Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Calator in Thailanda 14. Bazarul de noapte din Chang Mai / Traveller in Thailand 14. The Night Bazaar in Chang Mai

The Night Bazaar in Chang May is one of the evening attractions. It is situated near the Tha Phae Gate of the Old Town. In the evening,  the inhabitants but mostly the tourists are going there so the near by streets are full of cars and motorcycles.

It is not the single one of the kind but it is the most well-known. You may find here a lot of things, including good little presents and souvenirs to take home, including tribal handmade products. The prices are seldom marked, so, as elsewhere in Asia, bargaining is expected. If your skills are good, you may obtain a 20-30%  off the asking price. The photos offer you a hint about what you may find there.

If you dare, you may eat at the numerous stalls. Rarely is something like the explicit "sausage", you have to guess what it is about. Of course, beside the obvious like fruits or corn.

If you are tired, you have the chance of a massage, if you are not disturbed by the audience.

There I had the impression that to take photos is more tolerated than approved but this could be my experience. May be you had another one. So, try to be not so obvious.

Oh, not to be overlooked are the paper umbrellas, made in a village near Chang Mai.

In Chang Mai, Bazarul de noapte este una dintre distractiile de seara. El se afla in apropierea portii Tha Phae, langa Orasul Vechi si seara parca toti locuitorii orasului, inclusiv turistii, se indreapta intr-acolo. Strazile din apropiere sunt pline de masini si motociclete.
 in zona Bazarului de noapte
Nu este singura piata de acest gen din Chang Mai dar este cea mai cunoscuta si vizitata. Mail ales noi, care am stat atat de putin in oras, ne-am bucurat ca avem si seara ceva de vazut. Orientata spre turisti, piata ofera cele mai diverse marfuri, inclusiv produse artizanale ale triburilor din nord. Preturile nu sunt afisate si, ca mai peste tot in Asia, targuiala face parte din regula jocului. In general, se incearca a se obtine un pret cu 20-30% mai mic decat cel cerut. Chiar daca nu vreti sa va cumparati o amintire, puteti gasi aici mici daruri pentru cei ramasi acasa. Gasiti aici:
tesaturi cu intrebuintari diverse, viu colorate
masti sau tavi frumos sculptate din lemn
diverse obiecte de iluminat
artizanat tribal
Ca in orice piata care se respecta, puteti manca "la botu'calului" diverse produse, daca intelegeti ce sunt sau daca va incumetati sa gustati, fara a cere explicatii. Am avut impresia ca cei care fac fotografii sunt mai mult tolerati decat acceptati cu placere, asa ca incercati sa nu fiti prea ostentativi. Poate nu e peste tot la fel, altii au avut, poate, alte experiente.
Daca vizitele din timpul zilei sau umblatul prin piata v-au obosit, gasiti chiar acolo numeroase locuri in care se face masaj. Daca nu va deranjeaza privitorii...
Una peste alta, bazarul nu se deosebeste (cu exceptia masajului:) prea mult de un targ de la noi, doar produsele sunt altele. Si, sa nu uit, nu treceti cu vederea umbrelutele din hartie - specialitate a unui sat de langa Chang Mai.




24 comments:

VP said...

Not the best place for fine foods and souvenirs... and so many scooters!

Traveling Hawk said...

I have bought nothing there, VP, but you would be amazed what other tourists were buying:) And we dined in the small restaurant you have seen in the food post (that with Elvis's photos on the wall).

Randy said...

The food looks tasty and I love the lights under the umbrella.

RIZALENIO said...

I love the masks. The setting is very similar to our country. I got hungry looking at those food.

Dani P. said...

Un bazar cu de toate. M-as incumeta la o banana prajita ...

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

A place i wish to visit very very soon !

Hanjié said...

The BBQ corn looks delicious. I had the best corn ever in Krabi, Thailand and this looks just as good as I remember.

Traveling Hawk said...

I have not tried the food, Randy, as I do not know what it was and I am kind of conservative when it comes to food.

Traveling Hawk said...

I like to look to those traditional masks too, Rizalenio. Thanks and have a great day!

Traveling Hawk said...

Da, banane prajite sau porumb as fi putut manca si eu la nevoie. In rest, nu-mi place sa mananc ceea ce nu cunosc, iar prin targuri nu mananc nici acasa nimic...

Traveling Hawk said...

I keep the fingers crossed that your wish come true soon, Wong!

Traveling Hawk said...

We use to eat BBQ corn in my country too, Hanjie! Thanks for the comment.

Arashi said...

Mâncarea aia arată mai apetisantă în poze decât cum arată pe viu :)) Dacă era să plec cu ceva de acolo, în afară de cel mai mișto tricou cu Yoda ever, ar fi fost fie un platou din acela de banan, fie cu caiete/agende (deh, hârțogărie).

Traveling Hawk said...

Arashi: thanks for the comment:)

VP said...

I missed the photo of Elvis! The place can't be bad...

Traveling Hawk said...

It was the last one for that post, VP! The Beatles are also there.

Phivos Nicolaides said...

Such a beautiful variety of pictures!!

Traveling Hawk said...

Thanks, Phivos, for the visit!

joo said...

Looks like a paradise for shop lovers:)

Traveling Hawk said...

Yes Joo, for those who like to rummage, there are a lot of knick knacks there.

Kumiko said...

The Night Bazaar is very attractive to me.
I want to try every food!
Especially Chiang Mai Sausage.

Traveling Hawk said...

I didn't dare, Kumiko. As I said, I am very conservative about food. The hygiene is not the best there, unfortunately.

magda said...

My dear friend
So beautiful, colorful and...delicious photos!!!
The colorful umbrellas of paper are wonderful!
Thanks for the nice ride!!!
many kisses

Traveling Hawk said...

It's the evening attraction, Magda! Thanks!