Pai

     Our last day in Chiang Mai Jess and I did a cooking course and it was great fun! We learned how to make different kinds of curries, soups, appetizers and desserts!

my spring rolls!

my coconut soup

massaman curry, coconut soup and mango and coconut sticky rice

temple in Chiang Mai

     I'm am currently sitting on a mat on the little front porch of my bamboo hut just outside of Pai Thailand. Nearly every person who passes by on the road stops to take a photo, it couldn't be more picturesque! With little stones paths up to each hut and vibrant red and orange flowers lining the way. We've been here for two nights now.
     We arrived a couple days ago on a bus from Chiang Mai with an expanded group of 7 people. There isn't too much to do in town but they brag about their many tours involving caving, tubing, and many other random excursions. I personally like to find things on my own and not be involved with so many tours but if you aren't like me, there are loads of cheap options! We've rented motorbikes upon arrival and I love them! I did crash once, into a bush actually and have some nice scratches on my face but they'll soon disapear. Gem crashed almost immediately and she no longer rides them as she got hurt a bit worse and had to see a doctor but she too will heal in due time. Pai Bamboo Huts, where we are staying is a little ways out of the city and so wonderfully peaceful but the motorbikes are a must for getting around. The first evening here I taught a yoga practice and then we spent the evening playing cards.
     One perk of our location is our proximity to the hot springs. We decided to check them out on the first morning. They brag of their healing powers and you can feel your body relax in whatever your chosen temperature is. As the pools climb up higher, they get warmer and the top is a whopping 80 degrees Celsius but that's not for going in! It also has broken  egg shells because people attempt to boil eggs in there. The water begins there, and flows down into a few different pools from about 35-38 degrees Celsius. Later on a few of us went with the motorbikes to a waterfall we had heard about. The water was as different in temperature as is possible from the hot springs! It was nearly freezing! But we were able to climb up the side and jump in so it was quite fun. Ate dinner from little vendors in the center of Pai, I had a massive baked sweet potato that had everything imaginable on it! (thats veggie of course) Avocado, corn, peas, carrots, a little cheese.. mmmmmmmm :))

     Today, after an early run, meditation, much needed clothes washing, and some reading, the other girls finally woke up and were asking for yoga! I'm so proud ;') so we did some yoga and went to Pai for some brunch. Back at the huts I was on the hunt for something fun to do, so I searched and found the Pai canyon. Turns out it's incredibly close to where we are! Hunter and I took the bikes and had ourselves an adventure climbing around this massive canyon.