Pine Forest Wat Chan - Pai

A short 3-day, 2-night trip to 2 provinces, an emergency trip caused by another allergic reaction to Bangkok.

This time, we had a 6:50 AM flight. We arrived at Don Mueang Airport at 5:30 AM, giving us plenty of time to explore the airport. We sat down to wait for our boarding call and took some photos before boarding.

Soaring above the clouds, enjoying the view for a whole hour.

Leaving early in the morning, we arrived before the sun was too high in the sky.

We arrived at Chiang Mai Airport a little early, so we started walking from the airport to Chang Phuak Bus Station. Normally, when we come to Chiang Mai, we like to take our time and soak in the atmosphere like a snail. On the way, we stopped by Wat Pan Sao.

Continuing a short distance further, we arrived at Chang Phuak Bus Station. There are two buses to Ban Wat Chan, Kalayaniwattana District, departing at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. The fare is 140-160 baht, and the journey takes 4-5 hours. We arrived in time for the 9:00 AM bus, which departed on time. The route taken by the songthaew passed through Mae Rim, Samoeng, and Ban Wat Chan, with a halfway stop at Samoeng.

It's time to continue our journey. The road is starting to wind, so we need to hold on tight to the rails. Be sure to keep your balance as the curves throw us around.

After being tossed around for two hours, we arrived at the stop near Wat Chan. The songthaew driver was going to the hospital, so we had to get off here. It was already 2:30 pm when we got off the bus, a total of 5 and a half hours. Since we were already in front of the temple, we decided to explore it a bit.

The temple was very peaceful. Just as we were enjoying ourselves, the rain came down in torrents. We had to take shelter in a shop that sells groceries and cooked-to-order food. The owner of the shop called the staff at the Royal Project at Wat Chan Moon for us. They said that we could stay there, but we would have to bring our own food. There were no staff available to pick us up as they were all busy in town. Oh well, another adventure for us! But it's okay, we're in the middle of a community, so it won't be difficult to find a car. Let's order some food first.

An additional box of rice was ordered, along with fruits and drinks, for a total of 90 baht. The friendly owner even delivered the food to us on his motorbike. Upon arrival, we contacted the accommodation, which offered a discounted rate of 600 baht due to the rainy season. The house was comfortable, with a cozy bed and a bathroom equipped with hot water and a kettle.

The rain is still falling, so exploring the surrounding area wouldn't be enjoyable. I'll take some pictures around the house for now.

The rain has stopped, it's time to have some fun in the pine forest of Wat Chan before it gets dark.

This evening, the moon is out for all to see. It is truly peaceful here, and I am the only tourist around.

The next morning, I woke up with the intention of capturing the mist over the reservoir. As I opened the door of my accommodation, the cold air sent me scurrying back inside to grab a sweater. Visiting on a weekday meant I had the stunning views all to myself, with no one else around to compete for the perfect shot.

Taking a closer look at the atmosphere around the pine forest of Wat Chan.

This morning, there was limited time to spare. The only public songthaew to Pai departed at 8:00 AM. After showering and packing my belongings, I rushed to the front of the sign for the Royal Project at Ban Wat Chan to wait for the songthaew.

The bus arrived 5 minutes late and didn't travel very fast. Throughout the journey, local women would ask the driver to buy things for them or take their goods to sell. It was a charming and enjoyable route. After a little over 3 hours, we arrived at Pai Bus Station. The fare was 80 baht. It was the green season, and with it being a weekday, there was no need to book accommodation. We could simply walk around and choose a place we liked. We walked to the end of the walking street and decided to cross the bamboo bridge over the Pai River and stay on the other side.

We found 3-4 accommodations in this area, but the one that caught our eye due to its greenery and tranquility was Pai Country Hut. During the rainy season, it costs 400 baht per night. The accommodation is made of woven bamboo with an ensuite bathroom accessible by stairs. It was clean, and the bed was comfortable with no odor. There were also hammocks to relax in front of the house.

After packing, it was time to explore Pai. The best way to get around is by renting a motorbike. There are many shops to choose from, and the condition of the bikes is similar. The prices are also comparable between shops. We rented from our usual shop because they offer additional insurance. It's not that we're afraid of falling, but we once parked our bike and it got knocked over. The rental fee is 140 baht, accident insurance is 40 baht, and a 1,000 baht deposit is required along with your ID card. You need to fill up the tank yourself, which costs around 80 baht, and then you're ready to explore.

The first stop was Wat Nam Hoo, located outside the city towards Pai Hospital.

Leaving the temple, we followed the path to Mor Paeng Waterfall. The water flow was a bit low, but it was still very cool and refreshing. We climbed up for a high-angle view.

After a refreshing dip in the water, we returned to Wat Mor Paeng. This time, we didn't go up to the viharn as we were still wet from the waterfall.

Returning to the city to visit Wat Sri Don Chai, the first temple in Pai, which is over 700 years old.

This route offers numerous accommodation options as it winds its way up the mountain to Wat Phra That Mae Yen, bypassing the city center.

Enjoy the view of Pai city. It's green like this during the rainy season.

It didn't take long for us to reach the Tha Pai Hot Spring, located within the Huai Nam Dang National Park. The entrance fee was 20 baht, and the motorbike fee was 30 baht. We spent quite a bit of time here, relishing the warmth of the natural hot springs.

She likes it.

We then continued on to the Paem Bok Waterfall, riding along the path to Paem Bok Village. Our final destination was the Bun-Khok Ku So Bridge, a bamboo bridge in Pai. The uphill climb was extremely challenging for inexperienced riders like us.

The initial intention was to stay and watch the sunset, but if it gets dark, the way back will be extremely challenging. We will have to hurry back to the city before it gets dark.

We arrived just before nightfall, ready to embark on a culinary adventure at the Pai Walking Street.

While eating, I felt someone's eyes on me. I looked around and saw a young girl who wanted to play. She gave me an inviting look, so I went to play with her. She was very strong and slammed into me, making me lose my balance.

Returning to the accommodation, I sat and admired the moon amidst the chilly air. I was the only Thai customer here, and the foreigners were very quiet.

On the third morning of the trip, we explored Pai a little more.

The End of the Adventure: Returning to Chiang Mai

The time for fun has come to an end. It's time to return the room and the motorbike, and hop on a van back to Chiang Mai. The fare is 150 baht. During peak tourist season, it's advisable to book in advance to avoid getting stuck in the back row, which can significantly increase the risk of motion sickness.

The journey from Pai to Chiang Mai Arcade by van took 2 hours. From the arcade, we chose to walk. Along the way, we came across delicious food. Luckily, it wasn't sold out yet. We had 2-baht pork satay per stick, which was delicious and filling at an affordable price. We finished off with a bowl of instant noodles with tom yum soup.

After enjoying the meal, they walked to the Ping River to escape the sun. The water was much redder than usual.

After the heat subsided, we continued walking to Wat Chedi Luang Worawihan.

Continue walking to Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan to pay respects to Phra Buddha Sihing of Chiang Mai and Phra That Luang, the Buddha image for the year of the Goat.

With plenty of time to spare, I decided to visit three cozy cafes to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee.

It's time to head to the airport. We have plenty of time, so we can stop by a few places along the way.

Upon arriving at the airport, he was mischievous again.

Note: The original text is empty, so the translation is also empty.

In recent flights, we have consistently chosen to sit in the same seat. Remarkably, Nok Air has been accommodating, leaving the seat next to us vacant regardless of the flight's occupancy. Perhaps they fear that we might bite other passengers who sit next to us.

An unforgettable 3-day, 2-night trip to two provinces.

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The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.