Backpacking and the chilledout layedback Pai

I don’t get it, but I do know they have somesort of a point. I know it’s true - I’m spoiled. I’ve only recently begun to understand what being a backpacker means, and it turns out I have real problem being one. Some folks I see around here struggle to get a 50 baht (5 shekels) cheaper guest house and are willing to reduce to some really crappy holes. This very friendly energetic Swedish girl we saw at the ShantiShanti was having a noodlesoup breakfast everyday from the 7-Eleven in order to save up a few baht so she could get some sort of Tattoo. Sally, an Australian gal that took a ride with us to Pai, couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t want to stay at this joined-toilet crappy boongla. When I told her there’s no way I’m staying there, she actually replied - “Yeah, I know. It’s too expensive, right?”. God, if you spend 10 more shekels a day then you can get a a really big suite with everything included, then why in the world? is it only me? I must be spoiled.

“Wait till you get to India” is what usually follows. I don’t get it, I really don’t. If I understand the concept of India is then in India you have no alternatives, so it’s part of the way you have to live. I respect that, I might even enjoy it that way. I think that if I liked hanging around Bahad-shithole-7 and Bahad-nothingness-herpes-1 then I should be able to really enjoy the colorful culture of poor India.

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So we arrived at Pai after this very long 4 hours drive from Chang Mai. It’s wierd that I never drive the 4 hours to the Galil or to Eilat, but they’re just as close and just as worthy the ride. All your inner perception changes. Anyways, we’re staying at Tayai house, right next to Mama Falafel. Mama Falafel actually has one of the wierdest (great tasting) Falafel and Shnitzel I had in a long time - and it’s well worth the visit. If I thought that there was too much Hebrew in ChangMai, then I really got it bad here. It’s, like, everywhere.

Erica and I rode around to the Hot Springs and saw the waterfall with all the excited locals. Later, we went through the Opium fields and even got our first Motor-bike accident. I admit it, it was my fault (though I have no idea what happened). I only have this two small wounds, but Erica has this really huge mark up her leg. There was this Thai hospital 100meters away, so we just went there and had ourselves fixed. We’re totally fine, it’s part of the whole experience, right?

We’re due at the Na’s-Kitchen later today for some Thai food where this cute Thai girl we met this morning’s working. I didn’t think it possible, but Pai is even more chilledout layedback than ChangMai. I could see how someone would want to just stay here… It’s noon, I think I’ll go take a nap, then read something, then go eat and then maybe catch a movie at the Movie-House resturant. Life’s hard…