Monday, December 26, 2016

Curving Our Way to The Land Split and Pai

Friday, December 22 found us gathering up our stuff, leaving some things in Martha’s apartment that we didn’t need to cart around the countryside and climbing into a cute little Toyota rental car. Off we went, with Tee being our driver--a very good one he turned out to be! So patient!

We headed north and west toward the town of Pai, though our actual destination was the farm called The Land Split just outside of town. More on that later.
Like any road trip, we had to make potty break stops.
This stop had this large lizardy rock carving. Very cool! Definitely being watched. : )
Taking a stretch. We pretty quickly left the valley that includes Chiang Mai and headed into the mountains.
Tee, who had not had breakfast with the rest of us at the guest house in Chiang Mai started cruising the roadside stalls for something that looked good. We stopped here, where he chatted with a friend and he ate. I took this photo mainly for Phil. Notice the metal roofing. It’s very prevalent here...much like the standing rib we have at home, except it runs across the building and laps it’s way up instead of strips running down from the peak and overlapping on the sides. I see it in all colors, just like the standing rib. Very nice.
From Chiang Mai to Pai, you travel route 1095 for 136 km and 762 curves (makes me think of Simeon/Cyrus/Jen/Cole’s talk about the switchbacks hiking up to Mt. Whitney). We arrived just outside of the town of Pai--a touristy, trendy trekking folks kind of place--to The Land Split. The folks who farmed this land before the split realized they couldn’t keep farming the way they had and decided to take things a different direction, which has proven very successful. This woman has done a great job blogging out it if you want to read more. http://www.bemytravelmuse.com/pai-land-split/
Jordynn, this picture is for you! These are hibiscus flowers drying which make the tea like you love so much at Starbucks! I wish I could bring some home for you, but they are not dried tea leaves, but actual flower petals, so can not be taken through customs.

The Land Split is on the little road that goes to a waterfalls tourist attraction, so they get quite a few visitors. You are welcomed into a shady area with tables/chairs and some cool hammocks and are brought out a variety of goodies to eat…
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...including fried bananas with hibiscus jam to dab on, peanuts, tamarind, hibiscus iced tea and also wine, several fruits...quite the feast. They do all this on a purely donation basis. Then they sell some products...jam, dried blossoms, etc.
Rather than go into the hype that is the town of Pai for the night, Tee arranged our lodgings with our kind host. Indira and I each had our own little bamboo bungalow for the night, with a pad on the floor, sheet, pillows and blankets all for 6 baht each. Each one has electricity...a light inside and one on the porch, plus a plug with a nice little oscillating fan plugged in and running.
The toilet was its own little bungalow right outside with a western toilet and the best TP dispenser I have seen the whole trip. Wash up sink right outside, plus a way to take a cold water bucket shower if you wanted. (I didn’t want!)
Tee got very creative with hibiscus flowers!

After a rest, we drove into Pai (pronounced pie) and drove up the mountain for the view from the wat. We all agreed we could view the Buddha fine without climbing the stairs. : )
It was a pretty view...you could see the valley and the town with the mountains in the background.

We did a little driving tour through some farm areas...the rice is harvested...fun to see the water buffalo with the egret alongside.
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Lots of fields where the rice has been harvested.
Today was Tee’s birthday...American friends...American dinner! The burgers were a little iffy, but the fries and garlic mayo sauce were fabulous!


That yellow counter is the outside of the Burger Queen along a street in Pai.
It wasn’t bad, but a bit how I feel about the burgers at Sconic--why bother when you can get a good one?
But the fries were worth the trip!
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This was the view out my bungalow door when I got up in the morning...orchard of some kind, plus hibiscus just outside the door.

And we’re off on another set of curves to Martha’s favorite town in Thailand, Mae Hong Son.

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