Visiting Chiang Mai Old City (part 1)

 

Hi everybody! Today’s story I would like to give you some information about sightseeing  which you can do on  your own in the town of Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai is well known for nature, culture and historical places. About historical places mostly you will be able to found it in the old temples especially in the old city area ( inside the old city wall ). The old city area is about 4 square kilometers ( about 1.5 square miles) There about 40 old temples located in this area. I know you may not have enough time to explore all of them and have no idea which one you should go. Let me help you with this.

Before you explore the old city of Chiang Mai, I have another place which I would like to recommend you to visit it is a local market. It is a great place that you can experience a local lifestyle.

If you are an early morning person it is a good time for you to explore Chiang mai old city since early morning. You can start your activities by going to a local market to observe the lifestyle of local people. Seeing people working, selling food, buying food or observing local people offering food to monks. It is a daily activity that local people doing. You may get your breakfast here too by trying a local food and Thai dessert. Of course, Mango with sticky rice ( one of a famous Thai dessert ) could be found here too!  Some food in a market is not spicy some are spicy, how to know?  I give you some Thai words. You just point to a food and ask “ ped-mai “ it mean is it hot spicy?. They may reply “mai-ped” means not spicy or just say “ ped “ means spicy. You may not be able to understand what do they reply or they may not understand what do you ask because of your Thai accent. Don’t worry just have fun with your new experience and local people will understand that you try to communicate them with their language, they will appreciate it.

To go to visit a local market if your hotel is too far to walk to a market it is easy to find public transportation such as a Red Truck which local people call “ Si-lor “ or you can get “ Tuk-Tuk” the price for Red Truck is starting from 30 Baht/person (about 1 Us. Dollar), for Tuk-Tuk may start from 100 Baht (about 3 Us dollars, 1 Tuk Tuk can carry 2-3 person)

“ Pratu Chiangmai Market “ is one of the market which I recommended you to visit. The market is located nearby the “ Pratu Chiangmai Gate” in a southern area of the old city. In this market, you will found all the things which I mentioned. My family is living near this market and I come to the market very often. When you come to visit this market and seeing people I might be one of them too.

Next time I will tell you the story of another market “ Warorot Market “which also interesting to visit. After this market story, I think we will be ready to explore the old city temple.

See you next time.