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