An Insider Tip

A year ago I was joining the owner of a bar in Pai, northern Thailand, and some other travellers he invited to stay for a beer after closing hour. Apparently after spending several hours there having food and drinks we were his favourite costumers that night. When we started to talk about all our great experiences in this lovely hippie-like town the owner of the bar told us we haven´t seen nothing yet if we missed to visit the Mhor Pang waterfall. He was telling us about a very special aura at this place and that it was perfect to relax and do some meditation. So the next day I found myself on my motorbike cruising through Pai´s famous streets with its 762 curves trying to get to said waterfall. The way to get there alone offered some very interesting things like the beautiful landscape, a military array or an assumed weed seller. However when I arrived at Mhor Pang I was overwhelmed. I felt like Mary Poppins in the animated wonderland with its colourful plants and dozens of butterflies. Especially the soundscape blew me away with its composition of silence and chopping as the water found its way through the rocks and the jungle. I climbed at the top of the waterfall and set down for a moment of peace and meditation. But the privacy and calmness came to an end pretty quickly when some local boys assaulted the cliffs around the waterfall. Next thing I know is that the first one sat down at the edge and just glided down three meters into the small lake at the bottom of Mhor Pang waterfall. I couldn´t trust my eyes and directly jumped up to check if the boy was ok. And he was more than ok, he actually seemed to have the time of his life. So what else was I supposed to do but try it? I started talking to the boys and they gave me some instructions (which I definitely needed, otherwise I would have ended up with one or the other bruise) about how do glide the best. Sitting on the edge looking at the water tumbling down I started wondering how a planned afternoon full with meditation and relaxation turned out to be the one day I was supposed to come over my acrophobia. I wasn´t really sure if I would be brave enough to hurl myself into the depth but the decision got taken off me as the water suddenly just carried me away. It was a perefect mix of fun and adrenalin and I definitely didn´t stop after the first ride. This was the day I truly discovered Thailand´s variety. A country full of peace and not less action.