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Slice of Pai
5:11 AM
People warn about the road to Pai, about the 762 turns in the three hour drive, about how even those with a sound stomach get sick. Being known to deal with bouts of car sickness myself, I doped up on Dramamine and arrived safely and thoroughly out of it. Ryan and Marc were dripping with sweat because as much as the van has A/C, it cannot compete with the 12 bodies and a boiling hot lava road that heats the van floor so you cannot touch it. But we're here in this small hippie town in the mountains. There's talk of how Pai is no longer the real Thailand, that it's overrun with backpackers, but for us it's low season and we made four new friends instantly so that's fun. The night market shows how much westerners have influenced this town with so much lasagna, loaded baked potatoes and mac n'cheese. And you better believe I was first in line for a loaded baked potato! Mmmmm home, sort of! 
We started with a day of touring the main spots in a songthaew (pickup truck taxi with covered padded benches). You'd think I'd be prepared with Dramamine to go out on this tour but I completely forgot and almost lost it by the first stop. These turns are serious. After asking him to slow down, I ended up sitting inside with our driver Andy. His sister is teaching him English to help with his tour taxi business and made him a mix CD of American music to help. We sway through the hills listening to original and interesting remake versions of "Achy Breaky Heart," "Don't Speak," "Torn," "Kiss Me," and so many more. I was really loving our singalong! Our friends Kat and Roy were in another car but on the same route so we saw them the whole way. They're chefs from Boulder, CO and are using their travels as research to open an international tapas food truck when they get home. Great idea!!
First stop was a great view and a crazy "manual Ferris wheel". We needed more muscle to be able to pull down the seat to get a fourth person on, but then I really don't know what happens when all seats are full... 
Then we hit up the caves where we're handed to a guide who doesn't speak much English so we only learn the names of the formations. There were three formations of "tooth", one "monkey," and one "boob." Good thing caves are cool to crawl around anyways! On our raft ride through the caves with huge fish following us, our guide slaps my back and when I look back to see why, he says, "spider," and I don't want to be here anymore.
Then we hit up the caves where we're handed to a guide who doesn't speak much English so we only learn the names of the formations. There were three formations of "tooth", one "monkey," and one "boob." Good thing caves are cool to crawl around anyways! On our raft ride through the caves with huge fish following us, our guide slaps my back and when I look back to see why, he says, "spider," and I don't want to be here anymore.
We hit up the lesser known hot springs where the locals hang. Received mud masks from the kids and I spent the next hour losing my suit while throwing them and splashing all around. Onto a swimming hole where all sorts of locals gathered to get drunk or have a shower or just play in the running river water. 
And lastly, sunset at the Pai Canyon which is unlike any canyon I've seen before. Instead of admiring the depths from the wide rim and walking trails down into the canyon, the narrow top edge of the canyon is the only place to walk with a steep drop on either side. 
We explored the next few days. One day at the famous Circus Hostel where my existing love for hula hooping grew after practicing with some women who really know how to move. Another day hanging with our British buds Josh and Zoe, motorbiking to a dry waterfall, hanging at the pool club, catching sunset with a massive Buddha and drinking blue raspberry shakes on their porch.
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