Gone, Going, Gone

Pai.

An awesome, touristy, much like Chiang Mai province that I so luckily got to visit.

Laura, Anna, and I boarded a van for the long four hour drive out of Chiang Mai. Bumpy, twisty, crazy driving, cows blocking the road, ya know, the usual.

We arrived in Pai and I guess I was expecting something more remote. But nope! It was a ton like i'm used to here in Chiang Mai. Lots of shops and restaurants and massage places. The main difference. Hippies. They were everywhere here! Dreadlocks, baggy clothes, no makeup, big backpacks. Oh wait, that was just a description of me. I guess i'm adopting the whole hippie thing these days too. Consciously or not. I'm embracing it. I think the Aladdin pants just suck everyone in to be honest.

Anyway, after renting our bikes, which then got ran into by some Canadian who a) had a defective start button on his motor bike or b) just can't ride one at all like most falaangs, we headed on our 5km uphill bike ride to our destination. The Lisu Village.

I'm getting good at the whole bike riding thing these days. Other than being totally sore from the seat (does anyone knows how long that is even supposed to last??), bikes are no big deal. UNLESS you make it a steady incline in the boiling sun. Let's just say we ended up walking the bikes more than actually riding them..

This was my third hill tribe village since i've arrived in Thailand. Each has its own personality, almost completely different than the others! We stayed in a pretty nice house, there were lots of amazing hotel/bungalow places nearby, and a lot more modernized than the other two.

This is where we slept for the night. I just counted, in the one month i've been here i've slept in at least 6 different beds...

We were able to visit the day care. Can I just say I am a SUCKER for these kids. So cute! At first they wanted nothing to do with me and Laura. What was the ice breaker? Our cameras. They loved looking at themselves and their friends. Ohh it was hard to leave these kids! I would have been happy there all day.

Their faces speak for themselves!

This little guy was a total flirt!

They would all gather around to see their pictures. It was a great way for them to warm up to us. Thank you technology!

This reminded me of 101 Dalmatians. Ring a bell anyone?

These 2 little girls didn't leave my side once the camera came out. The little one in red kept stroking my leg or grabbing my hand. Ohh she was so cute!!

Aren't they so cute?! Love em

Then we got to see around the village. Including their Christian church, a Burmese market, a beautiful vacation stay place, and a lot more. The ladies that led us around and let us sleep in their home were so awesome. They speak Lisu so of course I don't know a word they were saying. One of them was so feisty though, I loved it! You could totally tell she was sassy even though I didn't know what she was saying. Love how that translates above the language barrier!

dark but oh well. These are the nice Lisu women in their traditional dress. Those outfits are VELVET!! And I thought I was hot?!

Pai was a pretty fun trip! We were even able to go down to their night market. Much smaller than Chiang Mai's though.

It was a great trip to meet the villagers and gain an understanding of the people i'm working for in this organization. It is so amazing to put faces to these people that I speak of in my work here. Once I see the womens groups that we are supporting, or the children that need that daycare, it reminds me just why i'm here. Although i'm enjoying the touristy stuff, these people are what is truly important. They are the reason I am here. So all in all, It was another great adventure in good ol Thailand.


Life lesson I learned on this trip though: If you need a self esteem boost... do NOT go clothes shopping in Asia. Just don't do it. And if you do, consider yourself warned (unless they are Aladdin pants, one size fits all.)