Chiang Rai

I spent last Saturday night walking around Chiang Rai.

Nothing so special compared to Chiang Mai but the night market is less touristic and it’s the real place for local people to relax and party. There is a huge group dancing in the city hall and most of the participants are over 40. This type of traditional group dance is easy to find in many small towns around Thailand but I’ve never seen something this huge and fun. People in the big city like Bangkok or Chiang Mai seem less open for the public activities.

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Lantern Festival

The International Lantern Festival hit the town recently.

Even it is an ‘international festival’, there aren’t so many things to do rather than photo bombing around the city center.

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Rainy Season

It is rainy season in Chiang Mai.

There are no heavy rains but small pouring ones that last the whole day make the street always wet and dirty. Last time when I tried to get home on my small scooter during the rain, I miraculously escaped from my crushed motorbike with only minor cuts and bruises. My scooter’s small tires are really hard to get balance on the wet roads. From then, I never go out with my scooter when it’s raining again.

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Unknown Market

I headed to the North of the city this afternoon (I stay in the South) looking for a printer that can produce good quality name card then I accidentally discovered a big local market which is on the end of a small alley. I can’t remember the fancy Thai name of this market but it loads with a lots of ready-to-eat food.

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Saturday Walk

I started the walk today from Chiang Mai Gate to the ‘China Town’ area. There is a complex of two big market there, one of them was built more than 100 years ago which which is called Kad Luang by the local people Beyond the market on Praisani Road are dozens of stalls where hilltribe people sell various kinds of tribal handicrafts and tropical fresh fruits and flowers from the highland farms.

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