautiful view all the way to Pai, so we take minivan after we take our motion sickness pill.
I will share how to go Pai from Chiang Mai to kick start my Pai trip.
How to go Pai from Chiang Mai?
1. Flight - Chiang Mai to Pai by Nok Air, 20 minutes flight, 2 ways tix cost abour RM 300 to RM 400.
2. Minivan - Chiang Mai to Pai take about 3 to 4 hours, across 762 curve in the mountain with beautiful view, one way ticket 150bath (RM 15)
If you take option 2 like us, you might be asking how to take minivan and time.
The bus station is within 20km aways from the airport, the minivan is very frequent, depart every 1 to 2 hours.
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| From A point, Chiang Mai airport to B point, Arcade Bus Station to catch minivan to Pai and other places. |
As for us, we reached Chiang Mai airport about 830am, then we catch a taxi to the Arcade Bus Station
(not the one beside river), and buy the minivan ticket on the spot.
How to go Chiang Mai Arcade Bus Station to take minivan to Pai?
1. Take taxi in the airport, tell the driver to Arcade Bus Station, or tell him you want to take bus to Pai (one way taxi fare 180 bath)
2. Walk into the old bus building and look for any ticket counter, people will direct you to right counter.
3. Buy your ticket, and double confirm the time (they depart earlier or late without announce) and know which is your minivan.
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| John snapped this. For your reference. |
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| We can understand no word in our minivan ticket. |
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| Our minivan that share with 10 people and lots of grocery. As Pai is not a develop place, driver will usually bring stuff from ChiangMai on the order basis for the villager. |
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| They bring stuff like BBQ equipment. |
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| We understand nothing, but local buy ticket here, i guess this is cheaper. |
I mean the curves is really bad, so curve that you think you're in off road rally.
Lloyd suggests us to take motion sickness pill and i really thanks his reminder. 12 people in the minivan, 3 were suffering car sick and throw up in the car.
Obviously driver is experience, he prepare lots of plastic and paper bag in the car. But you can imagine the smell in car :S!
We sit in the middle row of the van when we go to Pai, when going back to ChiangMai we ask for front sit. Sitting front can avoid car sick but you will defo not sleeping.
I took a short clip on one of the curve when we were going back to Chiang Mai.
Imagine 762 of these all the way. Now have you feel sick already?
We depart around 11am from Chiang Mai, stop for lunch and toilet break around 1230pm, 62km to go to Pai.
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| 62 km to go. |
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| Lunch on the village that we cross, Chiang Mai special food, Khoa Soi, taste like Laksaa in Malaysia. |
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| The food stall we had lunch is selling dry worm too, John want to buy one and i threaten him i will break up with him if he get this. |
My advice to take minivan from Chiang Mai to Pai:
1. Do take motion sickness pill, do not think 762 curves is nothing, do consider the driver fast & furious alike driving skill.
2. Do not rent a bike or car to Pai, the driver told us accident happen everyday, this is road on the mountain, you do not know familiar to the road too.
3. Avoid depart in early morning (thick fog, so poor visibility) and evening (sky turn dark, no road street light all the way to pai)
4. Take the front seat to avoid car sick, or more exciting view of road, haha.
Alright, next post will be Pai's hotel review and maybe some picture of the town.
I'm going to work soon so bai bai!!!
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
20130318, 1117am
Rach in monday blue mood.
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