tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6735183199750147943.post5769214517578773804..comments2024-02-21T19:27:01.544+01:00Comments on The Italian Backpacker: Pai, backpacker's heaven or hell?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6735183199750147943.post-21327719670889371412017-01-10T20:45:50.119+01:002017-01-10T20:45:50.119+01:00Thank you for sharing this, Nico. Interesting to l...Thank you for sharing this, Nico. Interesting to learn how Pai became famous for Chinese tourists for a movie. It happens with Indian films as well I'm told. I've seen a picture of the land split the other day and I was surprised that we didn't stop there! I'll make sure to go if I visit again Pai. It looks astounding!Stefania - The Italian Backpackerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02208023950547260256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6735183199750147943.post-46948280767108189582017-01-05T15:18:51.404+01:002017-01-05T15:18:51.404+01:00I used to live in Mae Hee, a small village, 2.5km ...I used to live in Mae Hee, a small village, 2.5km from Pai, and I completely agree with you that the countryside is the best part of the area. I saw and photographed so much wildlife during my time there - it was heavenly! <br /><br />Getting to know some of the local people in the village was good too - a far cry from the hippies and stoners in the town!<br /><br />Although saying that, the hippies and stoners in Pai were so much better than the ones in Chiang Mai (where I lived for a year and a half)! At least the ones I came across in Pai weren't pretending to be entrepreneurs)!<br /><br />As for the food, if you know where to find it, there is some very good stuff... but you may not come across it on Walking Street.<br /><br />Re. the Chinese tourists, a lot of it is due to a film called 'Pai in Love'. Before it came out, Pai was pretty much unknown to the average Chinese tourist, then suddenly they started making pilgrimages. Especially to Strawberry (and the other one nearby, the name of which escapes me right now). <br /><br />From personal experience, I can tell you that some of them are a pain in the neck - usually silly young girls hiring scooters, never having driven them before, and without any kind of driving licence. They are a danger to themselves and to other road users and pedestrians. Also, most of the Chinese tourists seem to be blissfully ignorant of their surroundings, often stopping in the middle of the road to look at a map, take a selfie, or whatever. They do it in Chiang Mai too, and it can be very problematic.<br /><br />I've not actually visited Pai Canyon but Land Split, not far from there is fab! It's basically an enterprising family whose land has been split apart by various earthquakes, so they've opened it up as a tourist attraction. They don't charge to visit but they do have a kind of café. But it's a café with a difference; they bring you a selection of food and drink they've grown and prepared themselves, and then you pay what you think it was worth. I can tell you that the food is fantastic. They actually gave me a tour of their farm, and insisted I took a load of fresh fruit and veggies when I left! If you ever return to Pai, do pay them a visit!<br /><br />And if you do go back, either drive yourself in a car - it's a lovely journey around the mountains, and far less nauseating, I'm told, than taking the bus - or fly up from Chiang Mai. I must admit that as much as I love driving between between Chiang Mai and Pai, the 20 minute flight in a little Cessna is the best thing ever (especially when you fly over your house!)!Nico @ yumsomehttp://www.yumsome.com/noreply@blogger.com