Photo Galleries
Chiang Mai Scenes
February 2015
Random scenes from around Chiang Mai, including street art, Thais’ penchant for odd little figurines, a very Western-looking mall (with some key differences), street food, people hanging out or heading home from their labors, and some very strange examples of English.
Some eye-catching graffiti in the old quarter of Chiang Mai
Many Thais seem to have a love for kitschy little figurines
Miniature monks and nuns with little begging bowls and hats
This glitzy big mall recently opened a few blocks from our apartment building
The bigger the building, the bigger the spirit house in front (this one is a shrine to Ganesh)
An arcade at the mall (looking very much like something from home)
The mall also boasts a multiplex, including a "first class" lounge were you can pay to get special seats and treats before the show
The mall has these amazing high-tech toilets with an array of adjustable bidet and drying functions
A vendor at a street market next to the mall
Lots of U.S. clothing is made in Thailand, and the seconds are sold in local markets, so we were surprised by some familiar names
Melissa was taken with this biker-themed pool hall in the back of the street market
Some Asian women will go to great lengths to lighten their skin, including using cream made from snail secretions
A display of family portraits at a photography studio in a mall (so much like something at home, but so different)
This restaurant wants to make sure you know it's one of a kind
Buddhist monks on the street
Ingrediants at an outdoor food stall
A pedicab driver resting between customers
Our main form of transport in Chaing Mai was these red trucks that function as shared taxis
Tell the driver where in the city you want to go; if he's heading in that direction, hop in and pay 70 cents when you get to your destination
The spirit houses outside a big apartment building on our street
We're weren't sure what this Christmas-themed sign on a local 7-11 was supposed to mean
Well-dressed young women out for a day of shopping in our neighborhood
Architectural mishmashes on our street
Hanging out at the base of a giant tree
A truckload of laborers, probably Burmese immigrants, heading home at the end of the day
One of the last examples of traditional Chiang Mai architecture on our street
In many Asian homes and businesses, you take your shoes off before entering. We could tell this massage place was popular.
Not sure why there were singing pig figurines on the sidewalk near the massage place
Dubious messages on tee shirts for sale
English is trendy, but not too many Thais speak it, so we saw some weird gobbledegook
Lots of times the English on signs just left us baffled (what's ruk?)
Now they're just making words up (I guess "jewelry" isn't gemmy enough)
Sausages are a common street food in Chiang Mai
This restaurant, where we ate at least every other day, makes a Chiang Mai speciality: kao soy
Kao soy is egg noodles in a rich curry broth served with slices of pork or sausage and fried wonton strips
Chris adored this fried chicken stand across the street from our apartment (not sure about the scary kid on the sign, though)
