Sunday Night-market in Old Town, Chiang Mai is where it's at - the place to be!!! The Old Town Night-market is a work of art. Every Sunday, in the afternoon, at about 4 pm, the heart of the city opens up as a cornucopia of delights! In fact, the night-market is so grande that it's almost impossible to establish where the event begins, or where it ends, for that matter. There are literally 5 varying roads that lead into the center monstrosity of the fanfare. I recall walking aimlessly, and turning here and there . . . thoroughly dazzled and enamored at the very same time everywhere I went, and everything I set my eyes on because there were so many new sights to see . . . I didn't know what to look at first because every time I saw a reddish-pink lychee stand, or an artist's hand-carved elephant, and decorative bowl display or bright orange/tan buddha painting, something else wowed me.
Of course, it is a shopaholic's heaven . . . and you can pretty much find anything you want . . . whatever your heart desires! There's even freshly packaged Thai teas from the mountains, aloe vera for that sunburn, fresh coffee beans from the mountains, mangosteen fruits, longan fruits and big bunches of green bananas, not to mention giant-sized ripe yellow mangoes. There was also freshly squeezed juices: guava, mango, pomegranate, mangosteen, coconut, lemongrass, tamarind. You name it, they had it. Alongside the fresh items on display, there was fresh fried pork rinds (a local Chiang Mai specialty), green chili, another local favorite for meats on skewers, fish and soups, sweet as well as savory crackers, cookies and pastries, recently dried strawberries, kiwis, mangoes, packaged tom yung goong herbs for making your own sour and spicy Thai soup, red curry, green curry, massaman curry, etc.
Within the stretches of stands set up by local Thai people, hidden driveways lead further into buddhist temples, and even more beauty welcomed one entering. I turned towards the intersecting walkway and was greeted immediately by a beautiful golden shrine - a majestic Wat Phra Singh Buddhist temple. And who could forget another beauty in the heart of it all: the Wat Chedi Luang Buddhist temple? There were even more stands of goods set up around some of the temple buildings. Whether visitors were purchasing goods, or going into temple for prayer, everyone seemed to co-exist in this space. Everyone works as a community here, and the local Thai people and the Buddhist temple seem to be united in helping one another. Just outside the floral plants of fuchsia and purple orchids lined various stones of Thai/spiritual prayer and served as a quiet beauty welcoming the many passersby.
There is a sense of calm and quiet atmosphere even though the city is bustling with the night-market underway. You never quite felt bothered by the many visitors or people gathering together strolling the never-ending night-market streets because there was something for everyone and space for everyone who came here. After all, we were all friends visiting the beauty of northern Thailand here together even as strangers. I can say that I felt warm and welcome within the confines of the streets even though I was a regular tourist. And when you stopped in to gaze at the fruits, the beautiful silk shawls or the paintings, Thai locals greeted you with a gentle smile and
hello sah-wah-dee.
I can get used to this. Being treated warmly, that is. Back home everyone is just stressed out, and workaholics. But this, Thai hospitality, good food, happy, warm people and beautiful things to enjoy; life is good. I am surrounded by beauty.
I also felt as though I was special because I had the chance to witness magic happening in real time. If you look closely as you marvel at the various colorful stands, Thai people are repairing earrings and or bracelets, displaying their skill as a jeweler right in front of your eyes, or the local Thai artist is carving and painting the next masterpiece ready for sale. There isn't an item that isn't made of the highest quality and workmanship of this caliber. Where else can you find a creative being inspired right in front of your eyes? The Old Town Night-Market is, essentially, a work of art.