A small taste of what Joanie, Michael and I got into in Pai last weekend, capping off Joanie’s visit, my month of weekenders, and this lovely Thai life… for now.

Let’s see. What did Michael, Joanie, and I do in Pai?

• Eat
• Sleep
• Read
• Eat
• Sleep
• Hike
• Eat some more

Yep, that pretty much sums it up.

As soon as we arrived Joanie and I couldn’t stop gushing, “It’s so cute!” Seriously, Pai is just one of those sweet little towns you can get sucked into – most likely while swinging in a hammock. Sitting on cushions on the floor of bars is a norm, reggae music and bossanova versions of Western Pop hits fill the streets and restaurants, and the smell of amazing Thai food follows you almost everywhere. The best part, however, is the people themselves. Their smiles are always without judgement and carry a warmth that will make anyone just want to relax and enjoy. Highly recommended. But a warning: if you are prone to motion sickness, knock yourself out because its a long, windy (and ultimately rewarding) road up the mountain to Pai.

Peace, love, and Pai, dude!

For our holiday weekend celebrating the Battle of Pichincha when Quito won its independence (also known as Laurene’s last weekend before she started her 6-day-a-week job), a few of us fled the mean streets of Quito for some fresh air, hot springs, and adventure. And how could that be bad?

Poor Ryan was sick with what looked like the flu and wasn’t able to make it. That’s okay, because there are so many outdoor activities to enjoy in Baños that we’re all more than happy to go back. Yes, baños is the Spanish word for bathroom, but the town is named after its restorative hot springs (or baths).

We soaked in some hot springs set at the base of a volcano for a mere $3; at dusk we watched a waterfall trickle down the mountain as we lounged in the mineral pools. Then we worked up a sweat dancing at a club called Son Cubanos, where the happy hour was whenever the DJ said it was.

We came to Baños in search of an adrenaline rush -  our next mission was choosing between bungee jumping, river rafting, waterfall rappelling, horseback riding, and hiking.