The countryside is beautiful, and the best way to experience it is via motorbike. I was nervous because I’d never ridden one, nor had I been in a place where I had to drive on the left, but Pai is a great place to practice both of those things. Some noob tips:

• One person to a scooter. It’s much, much harder to drive with two or more people. If you’re new to scooters, don’t risk it.
• Get a mount for your phone, so you can use GPS. They didn’t have them at the rental shops when I was there, so bring your own.
• Bring eye protection. In general, it’s not necessary, but if it starts raining, you’ll really appreciate having it.
• The rental place will ask if you know how to ride. If you say “no,” they won’t rent to you. If you don’t want to lie, watch a video online beforehand - then at least you’ll have the knowledge, if not the skill.
• Be careful! As you walk around town, you’ll see lots of people with scratched up arms and legs, and probably even a few people with braces/casts. Don’t be one of them. It’s really not that difficult to ride, you just need to be smart and cautious.

And finally a pro-tip for getting to Pai: Take a motion sickness pill before the ride up. I don’t get sea-sick, I don’t get sick on rides, and I haven’t thrown up in over a decade. It doesn’t matter how strong your stomach is, you’ll feel the ride. Any pharmacy will have the pills, and they are very cheap.