mise

RANDY
Can you hear me shouting at you?
I have been fascinated by everything you've shared here and I couldn't stop reading even though I came online to book a Bangkok hotel!
I am arriving in Thailand on April 6th-----Bangkok until 9th when I fly [still to book a flight] up to Chiang Mai staying in Baan Orapin until I leave Thailand for home on 14/15th April.
I have found out SO much about Chiang Mai from this thread and I am so grateful to you.
I still have to view some more of your videos. In fact, I have only viewed the first one-----three times.
Thanks again
Margaret

naharragt

I'm with you, Margaret. Randy is an invaluable contributor to this thread. You will be leaving Thailand at the time we arrive (the 13th). Be prepared to get wet, I'm told (Thai New Year). I've watched all Randy's videos. My wife refuses to watch because she wants to be surprised. Whatever.

mise

Randy is A-MA-ZING!

I leave Chiang Mai on the afternoon of the 14th so we might bump nto each other.

I must tell you something funny. I had read so many brlliant reviews of Baan Orapin and I was going to book until I read someone's post about their children standing in the doorway soaking all the passers-by and I thought it was bad enough that the parents allowed this sort of behaviour but the management condoned it? A little more research told me that this was 'Songkran'.

naharragt

Considering it will be the hottest time of year, I don't think I'll mind the water. We'll be in Bangkok (with the last day at Angkor Wat) until the 18th, then we go to Chiang Mai. I opted not to be in Chiang Mai during the weekend since it will be so crowded. The contrarian that I am, I figured Bangkok may be a little easier to get around during that time. I hope you have as good a time as we plan to have, Margaret. Say, I just realized you're from Scotland. We were there two years ago in April and stayed in Blairgowrie. What a great country to drive! My kids loved all the baby sheep.

allthai

Hi Margaret,

First I want to say WOW, thanks so much for everyones kind words.

You should book your flights to and from Chiang Mai as soon as possible. Everyone from Bangkok will be trying to get here or leave when the festival ends on the 15th.

Thousands of buses are added to the Bangkok - Chiang Mai route for the festival each year. The trains are so full that people even climb up on the roofs to ride on the day trains.

Anyone who is in Chiang Mai now will notice that the moat surrounding the old city has been drained of water. They are in the process of cleaning the moat so the water will be nice and clean for the Thai New year or "Songkran" festival. Colorful flowers are being replanted all over the city and sprinkler systems installed on the tops of all the bridges.

During the festival carry everything in ZIP LOCK plastic bags and wear quick drying clothes. Most impotant is join in the fun.

I will surely have a video to add here after the festival.

Randy and Ning

allthai

Do you ever wonder why there are so many Thai restaurants and food stalls in Chiangmai? I did, and my Thai wife explains it like this. Why stay home and cook when you can get good ready-to-eat Thai food that is cheaper than cooking at home?

Most Thais do not cook at home unless they have a big family. By the time they go to the market for fresh ingredients, prepare and cook and eat the food, hours have been wasted. Most of the ingredients last only a day or so, so much gets thrown out. The price of cooking gas just to cook for two persons is not worth it. So Thais get their food from vendors to take home or go to a restaurant. If you look into a refrigerator in a Thai home you would probably find only water and drinks.

I would like to explain how to find and choose very good Thai restaurants or food vendor so you don't get sick or ill. Once you have been in Thailand a while, your body will adjust and you will be able to eat almost anything, anywhere. Even my Thai wife gets stomach problems from eating bad food at times and she admits she is not as picky as I when it comes to choosing a food vendor or restaurant but she?s learning.

When choosing a good Thai restaurant, the first thing we think about is taste. During the lunch hour or dinnertime, we look for a restaurant that is full of Thai people. If the restaurant is full of tourists and no Thai people, we know the food is prepared for the foreigner?s taste buds and not real Thai food.

Is the food prepared fresh or is it sitting out like a buffet? Is meat hanging in a glass box or in a covered heated pot? Next I look at the tables and floor - are they clean with no flies? Are paper napkins thrown all over the floor? This is where most people get stomach problems. The food looks great sitting out or buffet style (not in a steamer), but how long has it been there? If the food has been prepared an hour or more ahead of time, you can get very ill. If it is not prepared fresh, stay away from it.

Service at a small Thai restaurant or food stall is much different than what most foreigners are used to. Many places do not have a menu and specialize in a certain type food. Some may just serve noodle dishes and some just rice dishes. Their menu will be written on a poster on the wall.

After you have told your waiter or waitress your order they will probably repeat it back to you and ask the question "One". This means do I have the order correctly not the number one. You will also notice that they do not write your order down but just tell the cook.

As you eat your food and drink your drinks you will notice that they do not remove empty plates or bottles from your table even if you order a second helping or additional dishes.
This does not mean they are lazy. Because they don't write your order down on paper they need to keep all the dishes and drink bottles at your table. When it is time to pay your bill the staff will count the plates and bottles on your table and add the total.

Pay attention as they do this so you don't get over charged. That happens very rarely but it does happen. They will then tell you the total price. Please don't split up the table order and say "I am only paying for my food" not his or hers or theirs. This is very confusing for the Thais and takes up a lot of their time and change for larger bills. In Thailand one person pays for everyone and they figure it out who owes who how much latter.

Another thing is tipping. If you plan to come back to this restaurant it is a good idea to leave a nice tip. My wife and I always leave at least a 20 baht tip for a simple lunch. Everytime we return we are well taken care of and first.

One important thing to remember is that ice that is round with a hole in it is OK. Stay away from shaved or block ice. I have seen many people sitting drinking hot bottled water or soft drink when they didn't have to because they don't trust the ice.

Now if you are in a hurry, it’s best to eat at a vendor’s stall, as Excellent Thai food takes a lot of preparation and is cooked fresh. If you have the time there is nothing better than eating at a nice garden Thai restautrant. Almost all good Thai restaurants have beautiful flower gardens, waterfalls, or ponds with fountains, lots of orchids, and playgrounds for the children. For Thai people, eating out is a pleasure and the food takes a while before it comes to the table, so the atmosphere is very important. Taking family or friends to a noisy restaurant on a busy street is unacceptable and considered very rude for Thai people. Street vendors and busy street side restaurants are OK to purchase food to take home or if you are on your way somewhere, but never for pleasure dinning.

One of my favorite restaurants in Chiangmai, Thailand is Chiang Mai Lan Ahan Reampae, or Chiangmai Floating Restaurant. They now have two, one on Sankhampaeng Road and the other on the outer-ring road to Mae Rim. Since the one off Sankhampaeng road is near my home and closer to town, I always eat at this one.

When you first enter the restaurant, you will notice right away a sign with their health department number and government rating of ‘Very Good”. This puts us at ease knowing the kitchen and dinning area are clean with the food prepared with fresh ingredients.

You will be escorted to your seat in one of the three areas of your choice, one open-air and the other two, covered. The dinning area is floating on pontoons that are extended out into a large pond surrounded by fields and trees. During warm days, it is best to sit in the covered area where a sprinkler system is installed on the roof to cool the hot metal sheets.

They have an extensive Thai menu and a shorter English menu. If you have a Thai friend or your Thai guide along with you, ordering from the Thai menu is best, however, the English menu is sufficient.

My wife and I went there last Sunday with friends, five adults and two children, and had 11 different dishes including rice, soft drinks, and fruit shakes, and the total price was under $18. The dishes were Tom Yum Goog (Lemon Grass Soup with Shrimp), Gai Priew Waan (Sweet and Sour Chicken), Khai Jiew Pak (Vegetable Omelet), Pla Grapong Khao Neung Manao (Steamed Sea Perch with Chili in Lime Sauce), Poh Pia Sod (Fried Spring Rolls with Pork, Vegetable Filling and Tamarind Sauce), Paad Bai Gra-pow Gai (Sautéed Chicken with Chili and Basil Leaves), Gai Paad Med Ma-muang Himmapaan (Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts and Dry Chili), Paad Paak Boong (Stir-fried Morning Glory), Plaa Goong (Grilled River Prawn Salad Marinated with Peppermint and Lemon Grass), Gai Hor Bai Toey (Marinated Chicken in Coconut Milk, Wrapped and Baked in Pandan Leaves), and a large plate of mixed fruit.

Once we placed the order the drinks came first, then the soup and finger food such as the spring rolls then the food for the children such as the omelet. When eating Thai food DO NOT scrape one dish onto your plate. Each dish has it’s own serving spoon where you take a little and put it on your plate then use your own spoon and fork. This gives everyone a chance to taste all the wonderful dishes. You are provided a small soup bowl, a plate, fork and spoon. Chop sticks are provided if you order a noodle dish.

The great thing I enjoy about eating Thai-style at a good restaurant is you never know what dish is coming next and when. The first two or three come rather quickly, and then comes the rice. Just as we are almost finishing one or two dishes, one or two more come to replace them.

Also, I love the service. There is always someone there to fill up your water or beer glass when it gets low or add more rice to your plate before you run out. All you need to do is enjoy your food, friends, family, and the beautiful, quiet surroundings.

There are many other restaurants in Chiangmai that I like for evening dinning. All have beautiful gardens and water features, while some have traditional live Thai music. But for lunch you can’t beat the Chiangmai Floating Restaurant for cleanliness, quality of food, excellent atmosphere, and service. I recommend you take your friends or family here for a few hours to enjoy great lunch.

Have Fun,

Randy and Ning

mise

A superb and helpful post Randy. I have printed it out already and I'm off to bed now and taking it with me to read again.
Thanks
Margaret

allthai

Hi margaret,

Glad you enjoyed it. I am now writing one about where to enjoy the Live music scene in Chiang Mai. I won't post it right away as I am sure people are getting tired of looking at this thread near the top every day. Of course if it is requested sooner I will post it sooner.

Randy and Ning

mise

Consider it requested please!

naharragt

Randy, I agree with Margaret. The sooner you post, the better since we're both heading to Chaing Mai next month. Thank you again.

mise

naharragat------------ Isn't Randy one of Thailand's hidden treaures? ^

naharragt

Margaret, you've got that right. I only wish I read this thread and watched his videos before setting my itinerary. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to the adventure!

allthai

Chiangmai has an exciting nightlife. Live music of all kinds can be found in the city, from classical Thai to jazz, rock, and country. Unlike most pubs in western countries, excellent food can be enjoyed as well.

Chiangmai is famous for its nightlife, as well as the charming city and beautiful surrounding countryside. There are discos, karaoke bars, and live music everywhere. The area My wife and I like to go is along the east bank of the Mae Ping River on Charoenrat road. This is the area famous for jazz, rock, pop, Thai and country and western live music, along with fabulous restaurants serving Thai, western, and Chinese food.

From the night bazaar (Chang Klan road) go north to Thapae Road then turn right and cross Narawatt Bridge. Once you cross the bridge turn left and then after the small riverside park the first place you will come to is The Chiangmai Riverside Restaurant, 9-11 Charoenrat Road, Everyone who has been to Chiangmai eats at least once here. There is a large menu of Thai and western food. If you want a good homemade hamburger, this is a good place to get one. The live music starts around 7pm with dinner music from the Eagles, Beatles, or soft jazz. Starting at 9pm, the music changes to more rock and pop songs. Full bar service serving wine, beer, and spirits are available. The Chiangmai Riverside restaurant gets very crowded, so get here early to get a table.

If Thai food is more to your liking, no worries, just walk to the next restaurant only a few meters away to The Good View, 13 Charoenrat Road. Thai and western varieties of rock, jazz, pop and country music entertain in the evening. Their extensive menu offers more than 150 Thai, Chinese, and western dishes, including curries, noodles, rice, and pizza. Soft drinks and a full bar serving wine, beer, and spirits are available. Again, if you want a good, riverside-view table get there early.

Now you're full of excellent food and want to really rock, no problem, just continue walking down the street to La Brasserie 37 Charoenrat Road. This riverside venue is well known for nightly performances by a talented guitarist named Took and his band, who plays renditions of old Hendrix, Dylan, Marley, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and other favorites. Sit outside in the lush garden setting where acoustic guitar is played (7pm to midnight) or inside at the bar and catch the famous Took and Friends (11pm to 2am). There is also a good selection of cocktails and spirits. Not famous for food but the music is great.

Most bands in Chiangmai play at one venue for about an hour, and then move on to another restaurant or pub. Don?t be surprised if you see a band playing at the Chiangmai Riverside and, one hour later, at The Good View.

Dress code is not strict in Thailand however you should wear long pants or dress (ladies) along with a nice blouse or shirt. Women must wear bra and no flip flops or shower shoes. When Thai people go out in the evening they do not wear T-shirts and/or shorts. If the Thai restaurant workers feel you are not dressed properly you may get a table in a corner, in front of a speaker or next to the bathroom. The nicer you are dressed the better the table. If you want a table overlooking the river get there early.

Have fun,

Randy and Ning

allthai

When it gets too hot to stay in Chiang Mai city, no worries, just go to Doi Inthanon National Park a short 90 kilometers away. Bring a jacket, believe it or not, you will need it.

Soon after entering the park gate (admission 200 Thai baht), the road climbs steeply through a cutting before leveling out, passing the Doi Inthanon National Park Information Center, overlooking the Mae Klang river on the left. The road passes through open dry forest and after crossing over to the left bank, follows the course of the river, overlooking it. In the dry season, the leaves of the trees become yellow and red, before being shed.

As the road climbs gradually, an evergreen gallery forest begins develop along the banks of the river, supporting many tall and stately trees. Soaring birds of prey can sometimes be seen over the steep ridge on the north side of the road. The more level areas in the vicinity of the river are now cultivated and support small areas of orchard or vegetable gardens.

Above the waterfall, the road once again crosses over the Mae Klang River and continues to ascend the mountain, following the north bank. The surroundings change very abruptly in character, and pines predominate in many areas.

The next area supports Hmong and Karen villages, there are many government offices and residential buildings, including the headquarters of the National Park and various highway and construction works. Here is where the campsites are but you first must check in at the Park Headquarters. There are also cabins for rent however most are rented well in advance.

Here we are above 1500 meters and the temperature is like a beautiful spring day. Time to find a camping spot. Its lunchtime, so we travel up the road about 100 meters from the Park Headquarters to the Doi Inthanon Birding Center. There are several restaurants near the park headquarters but the food is not very good. Mr. Dang and his wife at the birding center are excellent cooks and fun to be around. Here is where all the bird watchers gather to talk about sightings. We will talk about bird watching later.

From here the road winds uphill sharply and past a park checkpoint. Just a little further is a mountain ridge with excellent vistas on both sides of the road. If the weather is clear, at one spot you can see the city of Chiang Mai on your right. Just a little further on your left is the twin Chedi dedicated to the King and Queen. These beautiful Thai structures are a must visit. You will need to walk up several flights of steps to reach them but well worth it.

Next stop is the summit. Here we get out of our vehicle and walk up the steps to the shrine dedicated to the Lanna Thai King who first designated this area as a national park. Walk behind the shrine to a concrete pillar and stand on it. You are now on the highest point in Thailand.

How we got there and what we did at Doi Ithanon national Park, Thailand.

The hottest time of the year in Chiang Mai is Mid March to thew end of May. Temperatures can easily exceed 40 degrees Centigrade by mid-afternoon. There is a place very close to Chiangmai where you can escape the heat and enjoy some of the finest natural scenery in the Kingdom and that is Doi Inthanon National Park.

We departed Chiangmai at 9 am it was already 35 degrees C. and started the short 1 1/2 hour drive to the park. We left Chiangmai by highway 108 through Hang Dong and Sanpatong and then about one kilometer before Chom Tong turned right on highway 1009. There is a big sign in English stating "Doi Inthanon" where you turn so it's easy to find. Continue 8 kilometers to where the road forks and then keep to the right where you will see the park entrance. The entrance fee is 200 baht and they have free maps and information for you that you will need. A copy of the park map can be seen online and might be a useful reference as you read this article.

Your first stop should be the Visitor's Center a kilometer or so past the park entrance on the left side. There they have more information and many exhibits and a slide show about the park in English. You need to know the park rules that levy stiff fines if broken (such as for picking flowers); these rules are written on the back of all the maps and brochures. After getting all the information we needed we headed straight to the Park Headquarters at Kilometer marker 31. As we approached the booth for accommodations reservations both we noticed a thermometer and found it was a perfect 26 degrees C. We decided to spend our first night in a tent and second night in a bungalow. We made our reservations for the bungalow. Since we were going to ride around the park the park ranger kept our bags for us and we proceeded to the campgrounds to pitch our tent. Tents can be rented for 60 baht and blankets at 15 baht each.

After putting up the tent we were getting hungry and headed back to see our friend Mr.Dang at the Doi Inthanon Birding Center. Mr. Dang’s restaurant is open from 7 am to 8 pm serving delicious Thai food at great prices. While having lunch we were told that a 7- man soccer match was being played this afternoon on the soccer field next to the restaurant on the Park Headquarters grounds. The match was between a Karen hill tribe village and a Hmong hill tribe village located in the park so we stayed and watched the action under the shade trees drinking ice-cold beer. We made plans to do some hiking on the Gew Mae Pan Trail near the Doi Inthanon summit (above 2000 meters tomorrow) so today was for relaxing, which I myself am very good at doing.

Just before dark we ate our dinner, again at Mr. Dang’s, got our things from the park ranger and went to our campgrounds. In May there aren't many people in the park so a secluded place to put our tent was easy to find. We built a nice campfire and I spent the evening reading while my wife did her crochet. The only sound was that of the crickets and with the smell of pine and clean fresh air drifting off to sleep was a total pleasure I haven't experienced in many months while living in the crowded city. The next morning we awoke early and packed up the tent and returned to the park ranger and again he kept our bags for us. I checked the thermometer and it was a cool 18 degrees C.

We had our breakfast at the birding center headed toward the summit passing fruit and flower stands owned by Hmong Hilltribe people. Here we stopped to have a look and across the street were green houses filled with beautiful flowers. The growing of flowers is a Royal Project so the hill tribe people can live in harmony with the park's conservation plans instead of doing their traditional slash and burn farming.

The 2.5-kilometer Gew Mae Pan Trail begins about half a kilometer past the twin Chedis at kilometer marker 42. We left our vehicle in the parking lot (which has bathrooms) and walked the horseshoe shaped trail to the end and return the same way. This turned out to be a good idea as the mountains were covered with mist and clouds and the view although beautiful was limited on our way out. On the way back the clouds had lifted and the view was spectacular.

The trail begins through dense forest with lush ferns and moss covering the tree trunks. Wild orchids and colorful birds are plentiful. It's uphill most of the way, crossing streams and climbing over and ducking under logs. The temperature is perfect for hiking and the sounds of the many birds and creeks are very enjoyable. After about an hour you come upon a clearing looking toward the west. When we arrived clouds were rushing up from the valley floor to meet us.

The next portion of the trail is through dense forest again crossing several streams. The park has provided small bridges to make crossing the streams easy. The last part of the trail is through a lovely evergreen forest with pine trees much different and larger than those found at our campsite.

We returned the way we came following the trail to the clearing and this time the clouds had lifted leaving a spectacular view of the valley floor and surrounding mountains. Two hawks were circling above, diving to the valley floor then lifting again on the air currents along the cliff edge, their screeching echoing through the canyon below.

We spent a total of six hours on the trail and saw only two other people. They were Thai photographers doing a story for a nature magazine. We could have stayed longer but hunger was setting in so we returned to the restaurant at the Birding Center.

This evening was spent in our comfortable bamboo bungalow below the Karen Hill Tribe village at Kilometer 28. We made reservations the day before. The bungalow has electricity and is equipped with a king size beds on the floor It has a big but simple bathroom with cold shower and toilet. Simple accommodations for only 300 baht per night and the bed was very comfortable and the night quiet. There is no restaurant here but kitchen facilities are available if you want to bring things along to cook. if you let the staff know a day ahead of time they can arrange meals for you.

The next day we spent visiting the many waterfalls in the park. The first one was very close to our bungalow and actually two waterfalls named after the King and Queen and called Siriphum waterfalls. The next two waterfalls were also close together and the road getting there was a little difficult but worth the effort. We went just past the second check point at kilometer marker 38 and turned left toward Mae Chaem and traveled about 8 kilometers. Here there is a sign where you turn right and travel the dirt road for 2 kilometers to the ranger station. From there it's a 500-meter walk to Mae Pan waterfall and 200 meters to Huai Luaeng waterfall.

Our last stop was on the way out of the park at Mae Ya waterfall. To get there you need to go back to Cham Tong and just before you get to highway 108 you will see the sign Mae Ya waterfall. Follow the signs for about 14 kilometers from here. There will be a checkpoint where they collect a 200 baht fee to enter. Just tell them you have been staying in the park and show them the receipt and they will let you in for free. This waterfall is great for photographs and over 250 meters tall. Try to go on a weekday, as the weekends are very crowded with Thais picnicking and swimming.

We had a great time although we didn't see everything such as Brichinda cave. We would also like to spend some time bird watching. The Park staff was a great help and very friendly and I would recommend this trip to anyone.

allthai

Shopping in Thailand can be fun or a nightmare. There are a few things to remember before spending your hard-earned cash. Here are a few guidelines and recommendations to make your shopping experience enjoyable, purchasing high quality products at great prices.

Shopping is one of the great pleasures here in Chiangmai. We have the famous night bazaar, the Saturday and Sunday evening walking markets on Walai and Rajadamnerng roads, Baan Tawai wood carving village, Bosang Sa paper and umbrella village and Sankampang with its many handicraft factories.

When friends visit, they always ask - what should I purchase and where? Here are some guidelines that I give them that may help you.

The night bazaar has some excellent bargains but be careful. The night bazaar is great for t-shirts, fake designer clothes and watches but not handicrafts. Lacquerware and wood products purchased here will split and crack after a year or so. It is not real lacquerware but only painted with a couple coats of sprayed-on lacquer paint. Wood products are not treated correctly unless you are from a hot and humid climate like Thailand.

This is also a big problem when purchasing wood products from Baan Tawai. These products are made for Thailand and should be purchased by those living here only. The problem is the wood should be dried outside in the weather for two years then heat treated in an oven. This way if you take the wood home to a cooler and drier climate or keep it an air-conditioned home it won’t crack or split. The wood products at Baan Tawai and the night bazaar are not treated properly.

For wood and lacquerware, go to the factories in Sankhampang. I recommend Sudaluck for wood products and Lai Thai for lacquerware. Here the wood is treated properly and the lacquerware is treated with real gum lacquer with seven coats. Every coat is dried and polished.

We have all heard about the gem scams Thailand is famous for. Make purchases of jewelry and gems from a reputable dealer or shop such as Princess Jewelry or Gems Gallery. The prices are a lot cheaper than western countries and the quality excellent. Remember, if the price seems too cheap to believe, then don’t believe the gems or jewelry are real.

Silk is another great bargain here in Chiangmai and much cheaper than, say, Jim Thompson’s in Bangkok. Here again be careful, if you don’t know much about silk then make purchases from a reputable shop such as Jollie Femme. Most of the silk at the night bazaar is partially polyester or made by machine in Chinese factories. Real Thai silk is handmade so the weave is very tight and will stay together after many years of wear and hand washing. Much longer than Chinese machine made silk.

Tailor made suits and clothes are also perfectly made here if you go to the right tailor. Be careful of these one coat, two pants, tie and shirt deals for $99 USD. The material is very low quality and one sleeve may be longer than the other. The biggest complaint is the pockets are way too shallow. Niramit Tailors in Chiangmai is probably one of the best in Thailand.

When it comes to the open markets of Chiang Mai, most newly arrived foreigners are steered directly either by guidebooks, travel agencies, hotel desk clerks, and even tuk-tuk drivers to the Night Bazaar on Changklan Road between Tha Phae and Loi Kroh Roads. This sizeable market, with a gigantic, well-lit sign in English and surrounded by many familiar food chains of the West, is no doubt most oriented to foreign tourists. It's here where most Western visitors get their first taste of a traditional Northern Thai shopping experience. Once amongst the tightly packed stalls, visitors very soon become acquainted with the bargaining game.

When it comes to bargaining, there are a few things to remember. Asians do not like to lose face, which is very important; however, they don’t want you to lose face either. Here is how to bargain so no one loses face.

You first ask, “How much?” for an item. The vendor will come back with a price and you say, “Too much,” and they will come back with a 20% lower price. You offer about 50% lower than the second price they gave you. They will smile and probably say nothing. This means they know what you are doing. After a few seconds, they will come back with a price around 20% lower again. You then put out a price 40% lower. They come back with maybe 25% lower. You go 30% lower and hold. They will most likely sell it to you. This way, you can get the item at the 50% discount you wanted, but they do not lose face - and neither do you.

Try to make purchases all from the same shop or vendor and you can get the price even lower. Do not pay for your items one at a time. Set your first purchase aside, then bargain for a few more items. Put all your items together and ask, “How much for all these?” When the salesperson gives you a price, make an offer for 10% lower. If they say no, start taking items off your pile and act like you just want to purchase just the first item you bargained for. Nine times out of ten they will say okay to your 10% additional discount.

There is everything available here, including handicrafts, food stuffs, clothing and shoes, jewelry, ceramic knickknacks, and more. Many of the items sold at shops inside the Night Bazaar building are of good quality and handmade. The vendors on the street at the night bazaar sell cheap copied products made in China or Burma and not true Thai handicrafts.

Remember, you get what you pay for. If you want T-shirts, knockoff designer brands, or imitation handicrafts, the Night Bazaar vendors have what you need. For high-quality handicrafts, textiles, shoes, and clothing at great prices compared to prices in your home country, go to the Saturday and Sunday evening markets on Walai (Saturday) and Rajadamnerng (Sunday) roads or the factories on Sankampang road.

I hope this will help you avoid problems when it comes to shopping in Thailand, enjoy.

Randy and Ning