One of the best things about Thailand is the abundance of local markets. None of this Wal-Mart business; if you need something, you head to the streets! Or maybe 7-11, but we’ll ignore that fact for now.
While you’ll find clumps of smaller stalls spread throughout the cities, most often there’s at least one large, daily market where vendors congregate. In Chiang Mai that’s Warorot – the place you go to find anything (and I mean anything) you need.
Fresh fish, fabric, vases, live turtles, gold jewelry, pickled peaches… you can get it all, and then some.
Then there are the night markets.
In case you didn’t know, Thailand is HOT. No one wants to shlep around in the afternoon heat, so a lot of activity takes place in the cooler evening hours.
Chiang Mai’s touristy night market is open seven days a week, and the weekend’s evening walking markets are much beloved by locals and tourists alike.
These night markets are a bit more festive; instead of fruits and veggies, they’re teeming with street food, entertainment, artisan handicrafts, and kitschy gifts.
Or, well… just weird stuff like this:
{ 56 comments… read them below or add one }
LOL. Scrolling down through your pictures going nice…nice….nice….WTF? Please tell me you bought a pair of whatever that is in the last picture.
Steve recently posted: Adventures in the New York Subway
Bwahaha! I tried to convince Kali to buy a pair, but he politely declined.
What a fantastic selection of shots. I’ve never made it past the Bangkok airport but the more I see and read about Chiang Mai, the more I feel I must visit.
Leigh recently posted: Scenes from Ireland’s Skellig Islands
There is a lot about Chiang Mai out there in the blogosphere, but for good reason – it’s a great city!
These are… questionable boxers, haha!
Sooo questionable, lol.
Hahahaha, that last photo is hilarious!!
Great shots as usual, though. The one of the clams near the top is my favorite, I think!
Amanda recently posted: 8 Popular Travel Destinations for Film Fans
Thanks, Amanda! I like that shot a lot as well, though it does bring back memories of the smell.
Steve took the words right out of my mouth
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted: Mixing Business and Pleasure (Art and Steak) in BA
Understood.
Wonderful shots! I always love the shopping part that accompanies the travel!!!
Have a nice week ahead:)
Arti recently posted: Temples of Mathura: Krishna Janmbhumi, Peepleshwar Mahadeo and others
The shopping part is fun when there isn’t any time pressure involved. Kali and I spent two months just looking at stuff and getting a sense of how far we could haggle, and only started buying gifts and such a little before we left. Trying to fit it all in the first few days would have been super stressful! The food, on the other hand… we were going after the food the moment we stepped off the airplane.
What is that bottom picture all about?
Christy recently posted: Camping in Joshua Tree – No Rattlesnakes This Time!
You mean Scott doesn’t own a pair of those, Christy? They’re all the rage these days!
Great photos! Well shot and funny (echo the thoughts on the last photo!). Never been to Thailand but hope to next year and Chiang Mai high on list of places I want to see.
Thanks, Laura! I would highly recommend Chiang Mai, though you can’t go wrong almost anywhere in Thailand.
Great photos, thanks! I think I have a photo of the same vegetable lady in the Warrorot Market, sitting amidst her throne of vegetables (except that mine was taken from above).
Shanna Schultz recently posted: Why You Need a Passport (even if you are not expecting to travel)
Ha, it’s totally a throne of vegetables.
Is that an elephant’s trunk in your pants or….
Laurence recently posted: Things I didn’t know about Barcelona!
I’m just happy to see you.
Wow, good stuff. I like the pic of the shells. And for some reason I love shots of produce, even from a local grocery store. They’re always so colorful and orderly.
Scott – Quirky Travel Guy recently posted: Experiencing Chicago’s architecture through a boat tour
They always make me hungry! When you see photos of fresh fruit, how can you not want to eat it?! The fruit, not the photo, lol.
I love the first pic of this photo essay and I laughed really hard at the last picture. Really funny.
Laura @Travelocafe recently posted: An Insiders Guide to North Cornwall
Thanks, Laura – that first photo is one of our favorite areas in our favorite market.
Nice photos! Love seeing markets from around the world. One day we’ll get our asses over to Thailand…
Pete recently posted: Rainbows, Kitty Cats and Ice Cream
Seriously, you two! How have you not been to Thailand yet?!?
This looks like an awesome place to explore – having it at night sounds much better than melting in the heat. So much variety! Nice shots
Andrea recently posted: I Can’t Find a Job (and why that rocks!)
The night markets are brilliant – Kali and I would stay in and work all day (with our a/c), and then in the evenings we could go out and play when the temperature dropped. I wish more cities did that! It also gives them a more festive atmosphere, in my opinion.
Your pics are amazing! I love the one of the man cooking and the last one thart with such a weird stuff!!
It’s neat to see all the vendors cooking at the markets – those little egg pans were my favorite. So handy and cute.
Fantastic photos capturing the people and market activity so well. The last photo definitely gave me a chuckle this morning. I’m glad that Kali opted not to buy the boxers.
Now I almost wish that he did – they’re make a funny souvenir.
You made me miss Chiang Mai and snort at the same time. LOL, that last photo is hilarious. I don’t think we’ve explored enough when we were there – it was Songkran. But we did make it to the night market (and 7-11). Haha
Kieu ~ GQ trippin recently posted: A Wet & Wild Songkran in Chiang Mai
Well, if you went to a 7-11…..
omg…that boxer….made me laugh!
The second photos looked like the clams were making that =P face at us ~
FootTracker recently posted: My Romantic Spanish Happy Hour
Hahah, it does! I didn’t see it until you mentioned it.
LOVE the clam picture.
Caanan @ No Vacation Required recently posted: Driving in Europe = We’re Idiots
Thanks, Caanan!
Can’t wait to be back there in two months!!!
dtravelsround recently posted: The (in)exchange of energies
Wow, only two months?! That’ll be the rainy season, right?
I never tire of markets anywhere in the world, they are always my favourite places to go and become my favourite photos.
Ayngelina recently posted: Ice cream for a cause
I completely agree, Ayngelina. I wish the U.S. had a stronger “market” culture.
Wow, everything looks so fun and festive. By the way, the peach pickle is actually really good. — Michelle
My Traveling Lens recently posted: Nello Cucina Italian Restaurant — Costa Mesa, California
Huh, the “pickled” part freaked me out, so we didn’t even think to try it. Now I wish we had!
Markets are some of my favorite places in the world. Great job guys!
Erica recently posted: Texas vs. Argentina: THE BEEF OFF
Thanks, Erica!
great post love food markets hope to visit one day
This post makes me miss Chiang Mai so much. I love the markets in Thailand, except for the meat section, I never did get used to that.
Laurel recently posted: Gladiator School: Battle of the Bloggers
It’s always way to stinky. Yuck.
That second photo looks icky!
Ha, it’s definitely a little gross.
They certainly love a good market in Chiang Mai. If you live there discovering that the street to where you’re going is blocked by a massive market is a fairly regular event.
Magic Travel Andrew recently posted: Mae Hong Son Loop Day 5 – Mae Hong Son to Pai
We never really minded that – the more markets, the merrier!
Great photos! So colorful. I especially like the perspective of the woman painting mid stroke.
Mary @ Green Global Travel recently posted: 10 Unbelievable Mountains For Your World Travel Bucket List
Thanks, Mary!
Hi – I’m looking for the name of the artist how painted the pictures with the peacock and rhino – I’ve been looking all over for the gallery and think it might be on Ratchadamnoen Road in Chiang Mai, but since I’m in DK it’s hard to find out and recognized it on your photo immediately.
Does anyone know the name of the artist, the name of the gallery or an address?