Any lingering doubts about Thailand’s tourism recovery were washed away on Thursday when the meandering Pai River in Mae Hong Son became a traffic jam of floating foreigners.
The traffic of bare limbs got so congested that the river beneath disappeared from view. But the crowded conditions only boosted the festival mood, with tourists joking and laughing as they admired the views of nature.

The video rapidly went viral, with over 600,000 views as of Friday.

A staffer at the riverside Rim Pai Cottage Hotel said foreign tourists usually show up in late January and February to float down this 2km section of the river.

He said staff from nearby hotels and resorts are deployed to monitor the innertube trips for safety.

Old time memories.

When I was in Mae Hong Son about 40 years ago, all the river and riverbanks on the Thai side bordering Burma were no-go areas for tourists because of the danger of cross-fire between armed groups on both sides of the Mekong. (Thai army, Burmese army, Burmese rebels/Shan fighters/ local drug lords.)

Its good to hear that things are more relaxed there now. But as for getting clean... that is probably not the right place.
Up to you.

John Bingham wrote: ↑Mon Mar 06, 2023 12:01 am When I was around Mae Hong Song in the late 90s there were still KMT camps in the hills. Nice scenery but a lot of dodgy business going on.

Those were the days I lived in chiangmai
I used to go smoking opium with all the hill tribes who dished it out to the tourists
Mostly up around doi suthep
I used to do that goddam heroin, so strong I got sick and quit it

Semi reap ( spellcheck got me ) is getting crowded with tourists these days too

I heard there is something in the air making alot of the women getting pregnant


I wish I could do a spoiler here but I’m not gifted

Ahhh Pai.

Last time there met a group of Israelis that had purchased 4000B of opium not knowing how to use it. I helped them out and after a few sessions of chasing the dragon they gifted me the whole lump saying they did not want to travel with it.

The last part of my trip got a little foggy to say the least.