Lone Ranger Seeks Tonto

So, as hard as it was to get to Pai, it's even harder to leave. Not because there aren't buses out of here, but because it's just so comfortable. After less than a week here you start to feel like a local. I know quite a few of the natives by name now, and have befriended a number of other travelers. Everywhere I go in town I seem to know someone. I met a guy named David who is traveling from Northern Ireland, and we spent part of the day yesterday helping a friend arrange the furniture at a restaurant she just bought.

I've moved bungalows for a third time since getting here and am now outside of the city limits (just across a bridge). I'm staying in a quaint little hut that looks over the river and the mountains for 150 baht (about 4$ US) a night. The owner is an British ex-pat named Milo who runs the place with his girlfriend. They just opened up five days ago and only have four rooms so it's very, cozy and casual. The food in the restaurant isn't bad either, and they have a bunch of movies you can watch whenever you feel like it.

Ian and Kathy headed home yesterday marking a milestone in my trip: I'm now officially on my own. I had a great time traveling with them, and it was sad to see them go. I wish they could have at least gone on to Lao with me as we've been hearing such great things about it from other people. I probably could have used the company on the two day slow boat I'll be taking to Luang Prabang, too.

I rented a scooter again today and have been exploring some of the outer areas of the surrounding countryside. Driving downtown is a little tricky, but once your outside the city it's a piece of cake.

Well, the next few days may be spotty in terms of updates as I'll be preparing to leave Pai, and then on the slow boat for two days. I'll try to update if I can.