Pai is a small town in northern Thailand near the Myanmar border, north of Chiang Mai. It lies along the Pai River and was once a quiet market village inhabited by Shan people whose culture is influenced by Burma. It was reached after a spectacular three hour mini-bus ride from Chiang Mai, along high winding roads through scenic mountains.
"....halfway between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son the mountain road makes a winding descent into a large green valley carpeted with rice paddies and fruit groves. Mountains rise on all sides and butterflies flit along the streets." Tourist guide
End of the road for vehicles
View across the River Pai on arrival at midday
Afternoon view of bamboo bridge
Barb at Pai
Barb by the Pai River
Our cabin
Our bed
Our private outdoor shower
Rim Pai Cottages bloom - spider lily
Bouganvillea
Cheap scooters for hire
Mirror in the main street
Early morning light over the River Pai
Morning view of village across the river
Exploring one of the holiday villages across the river
Woman doing laundry at river's edge
A bamboo waterwheel channelling river water to the gardens in the village
View across the river in the morning
Village detail
View upstream, mid morning
Typical rubbish bin outside a house
Woman setting up a stall in the evening market
Evening market vendor
Evening market vendor
Old Buddhist temple, detail
Another building in the old temple
Carver working on pieces for the new temple
Some of the finished carvings in the partly built temple
Aboard a motorbike for a ride into the hills.
Heavily laden
Where does the petrol go?
The beloved Queen Sirikit - poster outside the Pai School