Chiang Mai is a great city to enjoy all the amenities of a place like Bangkok, but on a much smaller scale. You could walk from one side to the other, but most people rent bikes or take a quick Tuk Tuk taxi ride. In one day I was able to walk most of the old city. The city was originally a perfectly square walled city surrounded by a moat. The moat is still there, and remains of the ancient wall still stand here and there. The city has long since sprawled beyond the moat perimeter.
The city has an amazing assortment of Buddhist temples, with one perched high on a mountain overlooking the city. That one is called Doi Suthep, and it requires ascending up a long winding road. I saw people making their way up on bikes, but I did it in a tour bus.
A highlight of Chiang Mai is the Night Market, which slips into gear after 5:00pm-ish and goes on quite late. All manner of stalls and hawkers line the streets, and you can get anything you want, especially designer knockoffs. People in Hill Tribe costumes walk around selling carved frogs that they rub with a piece of wood to make a swamp-like "Crik Crik" sound. You'll hear that sound everywhere. I finally broke down and bought one of the blasted things.
There are a million guest houses to stay, very cheap, and I wouldn't even bother booking in advance because you're bound to find a clean room anywhere.
Photos by Mark Isleifson ©2006
The moat and old wall.
More of the wall from the interior of the old city.
It looks like I caught a UFO in the upper left of this photo, but fortunately I don't believe in such rubbish.
Those stalls above weren't there an hour before this photo was taken. This is part of the Night Market, which will soon be swarming with people.
"Let's Relax" is mentioned prominently in the famous Lonely Planet guidebook. This is a legit place with spa treatment (not like the "funny" massage places).
As usual the Thai king is held in high esteem, and his image can be seen everywhere. Only a fool would talk disparagingly about the monarchy in Thailand.
This vendor sold carved soap flowers in beautiful wooden cups. She carved them right there. I purchased one for Joanne.
A village on the mountain leading to the Doi Suthep temple near Chiang Mai. This village is populated with Hill Tribe people touched by the ravages of tourism, no doubt. The purist trekker would not consider this area a true representation of the Hill Tribe people. It actually seemed contrived to me, and designed to sell tourists all manner of stuff. Click here for info on the Hill Tribe People.
Hill Tribe traditional dresses.