The Sunday night walking street market in Chiang Mai has become very popular in recent years. Once a week, a colourful traditional market bazaar takes place along the length of Ratchadamnoen Road (and other side roads) in the Old City. The area is closed off to traffic and hundreds of market traders set up shop selling food, clothes, traditional goods, handicrafts, art and so on. I took a stroll through the market recently and was surprised how large it was and how many people there were. High season I guess. I was most interested in the food stalls which are colourful, lively and photogenic.
There was a lot of art for sale. I quite liked the animals although it was a little bit formulaic, in the sense that certain images were being replicated in numerous similar paintings. But it is not easy to sell art, and this was a lot better than other examples I have come across. It a matter of taste I guess.
The colourful rhinos were being churned out by someone! They are nice though, even if not a Thai animal; well I’ve never seen one!
The market is by no means just for tourists; there were many Thais enjoying shopping.
There were a lot of musicians sitting on the ground and playing their instruments between the market stalls.
The food in these stalls looks very tasty and looking at them again now, makes me feel hungry!
The market extends into the area around Tha Pae Gate. This was a fried omelette stand. I am feeling hungry again!
The orange juice – nam som – stall was fronted by simple but highly effective marketing (the orange juice coming out of the floating tap is not real but the rest of the bottles and jars are), plus a lady with a lovely Thai smile.
Finally, I came across these huge prickly fruit which I am pretty sure are durians. Jack fruits are similar but much less spiky.
Ray's ramblings 