Winding through the mountains of Northern Thailand

The shuttle is late. I shuffle in my seat to double check the clock hanging on the wall. Finally, the shuttle pulls up in front of my guesthouse and I am rushed aboard. Only the second passenger. We begin twisting through the narrow streets of Chiang Mai and before I know it I’ve done a whole circuit of the city. Five more passengers on board and the driver finally makes his way to the bus station where we are to meet our minivan to Pai.

It’s well after my booked departure time when the shuttle pulls into the station. I climb out and watch a minivan to Pai depart. My luggage is unloaded and I am told I need to wait until a whole minivan load of people is at the bus station. Finding a hard metal seat (one of the only) in the shade, I wait. Forty-five minutes pass and I am relieved to see a packed shuttle arrive at the station. The few of us waiting, jump to our feet and are onboard before the driver even realises what is happening. Ten more minutes and we are finally off.

As we set off, our driver confirms the trip takes three hours. Settling back into my chair, I close my eyes as the minivan begins to wind through and over mountains. The minivan continues to wind. No stretch of straight road appears and the whole road is someone who suffers motion sicknesses’s worst nightmare. Lucky for me, I am rocked into sleep. Reports from other travellers at the other end though aren’t so relaxed. The van I was supposed to catch had two passengers sick the entire journey. Maybe I was lucky I departed almost two hours after the time I had booked.

A week later and it is my turn to make the journey again on the now infamous treacherous road. This time I hope to stay awake to witness the road. As windy mountain roads to me sound like a picturesque route, I don’t want to miss it. I reach the halfway stop point ecstatic that I am still awake and it is such an exquisite road we have travelled. Bursting with energy, I jump out for a bathroom and food stop. On schedule for arrival in Chiang Mai on time, I excitedly take my seat at the front with the driver.

This time I am less successful at keeping my eyes open. Again, the windy road rocks my body into a pleasant sleep. I wake to a thud at the back of my head as a passenger trips and uses my head to catch themselves. Vision blurry, I try to make out my surroundings and find myself at the main square in Chiang Mai and one of the only passengers still on board. I quickly rush to the back to grab my bag as the driver is shutting the door. Aya Service, I learn as I reach for my bag, has three stops in Chiang Mai: the airport, bus station and the centre of town.

I look at the time and smile as I walk away from the minivan. Right on time. Definitely a more pleasant and efficient service compared to my first journey.

All opinions are subjective to the writers personal travel experience. The writer travelled at her own expense.