The market in Chiang Mai is a shopper's paradise. My friend (Celeste) who has lived here for twenty three years warned us, "Do not bring anything except the clothes on your back. You will find everything you need within a five minute walk from wherever you are in Chiang Mai." Two minutes after arriving in Chiang Mai, I realized that she was not exaggerating. Anything one would need and more, everywhere, all the time. It is incredible to think: Where does this stuff comes from? How does arrive in these tight corridors? How do these million Mom and Pop type businesses survive?
Imagine the biggest city you can, then imagine all the businesses that city has to offer, then times it by five or eight, no make it ten or twenty…that is Chiang Mai. The variety of merchandise is mind-bogging.
I won't talk about the food, the flowers, the places for massage, clothing, art, paper, gold…. yet.
My friend Celeste, who use to be an international antique dealer in California before I met her in Paris twenty four years ago, asked me what I wanted to see first… without a moment of thought I simply said, "Antique textiles."
We took a bicycle taxi-Rickshaw.
We rode down a maze of streets with an army of motorcycles, cars, pick-ups and people.
My senses were bombared by smells, sights, sounds…
My sense of direction vanished at the first turn. I asked French Husband if he remembered to bring the GPS. He shook his head no. My friend reassured us she knew her way around the maze of stalls… I did not doubt that for a second, but I worried about losing her as my eyes darting in awe at the wonderfully newness about me.
We walked inside a tin canopy, tent like building that housed markets that were miles long.
The last stand we came to literally made me gasp, "Holy Cow, Mother of God, How can I get this home?" I dove in as if I had been there a million times before. My friend uttered polite words to the dealer: A Hmong woman who brought antique textiles from Laos. Mostly linen, woven fabric and children's hats. Amazing hats! Godly intricate one of a kind beauties. I started to shake with happiness.
Though French Husband claims I was just jet-lagged.
What does he know? He took photos of my pleasure.
Antique textiles make me shake with happiness!
Hmong Lmong Market in Chiang Mai, where you can find antique handmade tribal textiles brought down from small mountain villages.
If you like antique textiles you would absolutely love this place. So if you should come to Thailand… remember bring only the clothes on your back.
Oh my one empty suitcase is stuffed, and this is only day two of our adventure.
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