The First night in Chiang Mai
Okay, where was I? Right. So... Thailand.
I got into Chiang Mai around 5:30 pm local time Saturday. Got the hotel and after a quick unpacking (and a much welcomed shower) I was ready to do some exploring of the area that evening. Cathay Pacific had kept me well fed throughout my plane ride, so I wasn't even that hungry by the time I had landed.
I have a very good sense of direction. I can attribute this to playing video games for many years, games like DOOM, Duke Nuke 'em, Quake, and a myriad of dungeon crawlers. Plus a lifetime of tabletop Dungeons & Dragons. This has given me profound mental mapping skills. I'd even call it a superpower.
I tend to keep quite a pace while on vacation. I'm not one to rest on my laurels for long. Still wet in some places from my shower, I excitedly set out to go see what I could see.
My ultimate goal was check out the Saturday night market. As I wandered about, I came across my very first Wat (temple). You never forget your first wat.
It was a surreal and magical start to my trip. I never got back to see this place in the daytime and I'm sort of okay with that.
And then I found the Saturday night market. Wow. WOW. Every Saturday and Sunday night a section (several city blocks) are shut down to traffic, and vendors setup shop in the street for the evening. It was like a festival but without all the questionable, over-priced carnival rides. The streets are overflowing with people, artisans, crafts, souvenirs, bands, food and more people- for blocks... and blocks. It's massive. And it's awesome to behold (unless you have issues with being in large crowds of people, then this is probably not your scene). I loved it. It was incredible. I could wander around looking at... All. The. Things... for hours! This was just the Saturday night one. The Sunday night version is, I think even more expansive and it is set up in a different section of the city, though it's much of the same vendors and stuff as far as I could tell.
Then I made my way back to the hotel. It was getting late, I 'd need to get a decent night of sleep if I was going to spend the whole of Sunday exploring what else Chiang Mai had to offer.
I got into Chiang Mai around 5:30 pm local time Saturday. Got the hotel and after a quick unpacking (and a much welcomed shower) I was ready to do some exploring of the area that evening. Cathay Pacific had kept me well fed throughout my plane ride, so I wasn't even that hungry by the time I had landed.
I have a very good sense of direction. I can attribute this to playing video games for many years, games like DOOM, Duke Nuke 'em, Quake, and a myriad of dungeon crawlers. Plus a lifetime of tabletop Dungeons & Dragons. This has given me profound mental mapping skills. I'd even call it a superpower.
I tend to keep quite a pace while on vacation. I'm not one to rest on my laurels for long. Still wet in some places from my shower, I excitedly set out to go see what I could see.
My ultimate goal was check out the Saturday night market. As I wandered about, I came across my very first Wat (temple). You never forget your first wat.
Wat Phan Tao
It was wonderful walking around Old City at night. Unlike say...NYC. I felt very comfortable- it was enjoyable to see all the people walking along the streets coming in and out of the various cafes and open bars. It felt safe too. not any real traffic noise, no honking, no sirens, just the occasional pitter-patter of little tuk-tuks and scooters zipping about Here's some random street shots while on my quest to find the night market....
And then I found the Saturday night market. Wow. WOW. Every Saturday and Sunday night a section (several city blocks) are shut down to traffic, and vendors setup shop in the street for the evening. It was like a festival but without all the questionable, over-priced carnival rides. The streets are overflowing with people, artisans, crafts, souvenirs, bands, food and more people- for blocks... and blocks. It's massive. And it's awesome to behold (unless you have issues with being in large crowds of people, then this is probably not your scene). I loved it. It was incredible. I could wander around looking at... All. The. Things... for hours! This was just the Saturday night one. The Sunday night version is, I think even more expansive and it is set up in a different section of the city, though it's much of the same vendors and stuff as far as I could tell.
Then I made my way back to the hotel. It was getting late, I 'd need to get a decent night of sleep if I was going to spend the whole of Sunday exploring what else Chiang Mai had to offer.
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