A Chiangmai with no Temples

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It was kind of surreal, suddenly everything stop...right in the middle of the busy market. everyone turn quiet while the music blasting out from the loudspeaker above the street corner, and I was bumped into the back of the guy in front of me as I was concentrated on the street vendors. right away I noticed the trigger point was the national anthem of Thailand. I just didn't realised that they still doing it nowaday as my last expreience was more than 15 years ago. I look around still with one of my feet hanging in mid air...funny!
Chiangmai still a far more pleasand city compared with Bangkok. The relaxing air with many cafes and restaurants inside the old city wall, even outside the wall wasn't that bad. I spend a few days here just soaked up in the city market atmosphere. beside the huge daily night-market on ChangKlan Road that provided all the standard deal for tourist, together with a huge choices of snacks and canteens inside the area, you most likely walk out with a full belly! On Saturday and Sunday there were additional walking market one right outside the southern gate and the other stretched from the Tapae Gate inside the old city wall. those are festive like market scene with all sort of street merchandises, street artists marked their own territory, even indiviual enterprises came for promotion events. all the temples in the area would turn into food-court, grilled, steamed, fried....any taste...you named it! from 7 pm would see the crowd swelling up until late in the night. it was a great way to spend the evening no matter you do shopping or not! During day time one could wandering into the China town area if you want more market scene, hidden inside is a small lane sell the products from the Hmong people. and for a change from visiting Thai style Wat and Temples. here you could see some interesting Chinese temples as well. One of the most interesting general market is the Muang Mai market outside the north east corner of the old city. start from early morning and action begin, farmer from nearby villages would drove their products here, really busy well until afternoon.
My favour market should be the weekend second-hand market located near the British Embassy. started early around 7 am well until after 2pm. a place worth stroll in leisure if you are interest in used and old staffs like dail telephone set, wooden clock, old stereo and turntable, old toys....you never know, might got lucky...
well....the few days in Chiangmai with no temples was tiring with a lot of walk, but well worth and interesting.

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Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Market scene
great photo