Chiang Mai

"Pasar Malam" in Chiang Mai

The term "Night Market" makes a person who has not lived in Asia pondering what type of market opens at night and how it would be like? In fact, Night market is a feature in all Thai towns and Cities. Irrespective of size. Most of them are  a gathering of stalls making the place in this urban setting an impromptu Hawkers Center. In the larger cities, Chiang Mai  for example, the operation would be expanded to include stalls selling a variety of merchandise. This style attracted the Western shoppers, otherwise most Night Markets are the usual food fairs.

Every evening, the centre of Chiang Mai comes alive with a massive Night Bazaars. I counted that there were at least 8 of them. From recommendation, we had chosen the area between Loi Khraw and Tha Plae Roads. After visiting the place, I learnt that it is made up of a cluster of few Night Markets, with different names like 1. Chiang Mai Night Market 2. Poen Rue Dee Night Market and 3. the Anusan Night Market

Then the other Night Markets around town would be the Saturday Night Market and Sunday Night Market.

Inside each grouping of stalls, there would be a gathering eateries making the place looking like a "Hawker Centers" where shops and eateries all housed under one roof. Then there would be other regular shop houses along the road that kept the opening hours parallel to the night Markets. Last of all the many make shift stalls that were set up for the evening.

Like Petaling Street, the stalls parked on the pedestrian walks on both sides of the road. In front of the usual shop houses. Along Chang Klam Road, the stalls took up a stretch of three blocks. Located in one corner of the Ancient City. With its popularity, most hotels just happened to be within walking distance. Which came first? The Night market or the many restaurants and other useful services. There were camera shops, travel agents, internet cafés and more. One popular activity is to have your portrait done all dressed up in traditional Thai costume.

Shops in the Bazaars unlike road side stalls  were opened during the daylight hours too. The whole day and not just dependent or jiving in with the Night market.

Some names - Vieng Ping Night Bazaar is the main locus of trade and comprises a two-storey mezzanine arcade. Across the road is the Klare Centre. The place is known for  international selection of food to be enjoyed in an open-seated area. Entertainment provided by traditional Thai dancers and music.

We had nothing in mind that we wish to buy but just going there to collect our souvenir pictures. That much we interested in Night Market. As for the hawker Food, our stomach were so filled that we just could not sample any more novelties.

#1 Picture Around Chiang Mai - Evening   #

A look around Chiang Mai City in the late afternoon on the way to the Night market

#2 Picture Picture Around Chiang Mai - Evening   #

Foreigners [farang] following Thai style. Not what they do at home.

#3 Picture Picture Around Chiang Mai - Evening   #

Reached the area of market. The traffic? typical Thai style very busy

#4 Picture Picture Around Chiang Mai - Evening   #

Shops were open early but not ready for business as customers told.- this is a Night market

#5 Picture Picture Around Chiang Mai - Evening   #

Everyone idling!

#6 Picture Picture Around Chiang Mai - Evening   #

A car rental outlet?

#7 Picture Around Chiang Mai - Evening   #

The Imperial Mae-Ping Hotel

#8 Picture Around Chiang Mai - Evening   #

A stupa to commemorate Theresa Teng who spent her last days here

#9 Picture Around Chiang Mai - Evening   #

The garden -those days

#10 Picture Imperial Mae-Ping Hotel   #

Today's picture

#11 Picture Around Chiang Mai - Evening   #

Sales promoters - we all had time to spare

#12 Imperial Mae-Ping Hotel Musician    #

#13 Picture Around Chiang Mai - Evening   #

Wedding function that day

Chiang Mai Night Market

#14 Picture Chiang Mai inside the stalls - The  "Klare" Night Bazaar #

#15 Picture Chiang Mai  inside the stalls "Klare" Night Bazaar #

#16 Picture Chiang Mai  inside the stalls "Klare" Night Bazaar #

#17 Picture Chiang Mai  inside the stalls "Klare" Night Bazaar #

#18 Picture Chiang Mai  Frontage - The "Klare" Night Bazaar #

#19 Picture Chiang Mai  Frontage - The "Klare" Night Bazaar  #

Today's picture

#20 Picture Chiang Mai  inside the stalls "Klare" Night Bazaar #

Very unlike Thai - bereft of customers

 #21 Picture Chiang Mai  inside the stalls "Klare" Night Bazaar #

#22 Picture Chiang Mai  inside the stalls "Klare" Night Bazaar #

 Looking out and down at the stalls along the Chan Klan Road

#23 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes #

 Now the Signage - Street stalls of the Night market

#24 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes #

#25 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes #

 Knives & weapons

#26 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes #

 Pharmacy

 #27 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes #

Same Hawker met earlier in the evening

#28 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes #

German Pub

#29 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes #

#30 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes #

Another Bazaar

#31 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes #

Out off the Chan Klan Road into an open ground

#32 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes #

Yes Big Mac Shop not stall

#33 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes #

#34 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes

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#35 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes #

Overall -later in the night, some shoppers but not in the intensity as expected

#36 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes #

At last ready to call it a Night

#37 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes #

#38 Picture Chiang Mai Night Market scenes #

The streets and the endless number of stalls had almost anything that we could of buying. Was there for a few hours and lucky for us, the place was not jammed pack. In fact rather low of traffic that evening