During one of our evenings in Chiang Mai we went to the night market. This was my first experience of markets in Thailand, and there are many. In fact, markets are as common in Thailand as Tim Horton's is in Canada; they are in every neighborhood and I'm certain the society would somehow crumble without them.
The night market was like nothing I had ever imagined. Over the last several years Cheryl and I have toured many festival markets across Canada, but the markets of Thailand are a completely different story. markets in Canada are often very well organized (knock on wood) in terms of spacing out the booths in accordance to fire laws etc. In Thailand this is not the case. If there is an inch to be had, three inches will come to occupy the space. A market will consist of carts crammed into every inch of space with each inch of that space crammed with as much stock as can be carried on a single cart.
People were selling everything from jewelry, to t-shirts and other apparel, to refurbished electronics. Then there were the food carts. These are a staple not only of all Thai markets but also of almost all residential streets in Thailand. They are integral to the entrepneurial mixed economy of Thailand. Food carts will carry, fruit, fruit smoothies, various forms of fried dough, and a million other such sweet things. They also sell complete meals complete with curries, rice, meats, soups, rolls, and many, many other foods.
My first experience in that night market was an eye-opener; not only was I not in Kansas, but the people of Oz wanted to sell me things.
Blogging - a vent, a process, a development
Cheryl and I on a tandem bike we rented on Cat Ba Island, Vietnam during our wonderful honeymoon
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