Chapter 25. CHIANGMAI NIGHT MARKET

Outside our hotel

Note the excellent locality of our hotel, the Duangtawan. Once we stepped out of the hotel, we could start shopping at the roadside stalls.

Later at night

After our Khantoke Dinner, we ventured out to the Night Market. The picture above illustrates a main road. As the night bored on, the humans replaced the cars as everyone came out to stroll along the stalls.

Pity the cars that have to flow with the mercy of the masses.

A lot of Angmohs

Forums had warned us that the roadside stalls =/= Night Market. Apparently some tourists had been misled to think that the stalls itself is part of the Night Market.

Chiangmai is crawling with Ang Mohs. Everywhere we turn we'll spot 6-7 angmohs out of 10 people. Most of the Angmohs are accompanied by local Thai girls. Booming business for the girls. ;p

The Pavillion that houses the Night Market

Following exact instructions from the forum, we found the Night Market that's slightly hidden from the public eye by the other roadside stalls. It's no wonder that some tourists can't locate it.

Colourful Necklaces

The Night Market is housed in a double storey building. On the 2nd level, most the shops appeared to be closed for the day. (9.30pm)

Bags

Inside the Night Market, we felt an abrupt change of atmostphere from "many people" = "almost no people". It was suprisingly quiet inside whereas customers are haggling away at insanely loud desibel voices outside.

Art Gallery

There were quite a lot of art galleries in the Night Market, apart from the pottery and vases vendors. We didn't bother to check the prices but the art pieces were all rather exquisite and aesthetically pleasing to the eyes.

Beautiful pieces

If I had my own house, I would have definitely picked up a piece of 2 to decorate my house. It kinda sucks not having a permanent place because we can't buy certain things we see on our journeys. It's too much hassle to lug around all the stuff whenever we move. ;(

After about 10mins indoor, we headed outdoors. It feels eerily quiet after a while and we never liked shopping alone with just the shop owners. Just too queer. ;(

The most colourful pic of the night

All of these are hair clips. Check out the varieties and colors!!!! There are medicine tablets, sweets, cookies, chillies etc etc. And they all look so real!!

Can you spot the (Popcorns, M&Ms, Kit Kats .....) ?

The roadside stalls were a far better place to shop by a mile. I'm starting to think that the tourists missed the Night Market by choice.

Prawn shells ;p

Haha We spent like about 5 mins at this stall browsing about and taking photos. People in Chiangmai are more relaxed and don't keep bugging you to purchase, unlike Bangkok.

They let you see, touch, photograph etc (basically everything except putting it into your pocket without paying).

Anusan Market

Main area (stalls + food)

After browsing through the various stalls, we proceeded to Anusan Market (recommended by Mr. Korn for some food). It is just 2 blocks away from the Night Market/Mcdonalds.

More stalls

Inside we found more stalls. Some of the handicrafts we saw at Bo Sang and San Kamphaeng in the afternoon such as the paper umbrellas, leather etc were also available here, albeit at higher prices.

Eggshells Jewellery (Ear rings)

So nice (Hair Clips)

We spotted a stall that recycled egg shells and incorporate them into their jewellery designs. It was both environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing. They looked really unique.

I wonder if it doubles as a mosquito repellent as egg shells can be burnt and used as a mosquito coils.

Tuk Tuk made of used aluminium cans

What is it?

Handmade handphone strings

There were a couple of stalls selling them. All of them were 100% handmade as the stall owners were busy putting them together in front of us. They're really really cute and sooo colourful. All of them had different expressions. ;p

I can't stop being amazed with their innovation and uniqueness. Most importantly they're really cheap at about 10baht for 1.

Fruit stall

Sticky rice with mango - 30Baht

I'm really addicted to this stuff. haha The masseuse told me it's called "He Mang Ma Muang" in thai. [HM³]

My masseuse

After all the walking, we decided to have a roadside massage. haha For just 80Bhat - half an hour we sat on chairs positioned on the road in a line. Looks a bit shabby at first but for that price there's nothing to complaint about.

Just my masseuse that needs to eat more as his strengthless approach leaves me tickling to my death. ;(