There are lots of places to shop very comfortably here in Chiang Mai. I remember being very excited by all the modern supermarkets here when we moved from the mountains of India. I still appreciate the convenience of shopping in an air-conditioned building with organized aisles etc . . . . . but there is something about the market shopping experience which I have always found stimulating and fun - and Chiang Mai has lots of that to offer too.
This week, I had reason to go to Wararot Market. Wararot is the biggest market in Chiang Mai, partly indoor on 3 floors and partly spreading throughout the surrounding streets and overlapping with the Ton Lamyai flower market along the river. It is a full-on sensory experience with all kinds of sounds and smells, bustling crowds in narrow spaces and colourful displays drawing you down alleys in the hope of a sale.
It can be overwhelming at times especially if you don't know where to get what you're looking for. I was thankful to have a Thai friend show me around a bit when we first moved here and that helped a lot. Since then, it has become my go-to place when looking for material, tacky party decorations, baskets, flowers, Thai-style clothing and traditional gifts.
This week I was on the hunt for some material for a new skirt (not to be made by me, I hasten to add!). There are loads of fabric options here, many really brightly colored as you might imagine.
Thankfully, there are also some stalls which cater to a more subdued colour taste and I found what I was looking for in this little outlet.
A bit like Target though, Wararot is not the kind of place you can just pop into for one thing! Inevitably, there are other things that catch your eye which you really didn't know you "needed"!
My favorite part of Wararot market is the traditional Hmong section out the back. The colours here are just stunning and the traditional indigo patterns always draw my attention.
So, yes, I may have bought a couple of new cushions for our balcony and a few gifts for my gift box! Not bad though when you can get all of that for 200 baht (about $6).
I could have stayed for longer but it was getting hot and I needed to do my grocery shopping back in those air-conditioned supermarkets! So I weaved my way back to the car, picking up some fruit supplies along the way.
Just by the main road, there is a little Chinese temple which I popped into since I had my camera this time and caught this shot of a little girl counting incense sticks for her mum.
Thankful to add these little experiences to my day and will never take that for granted about living where we do - though the grocery shopping in a modern supermarket is quite nice too.
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| Anyone for rambutan, longan fruit, asian pear? |
This week, I had reason to go to Wararot Market. Wararot is the biggest market in Chiang Mai, partly indoor on 3 floors and partly spreading throughout the surrounding streets and overlapping with the Ton Lamyai flower market along the river. It is a full-on sensory experience with all kinds of sounds and smells, bustling crowds in narrow spaces and colourful displays drawing you down alleys in the hope of a sale.
 |
| Amazing array of orchids at Ton Lamyai Flower Market |
This week I was on the hunt for some material for a new skirt (not to be made by me, I hasten to add!). There are loads of fabric options here, many really brightly colored as you might imagine.
Thankfully, there are also some stalls which cater to a more subdued colour taste and I found what I was looking for in this little outlet.
A bit like Target though, Wararot is not the kind of place you can just pop into for one thing! Inevitably, there are other things that catch your eye which you really didn't know you "needed"!
My favorite part of Wararot market is the traditional Hmong section out the back. The colours here are just stunning and the traditional indigo patterns always draw my attention.
 |
| A vendor takes a moment for breakfast before setting up the rest of her stall |
I could have stayed for longer but it was getting hot and I needed to do my grocery shopping back in those air-conditioned supermarkets! So I weaved my way back to the car, picking up some fruit supplies along the way.
Just by the main road, there is a little Chinese temple which I popped into since I had my camera this time and caught this shot of a little girl counting incense sticks for her mum.
Thankful to add these little experiences to my day and will never take that for granted about living where we do - though the grocery shopping in a modern supermarket is quite nice too.
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