Just came back yesterday after spending a few days at Chiang Mai, northern Thailand...
Purpose was to thrash out the final details of a student program that we are experimenting with...
Thanks to our counterparts, I managed to meet several key persons and I am happy to say that the negotiations turned out very well...
In the off-hours, sneaked out to steal some shots of the happenings in town...
Before long, I could not help but to hear some traditional Thai music...
There was a 'big band' of about 15 musicians... guitars, cymbals,
xylophones, keyboards, drums, traditional trumpets, gamelan-like
percussions...
It seemed like a religious event... people were praying and there was a make-shift Thai shrine set up just for this purpose...
And the dancers... so colorfully clothed, and their movements so graceful ...
In the evening, took a stroll at the night market...
I have seen quite a few night markets here and there, but this one in Chiang Mai, hmmm, should I say, really 'pulsates'?
There is really so, so much activity there... and the range of stuff sold there is immense... as in bags, clothes, accessories...
Tidbits... as in corn... dried squid...
Sausages, anyone?
Goodies on skewers...
Decorative little bulbs...
Fried noodles... now if I could only muster enough courage to try out stuff like these...
What? You didn't try those in the last photo.
ReplyDeleteIt would be great if you did, and show us with photos and gives us the verdict on how they taste. ;)
Bet the noodles would taste good, but dared not risk 'rushing' to the loo... ;)
DeleteNow that you mentioned about the loo - did you eat anything from the market?
DeleteGave in on the fruit juices... had two in fact... first was the carrot-orange... and could not resist trying out what they called 'Indian gooseberries'... faintly bitter at first, but leaves a pleasant after-taste in the mouth...
DeleteI envy you because you enjoyed such interesting trip. :)
ReplyDeleteI thank my lucky stars for the opportunity to do so...
DeleteI really like your pictures of the night market. You did a great job of capturing the vitality of the market. I will admit, though, that I would have been tempted by those fried noodles.
ReplyDeleteThank you George, for your kind comments... yeap, besides 'pulsating', 'full of vitality' would be another apt description of the market...
DeleteHello Lrong...I enjoyed my visit to Chiang Mai! I've had squid but not dried...tasty? And all the wonderful things to purchase, the color...wish I could hear the music...see the dancing!
ReplyDeleteTheanne, you visited Chiang Mai before too? Bet you had a fine time there... it is truly a lovely place, in my opinion...
DeleteEverything looks so colorful and festive! I would not have been able to resist the fried noodles. :)
ReplyDeleteI had to keep reminding myself to be careful... trying such stuff is a bit like playing the Russian Roulette... used to 'win' quite a bit, but did not want to risk this time as I had work to do...
DeleteHi Lrong, enjoyed your photos very much. I have been warned and prohibited from tasting such visually tempting foods so often that now its a ritual for me to just view and admire from a distance. I have to admit that sometimes the aroma is the culprit to me almost giving in....lol. I had delhi belly onces in Singapore and that memory is enough to last a lifetime.....lol
ReplyDeleteThanks GG... you are absolutely right about the temptation of the smell... the Thais really have this inert(?) skill to titillate the bodily senses with their spicy food... I am learning a new word today, thanks to you... 'delhi belly'... got to check it out later on...
DeleteI would love to go to Chang Mai one day.
ReplyDeleteLisa, it is a lovely place to visit... the few times I was there, I rented a motorbike to cruise around town... very enjoyable...
DeleteHi Lrong,
ReplyDeleteLoved your post-so evocative with your photos and wonderful descriptions. I’ve never been to that part of the world but boy would I like too!! It seems so bright and vibrant and as you say, pulsates with colourful life...many thanks for taking me there just for a few minutes at least...
And spookily, just as I’m reading your post there was a ping to say you had just read and left a post on mine-wow!!
GD... am smiling to myself at your choice of words... 'evocative'... I like that...
DeleteI am due to visit Chiang Mai again in August, this time hoping to bring along some students... and I am looking forward to it, actually...
I love their colorful outfits, and the night shots are just fantastic. Life is at its best!
ReplyDeleteOn 'Life is at its best' thingy... ok, perhaps 90%? heeheee... :=)
DeleteColourful pictures and a festive mood pervades. Chiang Mai has been on my mind for sometime for all the lovely tales I hear!
ReplyDeleteYou will most probably enjoy Chiang Mai... I think I can vouch for the 'lovely' tales of the city...
DeleteI haven't been to Chiang Mai, though visited some parts of Thailand already in several trips. It's night market as shown here really looks exciting, but like you i can't seem to try those street foods common there!
ReplyDeleteYou too, Andrea? Looks like people like us can only let our cameras do the 'consuming' of the delicious looking food... ;)
DeleteAh.. Chiang Mai can remember vividly the interesting kantok dinner with the triangle cushions back in the 80's. It was a long 8 hours coach ride from Bangkok. You didn't drop by the inner side of Chiang Rai to pluck some opium poppy to plant at your back yard haha.
ReplyDeleteAh, kantok dinner... we are slated to have that this coming August with the students... will definitely sit down with the triangle cushions... the opium poppy? Maybe next time...
Deletesory i've to write here.. but incredibly weird.. i can't find your 'leave comment' button anywhere..! been trying looking for that few times already.. you had wonderful photos which i couldn't resist to not to comment, sir!! :)
DeleteThank you for your compliments... I enjoy shooting those pics very much...
DeleteI LOVE Chiang Mai. The last time we were there, we went to the Hmong Village and it was so interesting. Your post makes me want to go there again! Nice photos.
ReplyDeleteMe too... we shall be heading to a Lisu village this coming August... am really looking forward to the trip... many thanks for dropping by my blog...
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