Chiang Mai Photo essay 2019

สวัสด S a - w a t - d e e

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Chiang Mai PHOTO ESSAY

by Denis Amirtharaj

T h e w e e k e n d in C h i a n g M a i

Chiangmai is a city that is known for its café culture, temples and markets, it has been on my list of must visit cities for a long time. To explore the charm, vibrancy and chaos of the city. I had been living in Thailand for the past few months, travelling, volunteering and taking a lot of pictures. I decided to visit Chiang Mai on the first week of February. I specifically chose this time of the month as this is the time for the Chiang Mai flower festival, which happens at the first week of February every year. I scheduled my 3-day trip in a way that I can see the festival, explore the city and visit the markets.

I travel with Fujifilm XT20/18-55MM Kit lens, I love this gear and I always have been using it for my travels. For its mobility, the magic of fuji colours for shooting specifically street photography. Btw, this is not any kind of advertising for. Its just my gear and I love it, I am sure everyone has their own. ^1 : Parade at the 42nd year of Chiang Mai flower festival

‘The Old town’

^2 : Wat Chedi Luang

^3 : Thapae Gate

D A Y : 01

I reached the city in the morning on previous day of the 3 days flower festival, I reached by bus from Mae Sot. I landed in ‘Chiangmai bus terminal 3 or so-called Arcade bus terminal’ took the red minivan to the centre of old town where I had found a hostel accommodation online.

The minivan dropped me at the ‘Suan Pung gate’, the mini bus cost ‘Sam sip baht’, 30baht. I walked to my hostel from there, checked in, refreshed and all-ready to explore the city.

My first place to visit was this temple very close to my hostel. ‘Wat Chedi Luang’, This is a Buddhist temple in the historic centre of Chiang Mai with a massive ruined pagoda. I walked around the temple complex in awe of its richness. My plan for the rest of the day was to walk around the entire old town/square, I walked towards the ‘Thapae gate’ to start the walk from there. It was evening around 4pm, I saw the sun hitting the old city brick wall making it a bold historical statement of Chiangmai or the ‘Lanna Kingdom’.

^4 : Wat Chedi Luang

^5 : Wat Chedi Luang

^6 : Thapae Gate

^7 : Thapae Gate

The square around the wall is a perfect communal space for tourist to hangout, taking selfies, listening to musicians, snacking on munchies. I walked along the inside of the wall along the moat. It was perfect place for an evening stroll.

I quickly started noticing these old telephone booths that are not used but remains as canvas for spray painting artists. It brings a techie60s look to the city. I came across many Buddhist pagodas popping out of the city on very random places but still magnificent as they stand tall pointing towards the sky. I did walk the 6.5km stretch along the moat of the old town, it was long, tiring and yet pleasant. I headed back to my hostel after snacking on various street food stalls that were all along my walk.

^8,9 : Phone booths in Chiangmai

^10 : Wat Pa Pao

^11 : Wat Phantao

^12 : Wat Saen Fang

^13 : The one inside ‘Chiang Mai Arts and Cultural centre complex

^14 : Rat Chiang Saen Rd . The flower festival parade

The Chiang M ai Flower festival ^15 : Chang Lor Rd . The flower festival parade

D A Y : 02

The festival features display of flowers and a parade of dancers and floats. The festival takes place during the first weekend of February every year. The festival begins early morning at 8am, The parade starts from ‘Thapae gate’ and all the way along the moat and finishes in the ‘Nong Buak Hard Public Park’ where the floats and flowers will be displayed for the following 2 days of the festival.

I should say this was my first time of witnessing such a vibrant event. I was one among the tourists eagerly holding the camera, waiting for the parade of decorated flower floats, uniformed marching bands from local schools and universities, dancers who were wearing traditional Thai and local hill tribe dress.

It was fun listening to the school bands and watch kids play with such energy, with people all around cheering the participants. I came across all kind of people - young and old, tourist with families, backpackers, couples, as Chiang Mai is a place for all kind of travellers. The festival was something to return for. ^16 : Rat Chiang Saen Rd . The flower festival parade

^17,18 : Rat Chiang Saen Rd . The flower festival parade

^19,20 : Rat Chiang Saen Rd . The flower festival parade

^21 : Women wearing ‘Chut Thai’,Thai national dress.

^22 : Man wearing Traditional Thai ‘Sash’

^23 : Girl wearing traditional dress of one of the Hill tribe from northen Thailand.

^24 : Women wearing a floral gown

^25 : Warorot market

^26 : Sompet market

‘The M arket’ D A Y : 03

The markets where we can truly see the authenticity and diversity of the city, Chiang mai is no exception to that statement. The city has been known for its huge markets scattered all over the city and these are the best of the northern capital’s markets. Fresh food markets, Saturday markets, walking street markets, The Night bazaar and yes, I visited most of them to get the sense of the city.

My first stop was the ‘Sompet market’, located at the northeast part of the old town. The market is known for its fresh food products and fruits. I visited the market post lunch and half of the market was closed at that time, it was a lazy afternoon at the market. Usually its good to visit the markets in the morning and evening when its in its full fledge to get the full experience of it.yet my afternoon visit to Sompet market did not disappoint. It was very less crowded. I saw the vendors taking a break from the busy morning, assemblage of fruits on assorted colourful carts lined up along the street, catching any one’s sight as they pass through.

^27 : Sompet market

^28 : Mueang Mai market

^29 : Mueang Mai market

My next stop was ‘Mueang Mai Market’ outside the old town, at the north east corner. I was taking pictures on the way to the market. I came across this lady selling straw brooms, she was carrying them in the ‘Asian bamboo weaved baskets’ as soon as she saw me taking a picture of her, she put up this very sweet smile that reflected on how I feel about the Thai people, humble and sweet.

I could say I reached closer to the ‘Mueang Mai Market’ as I saw these trucks selling, loading and unloading bunches of pineapple and watermelons. This was the market in Chiangmai where I almost didn’t see anyt tourists. It was mostly the locals. The market was busy, packed with people, so much happening and it was vibrant. This was the kind of image of the market I have in mind when I think about ‘South east Asian markets.

^30 : Mun Mueang Rd

^31 : The centre of Chinatown

^32 : Wu Temple, Chinatown

唐人街 After roaming around the market, I walked to the Chinatown of Chiangmai, which is also where you can find the famous ‘Warorot Market’. The quirky market is exciting with vibrant atmosphere, crowded and here you can still see the old and real Chiang Mai. There were hundreds of vendors selling clothes, fresh food and handicrafts. I truly got lost in those narrow alleys and multi-story shopping centres and It was over-whelming. I spent a good amount of time here, though I was not here for shopping, it was a memorable experience to get lost in the chaos.

On my way back to the hostel I stopped at ‘Chiang Mai night bazar’ building and it was around 5pm and the shops have not been opened it, it was empty. I went down this placed that looked like a basement in the building and found few shops, mainly paintings shops. There were these artist painting in solitude, in their own world, away from the chaos of the city. I couldn’t resist stopping by to watch these artists do what they do.

^33,34 : at the streets of Chinatwon

^35 : Chiang Mai night bazar

^36: Changklan Rd

I was tired after visiting all the markets and as I was heading back to my. I saw this lady again, the lady who was selling the straw brooms. Looked like she didn’t have a very good sell, I could say by looking at her full basket and yet, she noticed me and put up this sweetest smile, again.

Which was on one of my highlights of the day as I remember that moment thinking, this was the enthusiasm that we would be searching for on any ‘not so good’ day.

^37 : Warorot market

^38 : Wualai Saturday night walking market

^39 : Wualai Saturday night walking market

This didn’t mark the end of my day or the last day of my trip, as I was leaving the city next morning. I still had to see the Night markets. I went back to my hostel, had some rest, charged my camera, refreshed and headed to the ‘Chiangmai night food market’ or so called ‘Pratu Chiang Mai market’ and ‘Wualai Saturday night walking market’ at the border of the south part of old town.

^40 : Chiangmai night food market

^41 : Wualai Saturday night walking market

^42 : Wualai Saturday night walking market

Being the weekend of the flower festival, these night markets were packed with tourists, buzzing with activities, hundreds of food stalls, handicrafts stalls, clothes etcetera. After 2 hours my eyes got busy looking at everything so colourful and bright, I was over whelmed. I had walked a lot, had some amazing fried snacks, fruit juices and took a lot of pictures.

I was tired at this time, it was past 11pm. After walking along the Wualai walking market I reached the Thipanet road and it was a long walk to my hostel. The road was almost empty. As I was walking back slowly with my feet hurt from the most uncomfortable shoe that I chose for walking that day, I realised that it was one of the most splendid weekends I spent in a city, just me and my camera. I would totally do it all again regardless of those uncomfortable shoes or anything that comes in between me and this city ‘Chiangmai’.

^43 : Chiangmai night food market

^45 : Chaiyapoom Rd

^44 : east end of Manee Nopparat Rd

^46 : at the Mueang Mai market

List of temples visited 1. Wat Chedi Luang 2. Wat Pa Pao 3.Wat Phantao 4.Wat Saen Fang 5. Wu temple 6.Wat Upakhut

List of M arkets 1. Sompet 2. Mueang Mai 3.Warorot 4.Wualai 5. Pratu

^47 : Wat Upakhut

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created by Denis Amirtharaj follow at https://www.instagram.com/denisamirtharaj