Thailand forum

Posted from within Vietnam.

I'm glad I saw Pai before it became touristy. It was such a quiet town. I'll always have happy memories of that place. But like so many once charming places overcome by tourism, I wont be returning there.

@jamesspignesi -- can you turn off capital letters please? This thread is over a year old...

Next place on the list - Soppong? At least there's no further construction allowed near the Lod cave (for now). If you want natural beauty, a few guesthouses, and a river also check out the Mae Win area SW of Chiang Mai. Rode through yesterday - magic.

Thing is, most of the "real" travellers who say they want off the beaten path still also seem to want other travellers around, menus in English, maybe some internet, and at least a remote chance of having a few beers with someone they can have a decent conversation with. Tons of quiet out of the way places throughout northern Thailand, as long as you don't mind being the only farang within 20 miles.

"There's tons of places like that, but nobody goes there because there's no attractions."

I sometimes enjoy going to places because there are no attractions. Often they are just places along the way from Point A to Point B, and they turn out to be terrific. Lots of places like that along the Mekong. But I do admit that if a town is situated on a river, I consider that as an attraction.

But I do agree with you regarding this point, though I would add that it is one of many reasons. I think that two of the biggest reasons are fear of the unknown, and laziness. Not many travelers are too eager to hop on a bus and head to some place just because they see it on a map.

We live in a world that has grown used to instant gratification, instant answers, instant solutions to problems. Easy.

Whenever I read the webjournals on the Crazy Guy on a Bike site, I am constantly reminded that there are thousands and thousands of small, little known or unknown gems out there. Just have to slow down and take the time (make the effort) to see/find them. This is a big part of the reason why I like to take my bike there now.

Well, I actually meant my bicycle ...

Mind if I add here.
To see Pai and other villages up in the North country will be a lot of work on bicycles. There a lot of hills, a lot of climbs and a lot of sweat. I think a motorbike will do better. But rolling down the plains of southern thailands, taking road less travelled along the coast or hopping from krabi to Phi Phi and into Kho Yai or into Phuket by boats WITH your bicycle would a terrific experience.

I travelled at lot on both my motorcycles and Bicycles. They are both fun. On places like Indonesia where there many islands, Bicycles are simply great, you can cross to them on small boats, same as Phang Nga, phuket, Koh Phi phi. And on bicycles all your 3-senses work at the same time, sight, hearing and smell. On my motorbike, I can never hear the geckos sing, nor the birds peck when travel in woodlands.

regards
AA