Pai - a tiny town half between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son , the mountain road makes a winding descent into a large green valley carpeted with rice paddies and fruit groves.Mountains rise on all sides and butterflies flit along the streets. Here you'll find a tiny town called Pai , names after the river that runs through valley . Pai , a speck of a place offers you a rich bohemian where you can collect your thoughts and commune with nature.In Pai , every day is a lazy Sunday. And if you are ready for it , Pai offers you a wide plate of activities. Never a dull moment !!!

Mae Hong Son , Thailand's second northernmost provincial city , is known as the City of the Three Mists
as it seems perenially shrouded in vapour. It has a Shangri-La quality from being sheltered by several high mountains , and enjoy a cool climate almost all year round . The town was in fact once isolated from the outside world for lack of good transportation and communications. The provimce borders Myanmar to the North and West , and a strong Burmese influence can be seen in the provincial capital's temples and other buildings. Being high in the mountains , there are a number of stunningly beautiful waterfalls to visit as well as numerous mountain caves. This location has spawned the title " The City of Three Mists ". the morning markets are especially interesting where you can buy , apart from the usual household items and foodstaffs , an array of insect food such as crickets , worms and ant eggs.

Mae Hong Son - City of 1,284 Curves .
Mae Hong Son is situated close to the Burmese border , some 274 kms. from Chiang Mai .
A rented vehicle or bus will give you an unprecedented opportunity to see the magnificent mountain districts of the North ,but 1,284 curves of winding roads enforces you to take an alternative of flying with a Thai Airways flight will get you there about 30 minutes .

Mae Hong Son is the home to many of the hilltribe people of Thailand , the most famous of which are Longnecked Women of The Karen ( Padaung Tribe ). Even today, there people still attach brass rings to the some of the women to give the appearance of them having extended necks. Apart from Thai People , there are Thai Yai and The Shan , who are related to Burmese tribes.

Why do Padaung Women wear rings around their necks?
In the village of Mae Hong Son province lives a tribe whose female members are known for wearing several copper rings around their necks , a practice that makes the neck look exceptionally long .These tribemen are known as Padaung, a branch of The Karen .

The Padaung are known to be hard working . Most of them are farmers who grow rice , cotton and tobacco Many also raise animals.

There are two theories on how Padaung women came to wear rings around their naecks .
One theory says it was meant to ward off evil spirits that came in the form of tiger. The other focuses on the belief that tribal ancestors were dragons and swans ; thus, the women wear rings around their necks to make them look tall and graceful . Tradition dictates that all Padaung women start wearing the rings around their necks when they are between five and nine years old. But there was a time when only those born on a Wednesday during a full moon were deemed worthy to wear the rings. The most that the women can wear in 32 rings . And these rings have to be replaced with new ones every four years.