Oh my Buddha!

Chillin out in tiny Pai right now. It's a pretty big hippy hangout and lots of expats who have come to live here. Took the public bus from Chang mai. 130km, but 5.5 hours b/c it's a steep road and I swear at times the tribesman on the road were walking faster than the bus. You could pay twice as much and take the ac minivan, but you get to see the real thailand on the public bus. Sat next to two monks in the bright orange robes. ALso several chickens, a pig, and a bag or rice around me. And we were also the mail bus too! Met a beligan guy, 55 years old, at the bus stop. He comes here every winter to hang out, so it was great to hear his stories and he'd tell me how things have changed.
Pai is a cool town. very artsy, musicy, etc. and it sits on a river in a valley below the mountains. Lots of unique bungalows here, all on stilts b/c it floods alot here, some even in trees. It's rather cold here. probably 40F at night and highs in the low 70's, so it's also a popular spot for affluent thais from bankgok to come on the weekends, so its quite happening at night. Walked around the town yesterday. bought some necessities at the market (the lost journal, some nail clippers, a heavenly bottle of milk!), and tired lots of completely delicious street foods. spent the afternoon and night in a hammock, with a mango shake by the river reading a book and watching thais float by on bamboo rafts with a guy at the helm (much like venice!).
Today Steve the belgian, ex coalminer from antwerp, took me up on a 18km rt hike to a waterfall. I was very appreciative b/c it's kind of a secret waterfall. guides could take you there, but for a fee, and otherwise impossible to find. Quite a beautiful falls, and exciting hike. Had to hike through the river a lot and up steep canyon walls and jungle. We did it about 2 hours faster than he usually does it. "because we don't have girls with us" was his answer. Had to laugh at that. Though some of it could be scary for sure if you weren't used to it. Came back and he treated me to dinner and several beers which I really appreciated. Really nice guy for sure.
Tomorrow I'm going to an elephant rescue camp to volunteer for the morning (and I think you get to swim with them and go through the river with them), then off to Mae Sot, a border town with burma. To get there I have to connect in Chang Mai. THere is no way to look up bus schedules, call anyone, or talk to anyone (I've tried), so hopefully i can make the connection in chang mai to Tak and then mae sot, otherwise I'll find a place to crash in chang mai (easy) or Tak (more difficult). I will then be doing some more intense jungle trekking near mae sot is the plan. Met a cool Australian gal at the bungalow today...into conservation stuff and avoiding school by travelling. Also a cool guy from Chile who wants to move to colorado to ski. apparently they no longer get much good snow for skiing in chile near where he's from. suuth yes, but not near santiago