Atlas: PAI THAILAND TRAVEL DESTINATION GUIDE by Jaclyn Hodes of Awaveawake

NAME: Jaclyn Hodes

OCCUPATION: Writer, AWAVEAWAKE Designer, Yogini

HOMETOWN: New York City

DESTINATION: Pai, Thailand

STAY:

LUX: Reverie Siam warrants much praise. Just off the center of Pai town, at the base of the three Mists Mountains. It was a beautiful experience of comfort and luxury set in an imagined past of colonial lure. I stayed in a villa at the back of the property with mountain views. Well designed for privacy, every detail considered with attentive care.

LOCAL: Friends stayed at the family friendly Pai Farm and Village that consists of a collection of bamboo bungalows. Simply designed and comfortable in its own bucolic oasis but just off the side road in town. There’s an organic farm you can visit nearby and general Thai country style charm throughout.

EATS:

LUX: the Maitre D, affectionately known as “D,” who has served the royal family of Thailand, oversees dinner at Reverie Siam. This is evident in the way he makes you feel, so well taken care. The chef of the establishment is from Colorado, but already a longtime resident of Pai, who brings an eclectic worldview to his fare.

LOCAL: Market style or great veg fare at Good Life, incredible pad Thai and papaya smoothies, and an impressive display of growing wheatgrass.

SPIRITS:

LUX: A well-curated wine list at Reverie Siam.

LOCAL: Fermented rice liquors.

STYLE:

LUX: Good textile and pottery finds gathered together by the owner of the shop attached to the sweet guesthouse, Khunnai Ternsai.

LOCAL: The market in the spine of the town and in all ways provides!

BEAUTY:

LUX: Thai massage.

LOCAL: Dragon fruit as a lip-stain.

ACTIVITY:

LUX: Sitting poolside at Reverie Siam, luxuriating in the mountain views.

LOCAL: On foot wandering, and a hike up to some shrines.

TRANSPORTATION:

LUX: Hotel shuttle to be chauffeured to destination and back.

LOCAL: Motorbike rentals are cheap as can be and are perfect for getting out of the main square and off the beaten path a bit.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GO TO PAI?
I was in Chiang Mai, with beautiful friends, for two weeks and we were ready to venture North to discover more of the foothills.

HOW DID YOU PLAN YOUR TRIP?
Friends connected with a driver they used while they were in Chiang Mai. He mentioned he visited family in Pai on the weekends, so we hitched a ride with him, up the very windy road. His family opted for the pick-up, nestled among their belongings, so they could nap along the way—a serpentine journey they were more accustomed to than we were.

WHAT ITEMS SHOULD YOU NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT WHEN TRAVELING TO PAI?
You don’t need to bring much to Pai; the market there is full of great finds. I bought a tie-dye top to throw over a silk slip dress. I packed light for my few months of living in Asia. Market finds supplement a tired out wardrobe and keep the creative expression going. There were many wonderful accessories to gather in Pai, but I was more captivated by food offerings. Lured by the mystique of durian, exotic fruit smoothies, and health foods throughout the place.

FAVORITE MEMORY?
A morning tea ceremony with a tea cake from the Chinese village shops on the day of the spring equinox with Amy of Daughter of the Sun, with her dear daughter and my favorite little medicine girl, Na’ia.

BEST SOUVENIR?
Tea ware.

2016