The road to Pai and back.

1624 turns.

762 turns each way, Chiang Mai to Pai, Thailand. A popular route for backpackers, with two options, Scooter or minivan, AKA "pukebus". We opted for the former. The internet is full of blogs detailing the dangers of the ride. With stories of hairpin turns and coming head on with trucks disrespecting the center line. Perhaps they were exaggerating.

Our Caveat: It had been raining in Chiang Mai since we arrived, and the very nice woman at the Mint House, where we were staying tried three times to get us to take the bus, and not leave in rain. But sometimes you just can't take good advice. We were able to punch through the raincloud after about an hour of wet riding.

Here is a perfect example of a car passing into a blind turn. This is the most dangerous part of the ride. Ride the shoulder and not the centerline.

To be clear, this is absolutely not a ride for someone without riding experience. We saw plenty of people with legs and arms bandaged up from laying down their scooter. Plan on visiting but don't know how to ride? Anyone with a plan to visit Asia should have enough money saved to buy a scooter, learn to ride it, then sell it.

Chiang Mai had interesting graffiti than blended seamlessly into the road to Pai. Piece by Alex Face.

Spider sporting a very cool Aztec pattern along the way.

Any American motorcycle rider would tell you that a bigger bike is necessary to get over the hills with two people. We disagree, but please believe we smashed all 110cc's around each corner, only scraping the kickstand one time. Fully pitted.

Pai is a part of California that does not exist. A visual mix of southern, central and northern California rolled into one. Well California if it had random rice terraces.

Waterfall one kilometer from our bungalow.

We stayed ten minutes up a hill outside of town at Jungle Zone. Along the road enthusiastic Hmong ladies offered to sell us opium, and on the way back down, polite Thai police asked to search our "body and motorbike".

X marks the spot at Jungle Zone.

Pai Canyon on the edge of town is super cool and unique. It definitely embraces the Thai mentality of personal responsibility. Where each person is in charge of their own life and personal safety.

Waterfalls and hikes are plentiful on the outskirts of town, while quite spread out, a motorbike rental is crucial to see any natural attraction in town.