Day 8: Pai

If you talk to literally any Thai person about Pai, they’ll hit you with the same warning: “The road is so twisty that it will challenge your stomach!” Even locals admit to losing their lunch on those dizzying mountain switchbacks. But me? I came prepared and outsmarted the road.

Rather than gambling on a motion-sickness roulette with a bus and a speed-happy driver, I booked a private taxi like the travel genius I am. And when I say I was ready for battle, I mean armed to the teeth: motion sickness pills, a stylish little puke bag (just in case), a wrist zapper that sends out low-frequency electric shocks like it’s tuning into anti-nausea radio, and a magical-smelling oil bottle our Thai guides swear by.

Plot twist: I used none of them. Our driver was a gentle wizard of the winding road, gracefully navigating the madness at a calming, tourist-friendly pace. I felt so relaxed that I even fell asleep—through most of 762 curves.

Pai itself is a little jewel tucked into the mountains, a dreamy escape for backpackers and serenity seekers alike. Our resort is tucked between emerald green farm fields, with the mountains rising in the distance like a postcard come to life. From our window: cows casually wandering, farmers tending to their land, and delicate wisps of mist floating lazily halfway up the mountains. It’s straight-up cinematic.

The afternoon was pure bliss—a private pool session with no one else around. Just us, the water, the silence, and that sweet feeling of having discovered a hidden corner of paradise in the off-season.Read more