How has this charming city changed over the past nine months? My husband and I were here at the end of the Pandemic. Chiang Mai is busier than ever now with many restaurants, hotels and stores reopening. The tourists are slowly returning. There is a feeling of hope and revival in this historic city surrounded by a canal.
Last night we listened to a Thai cowboy band perform country songs at an outdoor food court. All ages danced to their lively music dressed in flowing dresses and blue jeans. A guitar player sang 70's hits in the opposite corner of this venue. Our favorite Thai rock singer at the Night Bazaar is injured. His band still plays, but he broke his finger. It is not the same without him. 🎸
I am impressed with the Thai's ability to remember people. Yesterday we returned to our former hotel and were greeted like royalty. The front desk clerk wanted to hear all about where we have been and what we have done. Then we went to our favorite tiny Thai restaurant. The waitress even remembered our order. WOW‼️😲
While we waited for our meal, a truck pulled up full of chickens. The driver picked up two of the birds for the cafe next door. The chickens were screaming and afraid of their fate.🐓 Poor birds‼️ 😢
Life is for the living! At our favorite cafe, the expat owner's photo is hanging on the wall. He died, but they still sell posters of him. I feel like he is watching over his cafe in Chiang Mai from the wall poster. However, I don't need his poster to watch over me for $10!🥺
The Night Market is full of people from around the world. There are food stands offering everything from Thai food to frog legs to fresh seafood. My favorite is the mango with sticky rice for dessert.🥭
Here is my favorite food stall at the Night Market. Grandma sits at the counter watching people go by until midnight. Grandpa takes the orders and cooks with his daughter. I admire the small, family businesses that are returning after the Pandemic. 👵👴👨👦
This tiny food stand sells only baked goods at the Night Market. At midnight, I watched the clerk pack up the leftover cakes, cookies and bread into boxes for the next day. I wanted to eat them all, but was too full. 🧁
Chickens thrive on Thai streets under the dome nets. Roosters wake up the neighborhood at dawn crowing. Chickens are a standard ingredient in many Thai dishes. Unfortunately for the chickens, but fortunately for us. 🐓😮
We discovered this tiny coffee shop on our previous visit to Chiang Mai. When we returned to it today, the Owner greeted us like old friends. He built this little shop connected to his home. He is a coffee connoisseur and enjoyed demonstrating his fancy coffee machines to us. ☕🫘
Look at this smiling waiter who welcomed us back to his tiny, outdoor cafe bar. He greeted us with a big smile and remembered our last order from months ago! Wish I had his memory‼️😮
Another favorite coffee stand is in a narrow alley across from the fruit and vegetable market. This smiling barista remembered us from two months ago! 😊 Her tiny shop is the busiest in town.☕👍
We bid farewell to this charming city in a traditional Thai home turned into a restaurant. Tiny plates of Thai delicacies were served in a traditional Thai house. I was glad that they added the modern touch of air conditioning. Sa wa dee kha Chiang Mai...until we meet again. 🇹🇭
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