Friday is Pai Day

So today it was time to bid farewell to the Cave Lodge. We had a marvelous time during our 5-day stay and made some awesome family memories. John and his crew run a laid back operation, and we would highly recommend it to anyone interested in a family adventure in the far corner of northern Thailand.

The kids were reluctant to say goodbye to both the guesthouse as well as the resident animals, especially Sammy. Annie was curious about the international dog adoption regulations, but I quickly explained that it is illegal (bad daddy!)

A quick one-hour scooter ride (it was 90 minutes on the way up but clearly we are beginning to adapt to the mountain roads here) and we were back in the town of Pai. But not before stopping at a canyon for our daily exercise (except for mama who was not keen on the steep cliffs)

As I mentioned in a previous post, this is not exactly our kind of place. But after 5 days in the quiet solitude of the Thai hill regions, we were admittedly missing the buzz of the street vendors and night markets.

We also noticed the heat right away - after coming down from the mountains we were back into the warm weather. But thankfully it's a dry heat - just wait until next week when we add 90% humidity to this. 

Clearly this vendor has been burned by the occasional overweight Western gorilla type traveler with hair from head to toe - best to check them out first before naming your price!!

Pai has been a hippie hangout for about 30 years - since........these two started traveling. I'm still getting used to old people in dreads.

Oh yeah - it's Valentine's Day. Our 20th together. Still in love. Really. 

(but I wonder if spending 24/7 together with the kids on a six month journey will change anything? We're about to find out)

We were told the food in Pai was nothing special - watered down 'classics' aimed at the foreign traveler. Complete nonsense - we had the best noodle soup of our trip so far at this little vendor. Huge bowls of soup for $1 each. Crazy tasty. 

And then I tried this Yunnanese vendor's cold noodle salad - so amazing, but very spicy hot.

And what's a night market without every Asian jewelry vendor's favourite customer? Shirley was curious about the Canadian bracelet and necklace import regulations, but I quickly explained that it is illegal (bad husband!)

And this photo is a tribute to my friend Graham, who is also in the middle of a world trip with his family. Child mannequins are indeed a bit freaky

With tomorrow being another travel day back to Chiang Mai, I will skip posting until Sunday. Thanks for following our trip and thanks so much for all your comments.