Sunset over a mountain in north Thailand

The EmPaire Strikes Back


I felt there was unfinished business in Pai and with the Galway crew going I thought it would be a great opportunity to pop up again!

This time I knew to book more central and enjoyed staying at the Circus Hostel.

A hut on a hill

Big man with my big hut

The hostel staff organise sunset trips out to Two Huts for 100 Baht—a very popular thing to do in Pai that I missed last time. Good buzz and a good crowd out there too. Met up with the crew from Galway crew as well as another friend from Chiang Mai and had a great evening there.

Sun setting over a mountain while a crowd on a hill looks on

Two Huts sunset

An Irish Paradise

That evening we all went up to Paradise, the place I loved last time. Had a good ol’ fashioned Galway sesh—not unlike the one we had after bumping into each other at The Beatyard 2015. 10 years ago—mental!

Paradise the place to be on a Thursday and got (steamed) chatting to a ton of sound heads—many of whom were staying at Circus—so just a class night overall.

A fire performer on stage

Paradise fire show

Some grand notions of doing things the following day but, exactly like last time, I wasn’t arsed when it came down to it. The hostel run Tipsy Tubing events as well but gave it a miss.

Eventually headed down the road to Pai to catch up with the crew for final night drinks.

An irishman playing pool

The Hurricane

In town, I met more sound Irish heads—biggest concentration of us I found so far. A lot of fun up at Sunset bar in the small hours followed by a Circus campfire before an early bus back to Chiang Mai.

A campfire at night with people around it

Ah yeah