Renting a Scooter in Pai

This weekend I want to Pai with Javierva (another volunteer, she is from Chile and we have the same birthday).

The best way to get around Pai is to rent a scooter because all of the things to do are spread out-various temples waterfalls and the Pai Canyon. 

Step 1:Rent a scooter

Mission accomplished! I had no passport so they photocopied my ID and took 1000thb deposit.

   Our pink scooter

  Javiera and I 

Javiera and I-you can never have too many scooter selfies!

I was driving and Javiera rode on back-she was too nervous to drive herself. Also I told her I could drive a scooter (this was my first time-never did it before, how hard could it be...?)

Step 2: Learn how start said scooter

They started it for me twice in front of me. And I said okay. So we drove off. We were driving to find a place to eat. We stopped on the side of the road to look at a map. Then I could not start the scooter again. Fuck! Did they give us a broken one? Ummm....what to do? So Javierva flagged someone down who was driving by on a scooter (mother with 2 children). She stopped to help us out. Actually her son came over to show us how to start it. A 10 year old. Oh my. Very nice people-so thankful they stopped. The trick is that you also need to hold down the front brake and press the ignite button at the same time.

Step 3: Find a gas station

They gave us a scooter with no gas, we need gas. This should have been easier than it was. We drove for a while and  asked many people before we finally found one. This was an automatic gas station (no attendants). 

Step 4: Figure out how to pump the gas and figure out where it goes 

Where is the gas cap? Never have I felt so useless and like such a female stereotype, where I don't even know how to pump my own gas. No gas cover anywhere...maybe it is under the seat? I know the seat lifts up-I've seen all the other scooters do it. But how? The key needs to be in the position next to "on" and then you press the button that says "seat" and you can lift it from behind. 

That seems like a more logical use for the button that says seat. What I first saw it I thought that it was for a seat warmer...

Gas cap found! 

Pumping it was also weird at this station. Put the money in-done. Press the green button probably. And press the gas nozzle handle. And then "ERR" appears on screen. 

..?..?..?

After a few more tries of trying-it works! A full tank of gas for 100 thb! 

   Javiera and myself in front of the gas station

Step 5: Don't crash

We have planned to go to 3 different waterfalls and some temples. I've seen how people drive here and they are crazy! Also remember to stay on the left.

Everything was going great! We made it to the Pai Canyon and were on our way back from waterfall #1 pembok waterfall.

It has been raining on and off again all day. Maybe a nice treat from the heat. Long story short my sunglasses fell and so I wanted to stop to grab them, I started braking and hit the front brake by accident. Uh oh! Before I knew it we were down. 

     My leg

    My arm

War wounds I call them. After the fall-we got up dusted ourselves off and drove back to the hotel covered in mud and blood. I wish I had a picture. Got to the hotel, parked and the guy came out asked us what happened and helped clean us off. We went to get changed because we were also very dirty and wet. We left to find some food, by foot. We were a little defeated. We found some good eats I had small bowl of pumpkin soup so I would be able to eat mango sticky rice later. Mmmm.  And then I also ate a banana Nutella street crepe. I figured why not! All is good now. 

My wound is trying to make a scab, people keep asking me what happened...