I was in the plane this morning en route to Bangkok, Thailand. The people at the other side of my aisle were chatting, asking questions about each other. Of course, one question was on where the other was heading. The Australian lady told the Filipino guy that she and her friend were off to Chiang Mai.
As I listened to their conversation, memories of my familiarization trip there filled my senses. The first thought was on markets. Chiang Mai is known, not only of its temples and mountainous attraction, but also for its markets. The most popular ones are the Night Bazaar and the Warorot Market.
Warorot Market wasn’t as crowded as I expected when I visited it last year. I believe that we were there at a time when it was not the peak hour of locals to buy stuffs at the market because it was still early afternoon. As we circled the market we found a wide array of goods, like clothes and toys sold in the stalls near the road, while food produce were located in the inner parts of Warorot.
There was also an entire section for flowers and fruits, including dried fruits. Flower stalls were still making “krathongs”, or flowers arranged in a banana trunk which are made to float in the river, as part of the Loy Krathong Festival.
But it was the Night Bazaar at Chan Klan Road that I was really looking forward to visiting. You could find almost everything at the bazaar — from local products to even branded things. Food were also sold there. Foreigners were aplenty at the Night Bazaar wanting to get a good deal out of Chiang Mai’s offerings.
Here are some useful tips if you’re planning on visiting these markets. Always be careful of your belongings. Ask around before deciding on purchasing an item. Otherwise, you’ll find that the same product cost cheaper if you have explored the stalls that are not accessible to pedestrians. Of course, haggling is expected when you roam these markets. If you ask for a lower price and the vendor agreed, be ready to take her offer. Also, wear slippers and comfortable clothing. Happy shopping!