Day and Night Markets 101

Night street markets are very popular in Thailand. A big tourist attraction and great way to find gifts and trinkets to remind you of your adventures, as well as a sampling of all the Thai street delicacies. I took advantage of the Saturday and Sunday evening markets as my time to sample more. I know I am a little out of control but what can I say it’s all so good. In Thailand many homes have very small kitchens or no kitchens at all. Many don’t have refrigeration so they purchase their food daily. With the prices being so low its easier to purchase pre-made food like this. While Chiang Mia had some wonderful vegetarian restaurants the idea is still a little western for this area of the world so many of the authentic cuisine on the streets is not vegetarian friendly. I will admit the street meat at times smelt very tempting, but I couldn’t bring myself to try it.

 

 

 

What I did love where the fresh coconuts. I could drink multiple coconuts a day and at sixty cents it was totally worth it.

The spring rolls were another favorite and I made a point to get the recipe during my cooking class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While the night markets made for a sampling of sweet and savory meals, the day markets presented a feast of colors for the eyes. I’ve fallen hard for some of these Thai fruits and want to show you a couple of the local favorites:

The Queen fruit and my ultimate favorite is Mangosteen “Mang-Kut” this purple fruit has a hard shell that you cut to reveal a white, fleshy fruit. The flavor is a mix of tropical flare with a little hint of citrus. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The King fruit is called Durian “Tu-Rain” the smell may knock you on your ass. While at first whiff you think you are smelling something sweet, the longer you inhale the more rotten it becomes. This fruit has been banned from some local areas and public transportation due to it’s pungent aroma. I will admit I have yet to gain the courage to sample this rancid smelling fruit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rambutan “Ngor” are a very alien looking fruit, but you easily pierce the shell revealing a lychee type, white fruit with a seed inside. They are sweet and refreshing.

 

 

 

 

 

Dragon Fruit “Gao Mung Gorn” is a bright and beautiful display of color. The inside flesh is either purple or white speckled with black. While the flavor isn’t too strong or sweet it is a refreshing break from the heat.

 

 

 

 

Finally we have this fruit, I think it is called Sapodilla “La-Mut” but it smelled similar to Durian and while the flavor had the potential to mirror a tropical strawberry there was just something about it that had us only sampling a small bite. To close out my Chiang Mia experience I’ll give you a photo display of the menu from my cooking class at Thai Farm Cooking a wonderful organic farm that taught us many T. And with a full belly I leave the comforts I have found in Thailand for Cambodia and a entirely different experience.

Green Curry with Tofu: Tom Yum Gia Soup:  Sweet and Sour stir fried veggies and tofu (best thing I made this day):  Pad Thai:  Coconut with Pumpkin: 

Chiang Mia or Bust!

Chiang Mia or bust! Step number one, try to figure out the bus system in Thailand. While I had heard good things about this form of transportation, I wasn’t sure what my five and a half hour journey would entail. The bus was decked out in these fabulous colors and while I was as comfortable as one can be seated for that duration of time I was slightly concerned about the people who stood in the aisle next to me for most of the journey. All standing did not seem to argue with this form of transport, but all I could think about was how I hate standing on the buses of Chicago and that is only for a thirty minute ride at the most.

After arriving I meet up with these two, Kelsey and Wes. Kelsey is my godparent’s daughter, I’ve known her since our days in diapers and it was fun to reminisce and tell Wes stories of our childhood. She and Wes are teaching English at a school in Chiang Mia and therefore I was able to get the insiders guide of the city. Our first night was spent consuming amazing food and ok beer. To gauge the beer quality lets just say I’m missing PBR. The Thai beer taste reminds me of my college drinking days and Keystone.
The next day I ventured out into the city on a mission, first Kelsey and Wes told me I needed the Nancy Chandler map of Chiang Mia and second I needed a pedicure and manicure stat. I spent the entire day wandering around the streets of the Old City of Chiang Mia, a walled in city full of guesthouses, backpacker hangouts, cafes, shops and message parlors. My guesthouse was in this area just steps from Kelsey and Wes’s school so I got to know my surroundings well. My first meal was a Thai Iced Tea, while the sweetness sent my tastebuds into a tailspin I could see how people enjoyed the tea flavor, but I was concerned that the drink would give me diabetes and therefore I’ve steered clear ever since. After that I needed a break from Thai food and came across Dada Kafe, this would become my breakfast hangout for the rest of my stay, but to start I had this sandwich. A vegetarian delight, so fresh and a welcome break from the heat and spice of Thailand. Next up was mango sticky rice, again I thought I would fall into a sugar coma based on the flavor.

The rest of my time spent in Chiang Mia was centered around leisurely exploring the city. My favorite activity was to simply sit in a cafe and people watch, enjoy the cool temperatures that the northern region had to offer. I did venture out on a self guided Wat tour based on Lonely Plants direction. A Wat is a Buddhist monastery or temple, bathed in gold and images of the Buddha. This tour led me to the second best meal I enjoyed in Chiang Mia, Blue Diamond had an amazing Pad See Ew and of course papaya salad. The salad was so spicy my lips burned for minutes after, which was a glorious reminder of the amazing flavors I had just enjoyed.

My favorite meal was one Wes made for Kelsey and I. It was centered around a spicy pumpkin dish and when I say spicy I mean after burn for minutes spicy. Wes has a flare for spice and knowing I was up for the challenge he put me to the test of 6 or 7 Thai chilies. I made him give me the recipe which I will share with you when I return, but I will remember that dinner fondly.

Although Chiang Mia may be the second biggest city in Thailand it is very manageable and was a nice transition out of jungle. My time flew by even though I made a point to not be in a rush to see it all, I just wanted to rest and relax which is exactly what I did. One night after my walking tour I took advantage of a hour long foot and reflexology message for a grand total of $5. On the way back to my guest house I came upon a little hangout called Peppermint Cafe where I ordered these two treats. Then needing something sweet I ended the night with my second try at mongo sticky rice, this time I enjoyed the perfect combination of natural sweetness from the mango with the light drizzle of the sugary milk. The perfect end to a wonderful day.
The one major tourist attraction I suggest to everyone is Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. A Wat overlooking the entire city of Chiang Mia. While my visit was hindered by continuous cloud coverage, the Wat was still worth the curvy, winding drive up the mountain.