The Great Dopamine Rush of 2025

On my final day here in Pai, I really wanted to make the most of it. I started my day around the fire to warm up and then headed to Break The Fast for some pre hike breakfast. I had a Egg BLT as the menu said it, it was ok but was missing mayonnaise. You’d be hard pressed to find it here.

After breakfast I rode 20 minutes out of town on dirt track to the start of the Hua Chang waterfall hike. Waterfall hikes are my favorite hikes. Lots of water crossings, missing trail and always very beautiful. This one was no different. I crossed the river no less than 45 times, and lost the trail some 10 times, and it was a beautiful hike. Even if you get lost, you are not really lost. Just trudge up the creek until you find the trail again. At the falls I had a snack and sat and listened to the roar of the water.

When I came down from Hua Chang my heat rash came back with a vengeance as it was now midday, So I spent the hottest hours of the day just hanging out at the bungalows. I went back to the drugstore and got some cortisol cream which really helped with the pricklyness. My friend Kev from back home suggested I use some Tryactin. You know Tryactin like a man. Lol good one.

After the Tryactin kicked in I got on my bike and rode 40 km up to Doi Miang and Doi Thong. Two mountains overlooking Pai, to watch the sunset. The drive was great and the views were incredible. I met some cool Canadians from the Yukon at the top of Doi Thong, and I was able to video chat home to my girlfriend and too a couple friends, that was really cool.

From Doi Thong I drove straight to the walking street for my last meal of northern street fair, I was not disappointed with my “Bestseller” which is a funny bit of marketing and it worked on me, It just so happened to be the most expensive thing on the menu. That’s a baked potato, with beans, sour cream, Guacamole, and cheese. It truly was delicious.

I’m absolutely shafted writing this so if it seems sloppy its cause I’m exhausted and currently covered in fruit ants. Tomorrow I do the big drive back to Chiang Mai and then catch a flight to Krabi.

“When your in pain, remember this–bodily pain can’t harm your ruling reason. Most pains are local and limited. Let the injured part of your body voice its displeasure, but don’t let it dominate your thoughts and become the center of your attention. When imagination is added to pain, it seems infinite and everlasting.” – Marcus Aurelius