Day 3 (8/10/2017) : (Wrong) Boon Ko Ku Su Bridge – (Unnamed) Secret Enchanted Forest – War Memorial Bridge – Coffee Tea Sapan – The Container – Pai Coffee – Mari Pai Resort – Tukuturi Statue – Dang’s Kitchen & Drinks – Pai Bus Station
Once again, the room we booked comes with breakfast, and so we had our buffet breakfast before heading out to complete our unfinished business in Pai. In comparison to Yododo Inn, Pai Panalee has more interesting spread of cuisines. Yum yum!
(Wrong) Boon Ko Ku Su Bridge
Following our hearty breakfast, we went out in search of Boon Ko Ku Su Bridge. According to MJ’s research, it’s quite a hidden gem and is a wooden bridge overlooking beautiful paddy field. With Google Map on hand, we went off and found a place called Boon Ko Ku Su bridge on the map. It looked like a normal highway bridge to me, but upon turning right into the junction, we found a paddyfield.
“This must be it,” we thought, and so we walked across the river via the bridge and trespass into what seemed like a very privately own paddy field.
Ps: Unfortunately, only upon checking into our next hotel in Chiang Mai that night, that one of our travel companion, Seung Fei did some googling and realised that we had gone to the wrong Boon Ko Ku Su bridge. Oh no! The real one was actually so much more beautiful. And the bridge was actually a bamboo bridge.
Note: Real Boon Ko Ku Su Bridge
Address: Ban Phaem Bok, Thung Yao Subdistrict, Pai, Thailand
Opening hours: Unknown
Admission: Free
Secret Enchanted Forest
While hunting for the Boon Ko Ku Su Bridge, Seung Fei saw a beautiful forest on the left of the road, and hence we detour back (which was only 2 minutes away by bike). We have absolutely no idea about the name of this place as it is not marked on google map. We therefore named it Secret Enchanted Forest.
Do let me know in the comment below if you happened to know the name of it! Nonetheless, we had fun being models-wannabe, doing stage walk and posing for photos.
Address: Rural Road, Mae Hong Son 4024 (between Thom’s Pai Elephant Camp and Memorial Bridge) – on your left if you come from the elephant camp
Admission: Free
WWII Memorial Bridge
Our next destination is the famed War Memorial Bridge, the furthest south of the Pai town that we went, before heading back to the center of town.
In 1941, Japan went to war against the allied countries and created an army base in Thailand in order to achieve their strategic goals. Their plan was to attack Burma but the route was blocked by the Pai River. The Japaneses army forced villagers to work on the route from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son. Meanwhile, villagers from Mae Hong Son were forced to build the route from Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai. The road met in the area of Tha – Pai river near Ta Pai village.
The bridge was built by using elephants to drag trees from the jungle. This became the historical World War II bridge. When World War II ended in 1946, Japanese soldiers fled and burnt down the bridge. Without the bridge, villagers would then need to cross the river by log boats, causing great inconvenience to their daily lives. The finaly came together and rebuilt the wooden bridge over the Pai River.
In August 1973, a huge flood destroyed the bridge and with permission from Chiang Mai province, Pai district office built the now “Nawarat Steel Bridge” to replace the ruined bridge. This bridge has since served as a reminder of the historic World World II event.
Address: 1095, Tambon Mae Na Toeng, Amphoe Pai, Chang Wat Mae Hong Son, 58130 Thailand
Opening hours: 24 hours
Admission: Free
Coffee Tea Sapan
Just right opposite the memorial bridge is another café called Coffee Tea Sapan. It’s a pretty chic place just by looking at the exterior as you can see from the photos below.
There are several Transformers-like statues as well as a postman and long-neck tribe figures and giant lunch box at the roadside. There’s even a beautiful front yard with plenty of potted plants, and a red antique car in the middle of the compound. Too bad we didn’t have time to sit down and enjoy, as we were rushing to our final destination.
Address: 1095, Tambon Mae Na Toeng, Amphoe Pai, Chang Wat Mae Hong Son, 58130 Thailand
Admission: Free visit, room charges for lodging
The Container
We took some photos there and ordered some drinks (too guilty not to buy anything) while the owner told us that he was planning to revamp the place and change the name. I didn’t remember what was the name he had in mind, but I prefer the original concept though. Let’s hope his business turned out better than before.
Address: Thung Yao, Pai District, Mae Hong Son, 58130 Thailand
Opening hours: Daily, 10am to 6pm
Admission: Free
Pai Coffee
Just diagonally opposite The Container, is a small little wooden booth on the road side with the sign “Pai Coffee”.
It looked like a proper hut with wooden seat, but it doesn’t seemed to be in operation. I couldn’t find any info about it online, so my guess is that it could be a roadside decoration for photo purpose? Let me know in the comment below, if you have any idea.
Address: Thung Yao, Pai District, Mae Hong Son, 58130 Thailand
Opening hours: Unknown
Admission: Free
Mari Pai Resort (Big Tree Swing)
Finally, we end our Pai tour with the visit to Mari Pai Resort. The main purpose of our visit is none other than the Big Tree Swing, which is a super insta-worthy photo spot. However, do expect to queue for at least 20-30 minutes, or longer, depending on the crowd.
Address: 97 moo 11, Tambon Thung Yao, Amphoe Pai, Chang Wat Mae Hong Son, 58130 Thailand
Admission: Free visit, room charges for lodging
Tukuturi Statue
After completing Big Tree Swing at Mari Pai Resort, we rushed back to the hotel for quick shower before checking out. On the way, we passed by a resort with Tukuturi Statue and we stopped for a quick snapped. It’s located just next to Prawdao Resort, so you wouldn’t miss it.
Address: Rural Road, Mae Hong Son 4024, Wiang Tai, Amphoe Pai, Chang Wat Mae Hong Son, 58130 Thailand
Admission: Free visit, room charges for lodging
Dang’s Kitchen & Drinks
After checking from the Pai Panalee, we rode to the nearby Dang’s Kitchen & Drinks for lunch since we had 1.5 hours before our schedule departure to Chiang Mai. It was there where we sampled our first Khao Soi, a signature dish of Northern Thailand. Apart from Khao Soi, we also ordered Thom Kha Kai, Massamam Curry and Glass Noodle Salad. The total bill came up to only 300 Baht (75 Baht per person / SGD 3.07 / RM 9.54). Most important of all, the food was authentic and flavourful.
Address: 104 moo 3, 1 Wiang Tai, Amphoe Pai, Chang Wat Mae Hong Son 58130, Thailand
Opening hours: Daily, 8am to 10.30pm
Minivan to Chiang Mai
Before we board the minivan to Chiang Mai, we returned the rented bikes to the staff of Yododo Inn and got back our passport. You do not need to return the bike at the hotel. Most company will come and collect from you at an arranged location, and in our case, we arranged the return at Pai bus station. We then boarded the minivan to Chiang Mai.
Epilogue
Pai is a small little quiet town, yet cheery and full of romantic vibes. Besides caves, waterfalls, hot spring and canyon, the town is filled with plenty of instagrammable resorts and guesthouses. Everywhere you go, you will be sure to pass by lovely little cottages in vibrant hues and cute theme, the perfect backdrop for your OOTD posts and insta stories. It's like Hua Hin and Khao Yai but less commercialised, which is a major plus point.
I was glad to have squeezed in Pai into our 6d5n North Thailand itinerary (though at the cost of Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son). It's worth it. Well, just look at those photos. You've got to agree with me. :)
I was glad to have squeezed in Pai into our 6d5n North Thailand itinerary (though at the cost of Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son). It's worth it. Well, just look at those photos. You've got to agree with me. :)
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