Chiang Mai to Pai
- mollyben98
- Feb 4, 2018
- 4 min read
We landed in Chiang Mai around 2pm and got a taxi to Brick House Hostel for 150THB. Got to Brick House, dropped our bags off and headed out to find a food market that we’d been told about by the staff at the hostel. After walking in circles for a good 45 minutes we decided it wasn’t meant to be and went to a cool little, what I believe to be, Japanese place called Benjamin’s Kitchen.
While we were there we booked the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (1700THB each) for the following morning and I did some research about Sak Yant tattooing. Following a delicious meal of gyozas and ramen we walked to Sak Yant Chiang Mai and booked my tattoo (2500THB total) then met Harvey & Daisy for dinner at the original Cooking Love (great reviews on trip advisor). I had a banana curry, which was delicious, accompanied by a local Chiang Mai ale. We had three appetisers, a drink and a main each for less than £6 pp.
(Mol and I with the baby male elephant)
Our alarms went off at 6am the next morning for our Elephant Jungle Sanctuary experience. We’d heard good things about it and it did not disappoint! We arrived just after 8.30 and were kitted out in the traditional shirts before being introduced to the Elephants and feeding them bananas and pumpkins. Following that we headed into the mud with them, they use the wet mud as sunscreen to keep them cool in th hot sun, then down to the river for a wash. It was a truly incredible experience that we will never forget. Worth every penny!
(Bon bon! Feeding call for the Elephants)
(Chowing down on a tasty pumpkin)
We were dropped back to our hostel around 1.30pm and chilled for a bit before heading to a cute little cafe Harvey & Daisy had recommended to us for the most delicious bagel and peanut butter toastie. It’s called The Hideout and I would urge anyone in Chiang Mai to visit! After filling up on carbs we walked to Sak Yant Chiang Mai for my traditional tattoo.
(My offering to the Ajarn: flowers, cigarettes and 1000THB, with my desired design)
We sat with one of the English speaking guides and explained what I wanted, she then passed on my thoughts to the Ajarn (a former Buddhist monk). He blessed me and the tattoo then lined up the stencil on my back then got to work in what was one of the most uncomfortable 30 minutes of my life. It was a traditional Buddhist tattoo so he used a steel rod & needle and freehanded the majority of the tattoo, referencing the stencil for the basic outline. Once finished he recited a mantra and blessed me three times with branches and water. I got cleaned up then was given a candle and three incense sticks and told to visit a Temple in the next 24 hours to reflect on my experience and the blessings bestowed upon me. Unfortunately I can’t upload a video to the blog but I put a clip of the technique on my Instagram.
(My personal Sak Yang tattoo: Dokmai Sawan meaning family, kindness, compassion, success, charm, protection, luck and happiness)
That night we met up with Harvey and Daisy again and went to a huge night market for gyoza and beers.
(At the local market learning about ingredients)
The next morning we got picked up at 9am for our cooking class at Thai Kitchen Cookery Centre. We were taken to the market and learnt about the different ingredients we’d be cooking with then headed to the school to cook up some delicious meals. We cooked spring rolls, Thai herb and chicken & coconut soup, a green & a massaman curry, fried chicken & cashew and fried chicken & basil - all of which were delicious! We were also served this amazing cold tea that changed colour the more lime juice you added to it.
In the afternoon Molly and I hired a moped and drove into the mountains to the Strawberry Fields for some amazing views of Chiang Mai.
(Strawberry/sunflower field views)
The next day we were due to leave for Pai but unfortunately Daisy still wasn’t feeling well so Harvey, Molly and I drove into the mountains to visit one of Thailand’s highest temples. Our mate Hassan, who Mol & I met in Phuket joined us too. We went for food at an amazing little Italian restaurant that night with everyone then headed back to the hostel for some pool.
(Local sweethearts)
We set off on the mopeds for Pai around 11am the next morning after yet another amazing breakfast from The Hideout. We hired them from Aya Services for 540B, that price includes the transfer of our bags to Pai and bike drop off in Pai.
If you’re planning to drive from Chiang Mai to Pai, make sure you get to Aya as early as possible as the bikes sell out quick! We got there at 9am and luckily got the last two Scoopys (110cc).
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