Chiang Mai Markets

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We decided to devote our last day in Chiang Mai to exploring the markets. First we headed to Talat Wororot, Chiang Mai's oldest and most famous market. This busy fresh food and household goods market is a reminder of Chiang Mai's history as a trading port. It's location next to the river reflects the use of the waterways to transport goods to and from Chiang Mai. Strawberries were abundant so the kids feasted on those while we wandered the crowded alleys and smelled the pungent aromas of fermented fish and fresh fried pork rinds. After lunch and a well earned rest we were ready to hit another market...this time the famous Sunday Walking Street where one of the main streets in the old city is closed to traffic from 4pm until midnight, and hundreds of vendors set up stalls on both sides of the street, selling local hilltribe crafts, snacks, clothes, jewellery.... just to mention a few things. The grounds of a couple of the large temples are converted to huge hawker markets filled with with an amazing selection of Thai dishes and snacks. We strolled the length of the market, bought some interesting things to bring home, listened to music performed by local bands....it was a lovely evening. The highlight was the selection of food. We tasted heaps of different dishes, but the favourite was definitely Khao Soi, a northern specialty of thin wheat noodles in a curry chicken soup, topped with crunchy fried noodles, fresh coriander, pickled cucumber, sliced onions and fresh lime. Absolutely delicious...Jasper and Todd had a taste of mine and before I knew it they were off getting their own. Jasper is really confident in using a bit of Thai with the vendors at the markets. He even approached some local kids playing in the street, grabbed the phrasebook, looked up the phrase for 'can I join in?' and they all had a play together. Cute!
Exhausted, we headed back to our guesthouse and spent the evening trying to fit our purchases in our bags ready for an early departure the next morning.

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Photos

A Girl & Her Limes
A picture Phoebe took of a young girl at Talat Warorot.

Produce
Some of the fresh herbs at Talat Warorot

Fresh Flowers
Part of the flower market at Talat Warorot

Khao Soi
Jasper digging some Khao Soi at the Sunday Walking Street.

Phoebe, Anya & a plate of noodles
At one of the food stalls, Sunday Walking Street.

Phoebe and her dad at Chiang Mai Sunday Walking Street
Towards the end Phoebe's little legs were getting tired.

Comments

[Melissa Carlson]

Hi
The adventures keep coming! Don't you love how kids make friends and join in where ever they are. I love hearing about all the delicious food you are all enjoying! xx