A traveller's reflection: 2017 Q6 4NR Day 19: Pai

"Only those who cares about you can hear you when you are quiet..."

(The Karen long-neck lady)

Day 19: 11 Dec 2017 (Monday)
Route: Pai - Mae Hong Son
Distance: 107 km
Hotel: Ngamta Hotel, Mae Hong Son

After a heavy porridge breakfast, fourteen motorbikes started riding the mountainous curvy road to Mae Hong Son. Made a few stops at the viewpoints along the way for some photo shots.

(Pretty Hill Tribe girls)

(With the Truecolour Bikerz gang)

(Phang Ma Pha viewpoint)

(With KTM Malaysian riders)

(Coffee break on the mountain peak)

Reached Mae Hong Son early and drove direct to the Chamber of Commerce. Some bikers claimed their Certificates after riding the Thousand Corners. For us, today was the third time we rode the Pai/Mae Hong Son road on this trip.

(A pomelo at 1864 Coffee Shop)

(A short coffee break and rest)

(The otais and newbies happy faces)

(The archway entrance to Mae Hong Son town)

(A neat line-up of bikers)

Had Nasi Ayam lunch at the Muslim Restaurant next to the Nuruth-Taqwa Mosque. After lunch checked in Ngamta Hotel at Baht1000/night and got ready to visit the Karen Long Neck Village about 20 km from town.

(The signage at the pier)

(Waiting for the boat to take us across)

(The long tail boat for hire)

(The boat accommodates six adults)

At the pier we had to take a short boat ride across the Pai River to reach the village. The tickets cost us Baht 220/pax. The people of the Kayan ethnic group frequently called Long Neck Karen originate from Burma’s Kayah State just across the border from Thailand’s Mae Hong Son Province. The model village encouraged the kayans to sell their handicrafts and merchandises. There are now third and even fourth generation families living in the village. Only elderlies wear neck rings. The modern youngsters have long discarded the tradition.