PART FIVE: 2-day-1-night White Water Rafting Expedition From Pai to Mae Hong Son

Cruising the Pai River

The largest and most important river in Chiang Mai is the Ping River, which originates in the mountains of Chiang Dao and flows southward for 540 kilometres (337.5 miles). It is along the banks of this river that Chiang Mai's flat, fertile valley area lies. 2-day, 1-night rafting expeditions along the Ping River are easily available from the numerous travel agencies in Pai.

The rafting expedition includes a one-hour drive from Pai to the rafting site, 3-4 hours rafting along the Pai River on the first day, one-night stay at the bamboo hut along the riverbank, and another 4 hours of rafting along the Kong River.

Participants can choose to return to Pai after the rafting or end their expedition at Mae Hong Son, if they are keen to explore the town, catch a glimpse of the long-necked people and the infamous Lod Cave and Fish Cave. The water may not be crystal-clear, in fact, it looked more like teh su-su (tea with milk), and at certain parts of the river, bubbling teh su-su, but it was great fun cruising or rather bobbing down the river, nonetheless. We had a small group, four people, an interesting mix of people who would never have crossed paths, if not for the common passion, to venture into the unknown, through travelling.

My White-Water Rafting Mates

There's the ultra fair-skinned and super-tall 28 year-old Susie from America who works as a doctor and was on a one-week holiday after her voluntary stint in India. Sporty and caring Becky, 24, who works as a nanny in America. The family that she has been with had decided to move to another part of States and she decided to take time off to travel in Southeast Asia beforeheading back to school to study therapy. And rounded 23-year-old Justin, who could easily pass off as a 35-year-old, who is on a 2-month break from work and was planning to go Laos after Thailand. Justin works as a colourist technician in Canada.

The Raft Commander- Poo

The most important man of the expedition, our guide, 34-year-old Poo (read as Boo) has been working as a rafting guide for more than 14 years. He was an eye-candy and bears a slight resemblance to the suave Japanese actor, Takashi Sorimachi (The Beach Boys). Our petite assistant-cum-cook, who studiously whipped up delicious dishes during the trip. It was amazing how they maneuvered the raft along the choppy water, with great ease. Our feeble attempts to "combat" the rapids was great fun too, though we were sure, that they wouldn't have made much of a difference anyway.

I managed to tuck my feet in the underside of the raft and kept myself safe on the raft, but that didn't prevent me from losing my balance and taking gulps of the teh-su-su through my nose when the choppy water lapped the raft. Some of the rapids were extremely exciting, you'll feel at times, the same kind of adrenaline when you're on a roller coaster.

It’s All about Trust

By around late afternoon, we stopped at the bamboo hut by the riverbank where we would spend our night.

Here, we met Mr Potato, or so he called himself. Though he didn’t speak much English, he was a very caring and sweet host. Susie and Becky changed into their dry outfits, while I chose to take a shower along the nearby stream. Bathing with icy water by the river was quite a refreshing experience.

Mr Potato gave each of us a heavenly Thai massage after dinner when we were just chilling out and playing card games. It was a strange feeling when you lie in the arms of a 60-year-old Thai man you have met just a few hours ago on the bamboo bench, giving him the liberty to come into such close bodily contact as he stretched your tired muscles. I don’t think I have been in such close contact with my own father back in Singapore. I decided to reciprocate by giving him, what I called a Singaporean massage. I love massages and never fail to go for massages whenever I travel. After my self-proclaimed “Singaporean massage”, he turned and smiled, exposing the yellow-stained teeth, and said, “Strong fingers.” I grinned, and felt like I’ve been given a distinction in class.

After dinner came a very heavy downpour. Together with Potato and Poo, the four of us spent a mind-boggling session under the candlelight, trying to outwit one another, to instructions such as “Move three sticks to form three triangles.”The next morning, after the sumptuous breakfast, we bade farewell to kind Mr Potato, Susie gave him a bear hug and we started our “bobbing” journey along the Kong River.