Pai & Mae Hong Song Valley

The amazing area around Pai in the Mae Hong Song valley.
Ask at the Hotel desk for the next tour to Pai or take a bus. Mini buses go there and back every day twice a day. Again very inexpensive.

Accessible from Chang Mai is a place that you should not miss. The road there is called the road of three thousand curves. If you get car sick at all take your pills first.

The village is filled with very inexpensive cabins, however, it is a good idea to look at the room before you say you will stay. Make sure of the price in baht each night. Usually there is no need to book ahead.

Pai is a sort of a small hippie town filled with small shops, Internet cafes, restaurants, American, Italians, and Thai, many other smaller options are also available.
There is a doctor in the back of the pharmacy, in case you become ill so far away from Chang Mai.

The real draw for Pai is the Elephants. You can ride them bareback two hours, and at the end of the ride through the beautiful countryside you play in the river with them. You won't find any of this in any tourist book. We happened upon it after visiting the local Hot Springs. Noticing people riding elephants we started to look around. Very inexpensive. The elephant ride is a do not miss. Once in a lifetime experience

Koh Samui, More on the beach

The resort beaches on the Island are just like any other beach resorts, beach vendors. We know them as the hounds that keep you from just looking out at the water in splendor just thinking of nothing. No work, no problems. Just these people that hound you all day. The trick to that is not to look at them. If you really don't want to look at what they have to sell, don't look their direction or have eye contact. These people work at this all day. They can spot a turn or a look in seconds.

If you do want to look don't settle for their first price. It is almost always twice as much at least than the thing you are trying to by is worth in the store. I purchased a bed cover, for 1/3 what the store wanted. I was thrilled.

There was, however, one I especially liked that came by while dinner was being served on the beach. He carried a large paper balloon that was propelled like a hot air balloon. On a clear night you could see the light from it for, it seemed, miles in the sky. Like a star in the night sky, make a wish and let it go. They can be purchased for about 100 baht. Sorry I do not have a picture.
The end to a perfect night on the beach

Koh Samui

Recently I spent two weeks on Koh Samui.
Amazing, I guess that's why they call it "Amazing Thailand". We stayed at OP Bungalows, near Chaweng in a beautiful garden setting.


The restaurant attached to the Bungalows has wonderful food, helpful people, pictures and English explanations of the food and reasonable prices. Service is great. Drinks are amazing and also inexpensive.

The beach is gorgeous, large trees cover part of the beach near the restaurant when you don't want sun but when you do, they have chase loungers nearer the water. Lots of room for everyone. Bungalows go for 850 baht to 1500 baht (remember the baht is at this time worth 34 of the American dollars) Very nice, clean, porches on all and air conditioning. What else could you want. I am not paid for this article, it is however my favorite place to stay.
Phone #(66-77)422 424, Fax#(66-77) 422-425, Address OP Bungalows, 111 Chaweng Beach, Suratthani 84320, Thailand



Koh Samui has a lot t

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o offer the traveler. It is a circle loop road going around the island community to community. You can take a tuk-tuk or from place to place for pennies.
Koh Samui is easy to get to. You can go by plane for about $90.00 US each way per person. There is a ferry that takes buses from Bangkok large VIP buses with 24 first class airplane seats each. I enjoy taking the night train from Bangkok, changing in Surat Thani to bus a short distance and then to a passenger boat to the island. Very interesting trip with lots of twists. If you like adventure this is the way to go for sure.

For your reading pleasure the lady at Saii Books can hook you up with the latest English language novel as well as trips, bus tickets, train tickets. check it out. She is great!

Koh Samui your next National Geographic Thailand destination

Thailand Traveler, visit and you will love it.

Having the good luck to have a Son living in Thailand, I have had an opportunity to visit many places. Here are only a few.

Golden Triangle, the sight of the three countries coming together.
Chang Rai,
Chang Mai, temples and tribes
Bangkok and surrounding attractions
Koh Samui
Lao
Bridge of Friendship
Mukdahan
Pai and elephant riding in the river.

I find it easy to get around, language somewhat difficult but not impossible, people the best I have ever met, sweet, kind, who live by a standard of Honor, Truth, Trust, and above all the love of their King, and his family.

I hope you enjoy future postings as this is my first, to introduce myself as a Thailand Traveler.