Trip from Pai to Mae Hong Sorn 1/2

(ภาษาไทย ทริปจากปาย ไป แม่ฮ่องสอน 1/2, 2/2)

This day was more about exploring…Mae Hong Sorn, the “Shangri-La” of Thailand.

Mae Hong Sorn is one of Thailand’s dream destinations.

It attracts a growing number of tourists because of its spectacular scenery, numerous hill tribe communities, and adventure opportunities….

If you like to go to exotic destinations away from the hordes, and explore places largely off-the-beaten mainstream tourist track, this is for you.
We got a tour package from one of the many shops along the walking street in Pai.There so many tour agencies in Pai, but we went with Duang Trekking (Tel. 053 699101) because we liked talking with the guide when we met him on the street.
Keep in mind that we didn’t do any real comparison other than a quick price check between the many guide services, I’m sure they were all nice.
Our trip costs 600 baht (~$20 not including some (minimal) admission fees during the trip), I will talk more about those later.

The trip included 9 programs starting with a view point (Luk Khoa Lam) for some quick pictures, Big Lake (Pang Oung), Baan Rak Thai, Phasua Waterfall, Mud spa, Long neck village, Temple on the hill, Fish cave and then another stop for a last view point (Kiw Lom). The tour guide who was also the driver started to gather tourist at their hotel about 5 in the morning….!

After we were all on board, we all kind of napped to the first stop (about 1 hour away from Pai!!!)

It’s our 1st program tour “View Point – Luk Khao Lam” The Viewpoint??? It’s very dark and hard to see anything at 6 o’clock in the morning… The sign said that we have been passed the 1,548 curves already!

Anyway, there was a bathroom, so it was a GREAT stop!

After that we drove and drove for about 2 hours and 1,864 curves, to stop at a field that looks like a school playground. Our tour guide/driver showed us where to buy a truck taxi ticket (I still have no idea where I am? Or what I have to do? Nobody telling us for what we are doing?!?!?!)

But we got the ticket which cost 50 baht each (same price for Thai and Foreigners). I could find out after I got the ticket for truck taxi that we’re going to Paang Oung!

(2) The Big Lake (Pang-Oung)

Oh my goodness!!! Another 30 minutes and maybe another hundreds curves on the truck taxi to get up to the big lake “Pang Oung”!!!

After jumped off the truck, I was glad that they have dried fruits selling here – it helped a lot from motion sickness! Also, all the local food looked great for us – we’re really hungry!

Pang Oung is part of a reser voir project developed under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. As the valleys were filled with water, the shores were replanted and now provide very serene groves for couples to walk under providing a soft, golden light. In the evenings, the water acts like a mirror, reflecting the star-studded sky above.

There are a raft service but we didn’t try it, also the homestay services are around here – it’s nice idea to spend the real time with the local people, it’s so peaceful village.

After that, we ahead to (3) Baan Rak Thai, a village near the Myanmar border where we got some breakfast.

This is similar to the Chinese village in Pai but a different view.
Nice view by the river, also the sign (above picture) says “Top of Thailand at Baan Rak Thai, Mae Hong Sorn province…”

The Chinese cuisine is famous!Here is also a well known tea and local wine, you will get to try for free after your meal…Try the boiled rich with pork and mushroom (50 baht) and or deep baked pork with Chinese hurbs (270 baht).

It’s always better after we got food. Our tour guide took 30 another minute drive to Phasua – the waterfall, which starts more than 488km away in Myanmar.