Sunday Market, Chiang Mai, September 2006
by Vicki Terhorst

Every Sunday the center of the ancient walled old town of Chiang Mai closes down to traffic for a market street party.

Paul and I often meander through the market, with its food stalls and local villagers selling handmade crafts.

Thai's love to eat and shop, and they enjoy the Sunday fair as much as the tourists. It's a social occasion.

When shoppers need a change of pace they can enjoy street entertainment, have a foot massage (photo left, below) or even have their fortunes told (photo right, below) under little plastic covers that protect from the rain. 

Many Thai's start their Sunday evenings at one of several food courts set up within the Buddhist temple compounds along the route. The variety of scrumptious food choices stimulates the senses. 

Drinks abound in many forms, sometimes even served in bamboo containers.  One Sunday I tried a funny-looking drink that had long attracted my attention, a drink now popular world wide. The drink has long squiggly shapes or round pearls made of tapioca. I selected a green concoction with coconut milk and squiggles all poured over crushed ice. To drink the refreshing treat requires a very wide straw. With every slurp comes a mouthful of sweet, icy-cold drink and some chewy, worm-like squiggles.  If I happen to be a the fair with Thai friends they often buy me unusual street food. Last Sunday I tried for the first time needle-thin rice noodles tossed with a slightly sweet hot-and-sour sauce. Delectable. And SPICY, but not too spicy. 

For many Thai villagers their main cash income comes from Sunday selling in one of the thousand or more miniscule shops set up on the street or temple compounds.

Some regular store-front shops also participate, often selling their goods at discounted prices at the fair. Tourists tend to choose traditional crafts like carvings, silk pillow cases, paintings, or hand woven scarves. 

Thais almost always buy something, for example, delicate handmade bamboo earrings, hand-dyed blouses, purses, shoes, or even a new bright yellow shirt honoring the 60th year of the King's reign in 2006. 

May prosperity shower upon the King and the generous, smiling Thais.