Charming Chiang Mai!

 

Is there any other adjective to describe this city in the mountains in northern Thailand? There is still an Old City dating back to 1558 with cobblestone streets, city walls, and moats around it. The huge city of over 120,000 people is also dotted with colorful Buddhist Temples and carved serpents on them. It is a magical city where you can imagine what life used to be like when life was simpler and had a daily purpose. The temples still are used daily with people lighting incense sticks and chanting in front of religious statues. The monks in orange-colored robes are constantly sweeping the grounds, cleaning the temples, and scrubbing the cement floors. It is silent and there is a sense that all is well and peaceful in the world. 

Then you walk out of the Temple walls into the busy, noisy streets full of motorbikes, push carts, and honking horns. There are tiny coffee shops and restaurants mixed with street markets that sell a little bit of everything. My husband and I are staying in a tiny hotel with free coffee from a fancy coffee machine in the lobby. We just went to a tiny coffee shop that proudly states that they have the first "Flair Coffee" machine in Chiang Mail. The elderly owner spent the whole time cleaning his counter and all his coffee equipment while we drank coffee. He clearly takes pride in his shop. I like to see that!

The modern world has made its presence known in this sprawling city. They have modern hotels, shopping malls, and movie theatres featuring the American top hits. The youth are trendy and wear jean shorts, flowery dresses, and American T-shirts. They also take lots of Selfies to post on Social Media. Chiang Mai is a charming mixture of the traditional and modern way of life. It still holds the memory of the 14th century but supports modernization. 

This evening, we will visit the lively Night Market with hundreds of local vendors selling their wares on outdoor, wooden tables under a tin roof. They sell everything from clothing to kitchenware to souvenirs. There are food stalls with Thai Tea, seafood, meat on charcoal grills, and freshly squeezed fruit juice. These markets are all over the city and usually have a stage for local musicians to perform. We have watched our favorite rock group "Knights" perform here for many years. They have an international fan base and sell their CDs at the concert. It is a ready-made party nightly! So, the next time you visit Thailand, be sure to stop by this picturesque, historic city of over one million people to see why they call it "Charming Chiang Mai."