Day 18 : 28 Nov.2008 Alone in Mae Sai
When the people were leaving the mosque after the Friday prayer I spotted the group of jamaat that I had met in Pai earlier.So after I finished my Zohor prayer one of them took me to Hj.Koyung's house as they were expecting me and Ramly in Mae Sai.I was given a room in one of Hj.Koyung guest house.This is not the usual backpackers place but a private quarter of 4 houses attached in a row which the owner built right behind his house for guests and jamaat activities.My room is just 5 mins walk to the mosque and there are about 4 Yunnanese Muslim restaurants along the way.The 3 in 1 formula of food, lodging and masjid applies.
(to be contd)
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Day 17 : 27 Nov.2008. Back to ChiangMai .
We planned to go to Laos but Ramly wanted to stay longer in Pai to watch the 3 days Film and Music Festival which will begin on Saturday .So we split ways and agreed to meet at Mae Sai on the Mynmar Border. Mae Sai is about 3 hrs bus ride to Chiang Kong the border post to get to Laos.And Mae Sai is the last border town in North Thailand and opposite across the Sai River is Mynmar.Tachilik the first border town inside Mynmar .
I left Pai at about 8 am and stay overnight at Chiang Mai. At 8.30 am the next day I was on the Green Bus VIP seat(650 Bhat) heading for Mae Sai.Its a 5 hrs ride to Mae Sai and I skipped going to Chiang Rai as I been there before.Reaching Mae Sai at about noon I rushed to the mosque only to find the congregation had just finished the Friday prayer.The same incident happened once to me at "Grande Mosquee de Paris" ie (The Great Mosque of Paris) [ In 1975-76 I did a lone one year overland trip India -Europe.]
( to be contd)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Day 16 : 26 Nov.2008 Wandering around Pai
Renting a bike is the most popular way to go sight seeing around Pai.Motor bike can be rented for 200 Bhat a day 24hrs at aYa service Motorbike center at Chaisongkran Rd aboutt 200 meters from the bus station.Bicycles are also available for rent.
Being a neighbor to Thailand our culture and geographical landscapes do not differ much from Thailand.So places of tourist interest do not matter much to me.It is the interaction with people that we meet everyday that interest me. Sometimes its the fruit seller on the street that make grab your camera to have a nice shot. It can be the naked kids playing in rain or old folks sitting on the stairs watching time pass endlessly or even the touts at the border trying to make some money out of you.Endless themes from morning till night and there's always something new every minute of the day.
To be brief Pai worth visiting and tourist industry here is has identified many interesting spots and activities for the various needs of tourist and independent travelers.And although I did not see all after the third day I feel its time for me to leave and go to another place somewhere.
(to be contd)
Renting a bike is the most popular way to go sight seeing around Pai.Motor bike can be rented for 200 Bhat a day 24hrs at aYa service Motorbike center at Chaisongkran Rd aboutt 200 meters from the bus station.Bicycles are also available for rent.
Being a neighbor to Thailand our culture and geographical landscapes do not differ much from Thailand.So places of tourist interest do not matter much to me.It is the interaction with people that we meet everyday that interest me. Sometimes its the fruit seller on the street that make grab your camera to have a nice shot. It can be the naked kids playing in rain or old folks sitting on the stairs watching time pass endlessly or even the touts at the border trying to make some money out of you.Endless themes from morning till night and there's always something new every minute of the day.
To be brief Pai worth visiting and tourist industry here is has identified many interesting spots and activities for the various needs of tourist and independent travelers.And although I did not see all after the third day I feel its time for me to leave and go to another place somewhere.
(to be contd)
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
The Everywhere Man Ustaz Rahmat of Pai
Day 14 : 26 Nov.2008 Ustaz Rahmat of Pai.
Coincident do happen on international level. And out of the blues it happen to me in Pai.
Well we come from a small town but several times bigger than Pai in size. Almost every time and probably most of the you are bound to bump into familiar faces in the public. You meet these faces sometimes in the post office, grocery stores ,petrol kiosks, book shops,mosque, wet market,school and etc.
So there is this middle age religious school teacher by the name of Ustaz(Malaysian Mullah) Rahmat. We are friends and we knew each other since kids. It seems that he is always around where ever I go.One day I took a 3 hrs bus ride to meet Ramly in Kuala Lumpur.When the bus arrived in Kuala Lumpur I was the first person to leave. As I was getting out of the bus there stood Ustaz Rahmat at the entrance door waiting to board the same bus back home.We greeted each other and he insisted on knowing what I was doing in Kuala Lumpur.
In Pai we met and befriended this Mynmar man picture above. He was trying to sell us gems stone from Mynmar but we politely decline his offer.And we seem to meet him everywhere we go in Pai. At mosque in the market and at the eating stall hes everwhere.
An Australian traveller we met in the morning told us that there is a sunday weekend market on the outskirt of Pai but we need to hire motor cycle to go there.That we did and again we met this Mynmar man in the sunday market about 5 kilometres away from Pai. And again he tried to sell the stones to us.So Ramly told us we should name this guy as Ustaz Rahmat of Pai.
Dog looking for breakfast
Day 13 : 25 Nov.2008. The dogs did'nt bark in Pai
Dogs and cats are everywhere in the world for as long as there are men.Some dogs are nasty and dangerous to kids.Some attack approaching strangers.You can see plenty of dogs in the early cold morning in Pai looking for breakfast just like human and they sure know where to go looking for foods.....the street stalls.You will have a tough time trying to enjoy your meal because these dogs insist on sharing your food with them by coming close to you.When chased away they withdraw only to come back seconds after.So in order to have some peace people contribute a slice for them.
I used to have trouble with dogs on my way to dawn prayer so I carry a stick just in case they attack.Surprisingly not in Pai.Although no one was around the dogs there did not bark nor even wish to attack you.When you are alone and they outnumber you thats where misfortunes sometimes occur.Beware of the growl of the fiercest thats the leader.It happened in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
We rented a motor bike for 200 Bhat a day and went riding through Pai and the country side.We visited remote farming villages where dogs are on the loose and plenty.It seemed strange they did not bark, chase or attack us. I was wondering why they do not behave like city dogs do.
The reason I concluded is dogs behave the way their master taught them.The people of Pai villages are friendly and they smile to strangers.They greet each other and strangers are not regarded as trespassers rather as visitors.So dogs there are reared only to protect their farms against intruders ( be it men or animals) and are not trained to chase and bark at strangers.
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