And now, we’re stopping for a short drinks cum toilet break at the same Thai Cafe where we had our Tea break when we were driving to Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai 2 days ago.

Below are Thai Pineapple Tarts (in transparent Bottles) among other Thai Goodies on sales in the Thai Cafe :

And I’m having my very cold Ice Lemon Tea – so cooling & refreshing & the most ideal for such hot weather :

And here I’m holding a packet of Thai Dried Golden Longans (called “Lumyai” in Thai) which my brother bought from the nearby shop – these Dried Golden Longans are so yummy & tasty as snacks we all fall in love with them & can’t stop eating them!!

And just when we’re about to leave the Cafe to continue our journey back to Chiang Mai, we meet the Thai Chinese Auntie cleaner whom we met here during our Tea break 2 days back. But today, Auntie looks kinda tired & weak, different from when we first saw her 2 days back.

And when Auntie hears that we were eating the Thai Dried Longans, she seems interested & so we offer her some – she immediately tucks in & starts eating them happily & she seems really hungry cos she had told Mom earlier that she only ate Sticky Rice (alone!!) for lunch – we then give Auntie the whole packet of left-over Longans & she readily accepts it with smiles.

Unfortunately we’ve to leave in a hurry cos it suddenly starts to rain heavily, so we bid Auntie Goodbye & once back inside the car, we’re thinking how wonderful it’ll be if only we’ve thought of buying Auntie some Thai Cookies or Snacks earlier before leaving. Well, we can now only wish Auntie the best of health & luck & that she takes great care of herself.

The above photo shows a stunning traditional Thai style building which we pass by along our drive back to Chiang Mai. And according to our Thai friend, this building is actually a Thai Museum – how we wish we’ve got the time to stop to visit it (

Anyway, we soon stop at the below Street Stalls after driving a distance from the Museum, cos our Thai friend wana buy some local fruits for her good buddy – see our car parked below, with my brother & Mom & Dad inside the car waiting for our Thai friend & I who have also come down from the car cos I wana take photos heheh :

And here below photos show the Food Stalls which are located behind the Fruits Stalls by the roadside :

The Thai Fruits Stall full of fresh bright orange Persimmons & Oranges (called “Som Cheng” in Thai) :

The Fruits Stalls also sells different types of young & old Thai Bamboo Shoots (called “Naw Mhai” in Thai) which grow most abundantly during the current rainy season :

Also on sales in the same Stall are Potted Plants with beautiful Pink Flowers :

And there’re also Pussy Willows (called “Yin Liu” in Chinese) sitting on the below yellow pail :

More Fruits Stalls by the roadside :

Our Thai friend has now selected all her purchases of Persimmons & Bamboo Shoots :

And just when our Thai friend & I are about to leave the Fruits Stall, I notice the huge packets of beautiful Thai Passion Fruits lying on the floor below :

The Thai Fruits vendor is slicing open a Passion Fruit for me to try here :

And I’m now holding the 2 halves of the Passion Fruit & at the same time tasting it as I walk towards our car by the roadside to share the Fruit with my Mom. Hmm…….the Passion Fruit is sour but very refreshing! 

After more than 4 hours of driving from Chiang Rai, we finally arrive at Chiang Mai City.

And cos we’ve still yet to eat the most famous Thai dessert “Mango Sticky Rice” (or “Kao Neow Ma Maung” in Thai), I suggest that we go to the Warorot Market in Chiang Mai Chinatown to get some cos I know of a stall in the Market that sells great yummy Mango Sticky Rice – I know about this cos I also got my Mango Sticky Rice from this same stall last December when I was here in Chiang Mai!

And another reason for wanting to go back to the Warorot Market is cos I know of another Stall that sells great delicious Thai Chinese Roast Pork which I ate last December too!! And Chinese Roast Pork happens to be another favourite of my Mom & Dad & brother too!!

Well, I was looking for the Mango Sticky Rice in the Warorot Market last December with my hubby Dear & we were very lucky to chance upon this particular stall that sells really really superb Thai Mango Sticky Rice!! And I’ve since told myself that should I be back in Chiang Mai again I’ll make sure I come back to this same stall to buy the dessert!!

And here I am today, back at this same Stall in the Warorot Market in Chiang Mai – heheh how lucky I am today, cos the Stall is still around & open, & I also recognise its same Thai lady boss from whom I bought my Mango Sticky Rice last December!!

And I’m so happy right now, & of course so are my Mom & Dad & brother, who all love Mango Sticky Rice! We immediately order 3 boxes of the yummy yummy dessert, & 3 extra boxes of just the plain Sticky Rice cos the Stall has already run out of Mangoes – & our order makes the Thai lady boss busy packing & slicing the Mangoes straight away :

The very fresh & full of fragrance Thai Sticky Rice inside the huge Steel bowl :

And my brother goes next Stall to buy its Tao Suan (or “Sweet Mung Beans in Coconut Cream” dessert), which the below Thai woman is packing now :

See below next to the Thai lady boss our 3 boxes of the so fresh golden yellow colored Thai Mangoes on top of the Sticky Rice – hmmm………I can’t wait to attack them!!

Well, ever since my Dear & I ate this Stall’s Mango Sticky Rice last December, we’ve loved it so much cos it’s the best we’ve tasted so far in Thailand, even much better than the much more costly ones we used to eat in the classy Thai restaurants in Thailand, Chiang Mai or Singapore!!

And ever since, Dear & I had always been talking & dreaming about it since we were back home in Singapore!! And before I came back to Chiang Mai again this time, Dear has been bugging me & couldn’t stop reminding me that I must buy some back for him!!!

So this time that I’m back here again, I quickly pre-inform the Thai lady boss that we’ll be back here again 2 days later (on Sunday) to buy her Mango Sticky Rice to bring back home to Singapore!! And guess what, I order 10 packs, while Mom orders 5 packs!!

And the Thai lady boss is so nice she gives her contact no to our Thai friend, telling her to call first before coming on Sunday to check if she can manage to get so many Mangoes, cos it’s not the Mango Season (April to June) now.

Well, the Thai lady boss has now finished packing our 6 boxes of the Mango Sticky Rice :

Haha, I can’t wait any longer & tuck into the Mango Sticky Rice with my bare hands once I get hold of one of the packets, not realising that I should be using spoon hahaha!! And I even start to hand feed Mom & Dad too haha – & really, the Mango Sticky Rice still tastes so so good just like last December the way I remember it!!  

We then walk to the nearby Thai Goodies Stall as seen below, looking for the elderly Thai Chinese Teochew Auntie whom I got to befriend last December when I was shopping here in the Warorot Market.

This Teochew Auntie runs the Stall with her younger sister, who both originally came to Chiang Mai from China many many years ago, & Auntie’s a very helpful & great person – I met her when I happened to stop by her Stall to buy the famous crispy Thai Pork Rinds.

And I started asking her where I could find yummy Roast Pork in the Warorot Market. Then Auntie even recommended that Dear & I try the very special & yummy Thai Grilled Chicken in the Market, & she even walked us to the Stall!! However, cos the Grilled Chicken looked kinda more Western than Thai to us, & cos we’d wanted Thai food then, Dear & I decided not to try it.

And then Auntie brought me to this Thai Chinese Roast Pork Stall a short distance away from her Stall, & ordered the Roast Pork for me in Thai! So again I got to taste the most tasty Chinese Roast Pork from Chiang Mai – they were so so awesome!!

Unfortunately this particular Roast Pork Stall has already closed for today, & there’re no other Stalls nearby that sells Roast Pork, which make us really disappointed - if only we’d come here much earlier!! But it’s ok, cos we’ll try our luck again & come early this Sunday!!

Here below is the most friendliest Thai Chinese Teochew Auntie :

Mom & I bought some Thai Dried Longans & deep fried Crispy Pork Rinds from Auntie.

Well, the Crispy Pork Rinds (called “Kaeb Moo” in Thai) which I just bought from Auntie are different from the ones we ate for our Lanna Thai Dinner in Chiang Rai 2 nights ago, cos these Crispy Pork Rinds are made of 3-layer Pork (or Pork Belly – similar to Roast Pork meat), & to me these are much nicer cos they really taste very very good, with the meat of the Pork Belly still intact, & so so crispy & well fried, & not a bit oily at all!!! 

And according to Auntie, we can cook these Crispy Pork Rinds with White Cabbages, cos the dish is absolutely delicious, but I’ve yet to prepare this dish till now!

Well, here is my packet of most delicious deep fried Crispy Pork Rinds, which are exactly the same type of Pork as the Roast Pork which we love, except that these are Deep Fried :

And this is my Packet of Thai Dried Longans (called “Lumyai” in Thai) :

A Tip for you who may be buying Thai Dried Longans – buy the less brown in color Dried Longans, such as the ones we ate this afternoon in the Thai Cafe, cos they’re the younger ones & they are softer & more fragrant & taste much nicer, unlike these older & darker ones who are slightly hard & not as fragrant & yummy ) 

Well, just when we’re about to leave the Warorot Market, Auntie runs after us telling us that we should go & try the Chinese Cuisines in the Chinese Restaurant called “Jia Tong Heng Restaurant” in Chiang Mai – & I’m really so touched by Auntie, who’d helped me alot last December, & again now giving us such great Cuisine tips!!

And I really feel very fortunate & blessed that I get to meet such wonderful overseas acquaintance during my travelling ))

After leaving the  Warorot Market, we make our way to the Thai Seamstress Boutique where Mom had her Thai outfits made on our 1st day of arrival in Chiang Mai, cos it’s collection day today.

And here I am standing with Mom inside the Boutique – look at how gorgeous Mom looks in her lovely bright Turquoise colored Thai style suit - kinda Organzar top with hand sewn shiny Beads (some dangling too), & gorgeous long Thai Silk skirt :

Mom is now wearing her 2nd beautiful Pink Thai suit, which is made up of lovely Organza top with hand sewn Beads & delicately hand sewn Flower Embroideries, & beautiful long Thai Silk skirt – isn’t she so pretty!!

The Thai Seamstress with Mom inside the Boutique – this Thai Seamstress is a very friendly & customer-oriented woman who owns & runs the Boutique with her Thai husband :

And below is the Thai Seamstress Boutique Receipt of the 2 outfits of Mom, & inclusive of another beautiful long Thai Silk skirt which Mom & Dad has it made specially for our Thai friend. The total cost – 9500 bahts which is about $420 Singapore dollars which is pretty cool!! 

Mom & our Thai friend are both really pleased with their newly made outfits & we soon left the Thai Seamstress Boutique & are now reaching the Holiday Inn in Chiang Mai City, which we’ll be checking into, & staying for another 2 nights before we go back home to Singapore :

And here below are the Holiday Inn Cards to our 2 Rooms :

And these are our Holiday Inn Welcome Drinks Coupons, which were also given to us upon our 1st night stay here when we 1st arrived in Chiang Mai 3 days ago. However, we were very busy being out of the Hotel the whole day & night that we forgot to have the drinks. Well, this time round we must try to make sure that we do remember to have them!

And once we check into our Rooms & settle down, we immediatetly start eating our Mango Sticky Rice again, & this time I remember to use the provided spoons heheh!!

The Thai Sticky Rice is so tasty & full of fragrance as it’s cooked with very fresh Coconut Milk – & the Mangoes are so Fresh & Sweet & Juicy though they’re not in season now – just like I remember eating them last December!! In fact, there’re also separate small packets of fresh Coconut Milk which we need to pour over the Mango Sticky Rice, but cos I’m so excited about eating it, I totally forget about the extra Milk haha!!

However, I notice something different from what I used to remember last December - the portion of each packet of the dessert seems lesser & not as much as I used to have last December – the Sticky Rice & Mangoes are lesser now, & the Mangoes are also not as thick & huge :((

But overall, I still think these Mango Sticky Rice are still very very yummy & we all enjoy it so much that we’re beaming with smiles all the while we’re eating it hahaha!!

About the Tao Suan dessert which my brother bought from the Warorot Market - well, he finished up the whole packet before I could even snap any photo of it!! And according to him, the Thai Tao Suan is slightly salty unlike our Singaporean one which is totally sweet, & that it’s really yummy & he likes it very much!!

What great awesome welcome treats we just gave ourselves coming back to Chiang Mai – hmmm……..we’re really so so blessed!!

As it’s past noon now & we’re all hungry, we decide to stop here for lunch in Chiang Rai, before continuing our drive back to Chiang Mai.

It’s a lovely wooden Thai Hut Restaurant : 

And we’re now seated inside the Thai Hut Restaurant – looking at the Restaurant’s wall Posters of its most famous Signature Pork Cuisine & the Owner with his waitress behind him, & his visitor eating inside the Restaurant :

Here below are the simple Thai written Menu of the Restaurant on our dining table :

And here comes our plate of the Restaurant’s Signature Pork Cuisine – consisting of Sliced Pork & Pork Balls in hand moulded round & odd shapes, garnished with fragrant fried Garlics, & served with a green Thai dipping Sauce, boiled Vegetables & fresh Thai Coriander Leaves & Greens on the sides.

The different types of Pork taste so smooth & delicious – really good!!

And this is my bowl of Kway Teow Tom Yam Soup, garnished with diced Spring Onions & Peanuts, & green Vegetables, & there’re also slices of White Carrots (or White Radish) :

And to my most pleasant surprise, besides the Minced Pork in my Kway Teow Tom Yam Soup, there’re slices of Pig Organs such as Pig Livers, Pig Stomachs & Pig Intestines, which are all my favourites!! And they’re so cleanly & freshly prepared with no foul smell or taste at all!!

In fact, the Restaurant also serves Pork Ribs with Pig Blood Cubes Soup with Rice, which our Thai friend is having. And according to our Thai friend, this Pig Organs Soup is called “Kao Lao” in Thai, which is one of the most famous local Cuisines among the Thai people in Thailand.

And cos “Kao Lao” sounds like “9th Storey” in our Hokkien dialet, we’re all laughing & joking that we used to stay in “Qi Lao” in Singapore which in Hokkien means “7th Storey” – it’s all so funny!!

The Pig Organs Kway Teow Tom Yam Soup is so so yummy we all love it so much that we ordered a second bowl to share!

See the below 4 brown covered containers – they consist of Thai spices such as the Restaurant’s famous hand pounded Dried Red Chilies etc, which the Thai people normally like to add to their Pig Organs Soups when eating :

The below photos show more of the Restaurant’s Thai written Menus & some Posters of their Dried Red Chilies being hand pounded :

And here’s the Restaurant’s Fish Tank with beautiful Gold Fishes placed next to our dining table :

We’ve now finished eating our simple yet most delicious Thai Cuisines lunch & we’re leaving the Restaurant – below photo shows our wooden log dining benches & table inside the Restaurant :

We’re now walking to the toilet located at the back of the Thai Hut Restaurant, where the Kitchen is. And upon seeing a Thai woman in the kitchen, we wave & smile happily at her telling her in hand signs what wonderful great delicious Thai Cuisines they prepare!!

View of the Restaurant kitchen from the back :

And near the Restaurant toilet we see these beautiful brightly colored flowers – what large gorgeous native Thai blooms!

After our short toilet break, we’re now leaving the place, still happily chatting over the most delicious local Thai Cuisines the famous Kao Lao Pig Organs Soup, Kway Teow Tom Yam Soup & Pork Cuisines we just ate here in Chiang Rai, North Thailand haha!!

I’m now inside our room in Wiang Inn Hotel in Chiang Rai City, & while waiting for Mom & Dad to be ready for breakfast, I remember the Mangoes we bought from Chiang Rai local Market yesterday evening – so here they are :

And here below is a Slideshow of photos of the lovely views seen from the windows of our hotel room :

We’re now having breakfast in the Wiang Inn Hotel Restaurant : 

A close-up view of the very yummy crispy Thai Chinese Roast Pork beside the green Vegetables from my breakfast plate :

My most favourite Thai breakfast – steaming hot Pork Porridge garnished with diced Spring Onions & crispy fragrant Garlics, with the small saucer of fresh Red & Green Chilies in soy sauce by the side :

We’re now checking out of Wiang Inn Hotel, & I’ve put photos taken inside & outside the Hotel in the following Slideshow :

Our Thai friend is now driving us back to Chiang Mai in our Thai rented car. And along the way, we stop by the White Temple (or “Wat Rong Khun” in Thai), a Thai Buddhist Temple located in Chiang Rai Province :

Location Map of Wat Rong Khun :

The White Temple was built by Chalermchai Kositpipat, one of the most famous Thai painters & artists in Thailand.

Each of the art work in the Temple, meaningfully designed & built, comes from the dharma principles of Lord Buddha that Chalermchai Kositpipat has been studying for more than 20 years. 

Chalermchai Kositpipat vows to dedicate his life, possessions, & the best time of his life to creating world class art works to adorn the land until his last breath, hoping that they can benefit his beloved country, Thailand, in the future.

Beautifully Lit-Up Wat Rong Khun in the Night :

Now, we just spotted many colorful handmade handpainted wooden sandals displayed at the 1st shop from where our car is parked, so we decide to shop first before visiting the White Temple.

And here it is – my cutie prettie handmade handpainted Wooden Dollie Sandals, & they’re so comfortable upon wearing :

I also bought from the same shop the following Thai Post Cards – Long Neck Karen Hilltribe Post card depicting the daily life of the Long Neck Hilltribe people :

Another Long Neck Karen – Mae Hong Son Post Card showing the Long Neck Hilltribe women standing among their handwoven scarves & handmade wooden handicrafts :

Children from Mong (or Hmong) Hilltribe wearing exquisitely decorated cultural costumes & headdresses in the North Thailand Post Card :

And I also got myself the following very beautiful Thai Hilltribe Cards with Envelopes :

2 Elderly Hilltribe Women at home in Chiang Rai Card :

Long Neck Hilltribe Girl from Chiang Rai Card :

A Long Neck Hilltribe woman playing guitar Card :

2 Young Hilltribe Girls from Chiang Rai Card ::

An Elderly Akha Hilltribe Woman with Stained Mouth caused by Chewing Betel Lead wrapped with Areca Nut :

A Young Long Neck Hilltribe Girl with her Cheeks covered with the Glistening Yellowish Powder called Thanaka :

An Elderly Hilltribe Man Blowing his Long Traditional Pipe of Opium :

And I got the following colorful Patchwork Thai Trousers from another Souvenir shop a short distance away while our Thai friend, Mom & Dad, & my brother are have coffee in a Thai Cafe :

At the same time, I bought 3 handmade handsewn handpainted Lisu Hilltribe Dolls from another small shop – this below Lisu Hilltribe Doll is wearing a long dress with a wide Red belt with Silver ring, & Silver jewelries over her neck & a Headdress adorned with multi-colored Poms Poms with Streamers :

The below Lisu Hilltribe Doll has got a beautiful long Velvet dress with a wide Red belt, & thick Red pom-pom like trim over her neck, as well as an embroidery tasselled Turban over her head. And she’s also wearing a pair of big Silver earrings :

My last Lisu Hilltribe Doll is a really special one – she’s wearing a long Blue dress with a wide Black belt with Silver ring in the middle, & bright Orange streamers by the side, as well as Siler jewelries on her neck, & a multi-colored streamers designed Turban with the streamers overflowing to the back from the Turban :

I love each & every Dolls that I found so far, what with their beautifully handpainted faces. And if you notice, the eyes of each & every one of them are all different - but all so huge & shinny with long curly eyelashes & all so stunningly handpainted & lovingly expressed!

Heheh, I’m so glad that I manage to shop for the last time in Chiang Rai before departing for Chiang Mai!

And well, we’re now looking at the stunning White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) in this below beautiful photo taken by myself :

And we’re now walking to the Wat Rong Khun Art Gallery :

We’re now at the Wat Rong Khun Art Gallery, which has entry doors adorned with beautiful shinny white designs :

See the below Glass panels wooden Cabinets filled with items – that’s the Lost & Found Corner filled with all sorts of items left behind at the art Gallery by visitors – interesting ha :

Here below is a portrait of the famous Thai Artist Chalermchai Kositpipat standing outside his White Temple outside the Wat Rong Khun Art Gallery :

As photography is not allowed inside the Art Gallery, these below photos of the beautiful Lord Buddha Paintings are taken from outside the Gallery :

And below is a White Temple (Wat Rong Khun – Chiang Rai) T-shirt which I got for my Dear Dear :

A White Temple Post Card which I purchased from the Art Gallery :

The White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) Shopping Bag :

We next walk to the nearby Golden Temple (part of the White Temple), which is rich in bright golden glittering gold color in beautiful artistic designs, behind the Wat Rong Khun Art Gallery : 

And here below is the entry to the White Temple :

And silly me – I must be out of my mind due to the so hot weather today cos I never even go near the White Temple or step inside it to have a closer & better look around it!

However, I’ve here below photos of the White temple (Wat Rong Khun) from the Temple brochures I took from the Wat Rong Khun Art Gallery – hope you like them :

The below photo shows Chalermchai Kositpipat seated right in the centre infront of all his Buddhist disciples infront of the White Temple :

And the following photos show the beautiful White Temple lit up in the Night :

Well, here below are the Thai purchases from the Rong Khun Village Community Shop near the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) – Thai Elephants Embroidery Pocket Bags :

The following is a very unique & special Thai Charm made of 5 real Thai 20 bahts folded into a Fish – this must be my most unique Thai souvenir which will be added to my World Souvenirs Collection heheh :

And the Thai shopkeeper from whom I bought the above Thai Dollars Fish is so nice & has great customer service she has my Fish packed very nicely & properly in the following self-made (by her own on the spot) box, so that I can bring my Fish back home to Singapore safely without damage!

And the following is a gift to me from our Thai friend who made the purchase from the Rong Khun Village Community Shop too – how very sweet of her!

3 Fragrant Free Soap Bars locally made in Chiang Rai Province :

We’re now leaving the White Temple to continue our drive back to Chiang Mai.

And I’ve put all the photos taken at Rong Khun Village Community Shop & surrounding the White Temple in the following Slideshow with the beautiful soothing ”Om Mani PadMe Hum“ Buddhist Song :

Ever since our arrival in this Northern part of Thailand, we’ve not had its very famous Thai soup – Tom Yam Gung. So our dinner tonight shall be Thai Cuisines with Tom Yam Gung!

We’re now stepping into this rustic Thai restaurant in Chiang Rai City, which comes with very pretty water fountains & garden landscapes :

The restaurant is in a 2-storey Thai style wooden house & there’re indoor & outdoor dining areas, & we decide to go upstairs.

There’re balconies in the upstairs dining areas but cos the weather is kinda hot & we’re worried about mosquito bites, we decide to dine inside one of the private air-conditioned rooms instead.

Below photo shows our private dining room with the balcony by its side :

And there’s a performing stage in the midst of the gardens at the ground level of the restaurant, which can be seen from inside the windows of our private dining room :

A Northern Thai Musical performance is now on :

We’re now seated inside our private room :

The restaurant’s Menu :

Here come our bottles of Thai Coke & Mineral Water :

And now our Northern Thai dinner begins :

Stir-fry Kang Kong with Garlics :

Thai Salad of Mint Leaves, Long Beans, Cabbages etc – very fresh & crunchy :

Thai Minced Pork with Pork Livers cooked in Thai Spices & garnished with Dried Red Chilies & Mint Leaves – very very delicious :

And here below is our most looked forward to Thai Cuisine – Tom Yam Gung in Steamboat :

There’re lots of Seafood such as Prawns, Fish & Squids, & Straw Mushrooms & Tomatoes, Lemon Grass, Lime Levaes etc inside the steaming hot Tom Yam Gung – very yummy :

Thai Fried Fish with Crispy Ginger Slices & Basil Leaves, with Lettuces, Cucumbers & Tomatoes & sliced Cabbages & Carrots on the side :

The deep fried Fish (called “Pla Thod” in Thai) is so crispy & tasty & the fried crispy Ginger & Basil Leaves are so good & delicious – the most superb dish!

Below is our most special dish of the night – Spicy Seafood Steamed in Young Coconut, garnished with Fried Red Chilies & Greens slices :

There’re lots of very fresh Seafood such as Prawns, Squids & Fish cooked in very thick Curry Coconut Paste, & there’re even slices of the young smooth Coconut inside – really special & unique & they taste really really good!

Thai Sweet & Sour Fish with cubed Pineapples, Green Capsicums, Onions & Tomatoes – very tasty :

We’re now ordering Thai Desserts for our after-meals :

It’s raining very heavily outside now as we wait for our Desserts to be ready & below photos show views of the Thai Dancing performance at the below stage of the restaurant as seen from the windows of our dining room :

This restaurant prepares its dishes only when they’re ordered, & have all their dishes served very fresh & hot for us which makes us all very pleased & happy.

And for our Desserts, we’ve to wait for about 25 minutes before they’re served to us, but it’s all worthwhile - here below photo showing 3 of the restaurant’s waitresses & waiter bringing in our 5 Thai Desserts :

And to our surprise, our Thai Desserts are served really warm, & there’s a separate bowl filled with Ice Cubes for us to add into our hot Desserts.

Below photo shows my bowl of small Colorful Thai Chestnuts wrapped in Tapioca Starch in Coconut Milk Thai Dessert, besides the separate red bowl of Ice Cubes :

We’ve now finished our most delicious Northern Thai Dinner & Desserts & we’re leaving the restaurant now – below photo shows the restaurant’s balcony (beside our dining room) with rustic wooden tables & chairs overlooking the stage performance :

Thai Singing performance going on now as we’re leaving the restaurant :

Besides serving great Northen Thai Cuisines, this restuarant also has great customer service!

As it’s still raining pretty heavily by the time we’re leaving the restaurant, its carpark Thai attendant immediately brings us big umbrellas to shelter us all the way from the restaurant to our car, & runs around the car under the heavy rain to open our car doors to let us in! I’m really so impressed!!

Well, we’ve now come back to our Hotel Room inside Wiang Inn Hotel in Chiang Rai City – & again having more Thai Cuisines for Supper now!

Remember our Thai Grilled Chicken & Thai Sweet Corns which we bought earlier at the Chiang Rai Market before dinner. Hmm……we’re enjoying them right now………..not too bad – the Sweet Corns are really fresh & nice, & the Chicken tastes pretty ok though it’s not too fresh to our likings, but overall, it’s a night full of amazing Northern Thai Cuisines, & we all love them so much! 

Do you know what’s the most famous dessert in Thailand?

Mango Sticky Rice – or “Kao Neow Ma Maung” in Thai. “Kao Neow” meaning “Sticky Rice”, which is actually glutinous rice, & “Ma Maung” meaning “Mango”.

Well, we’ve not eaten Mango Sticky Rice even once since we arrived in the Jewel of the North, Chiang Mai, & our Thai friend decides that we should come here cos there’s the famous dessert being sold here in Chiang Rai City!

And I’ve been very excited upon hearing that we’re coming to a real Thai local Market which opens in the evenings where the local Thais do their daily marketing!

We’re very lucky to have found a car park space within a short walking distance away from the very busy local Market, located at the Clock Tower of Chiang Rai City :

 And we’re right in the midst of the busy Market now :

A locally Thai Soy Sauce Chicken stall  – we’d wanted to buy some but are kinda worried of the hygiene issues cos the stall is just by the busy road side (

The Market comes as a real eye opener for me cos there’re stalls of all kinds, set up in all types of forms, on the floors or plastic containers or tables low or high rised, along the sides of the streets : 

Beautiful fresh Eggs on round Straw Baskets :

Raw Meat stall beside Vegetables stall round the corner of the Market street :

Fermented Fish on huge Straw Baskets :

See the huge fat thick Pork Intestines at the bottom left corner of the below Raw Pork & Organs stall :

I really like the following stall of different kinds of Fish on big & small traditional Straw Baskets – so pretty!

Steamed Sweet Potatoes with Thai Sweets Desserts stall :

Lots of fresh Thai Limes (or “Ma Nao” in Thai) & Chilies (“Prig” in Thai) & packets of Shallots (“Horm-Daeng” in Thai) on the Plastic matted floor :

And can you see or guess what are the following items on sales?

Well, they’re Thai Crickets!! For eating YES!!! The Thai people at these Deep Fried with Salt Crickets as their tidbits & snacks, & they’re supposed to be very nutritious!

Do you have the stomach to try them?! No thanks I don!

And guess what I saw after seeing these Inserts – “Animals” Yes, & I start to scream & run off haha!! Well, if you’ve read my earlier Beijing post, you’ll know what I’m referring to when I say “Animals”! They’re the most horrific Worms!! Yucks Yucks!! I can’t stand them at all!!

Thai family of three in the midst of marketing :

Cutie Thai baby on sling across Thai daddy :

Thai fruits vendor asking us to sample her beautiful shinny skinned Thai Oranges (called “Som Cheng” in Thai) :

Even a local Thai motorist just come stopping by the side of the Fruits stall to do her marketing – a real interesting sight to see!

All kinds of beautiful Greens & Colored vegetables on sales from the floor :

The King of Fruits stall – Thai Durians (or “Turian” in Thai) :

Small & large Thai Guavas (or “Farang” in Thai) :

Thai Florist in the Market :

Such beautiful local Thai Blooms :

Thai man selling Birdie Whistles - I know these & I’ve got one of them too which I bought in Hangzhou (China) 2 years back.

You can blow the Birdie Whistle just like normal, but the magical sounds come aloud once you add water inside the Birdie cos now when you blow it, beautiful Bird chipping sounds are heard!

The Thai local market is a total mixture of everything you can find in the North of Thailand, with the stalls of all kinds be they meat, or vegetables, raw or cooked, all being set up beside one another!

The time now is around 6.30 pm in the evening, & as there’s a School near the Market, many school children have just finished school & are now accompanied by their Moms & Dads to the Market here :

Iced Colored Thai Milk in Bottles :

Raw Thai Birds for sales :

Thai Pigeon Eggs & Cooked Food stall :

Colorful gorgeous Thai Fruits stall :

Thai Seafood stall :

Lots of brown skinned Thai Langsarts & Coconuts (or “Maprao” in Thai) :

Brightly colored gorgeous Thai Cherry Tomatoes :

Thai Sushi, Mixed Salads & Sweets stall – & I get so excited seeing the many packs of Sushi cos I just love them!

We stop to buy some Thai Sweet Corns :

Packets of Thai Mussels :

We’ve now walked one round of one of the streets of the Market, & I notice many of the Thai vendors smile at me whenever I walk past them, guess it’s either my wild brightly colored hairstyle that amuses them, or that they’ve never seen a foreigner so eagerly snapping away photos at everything & everywhere she walks in the Market, or may be it’s the combination of these 2 ha heheh!! 

Well, I’ve put the rest of my photos taken here in the Market in the following Slideshow :

Thai Barbeque Sausages – another popular Cuisine in North Thailand :

Golden prettily shaped Pineapples & huge colored Melons :

Thai Barbeque stall :

Huge Thai Fish being grilled on top of hot charcoals :

Barbeque Meat, Sausages & Don-know-what-food Skewers – but upon closer looks these Skewers look like Grilled Snakes!!?! Oh my Goodness they really look like pretty fat Grilled Snakes to me, with their throats being slit across, but I wonder how right I am?!!

Another Thai Huge Grill stall – Barbeque food is one of the more popularly prepared Cuisines of the Northern Thai people :

Thai Barbeque Fish on Griller :

Deliciously looking big fat Thai Steamed Fish garnished with Sliced Chinese Parsley & Carrots :

We’ve now walked to another part of the Market where there’s a huge sheltered hall with many closed stalls which I think must be the Thai local Wet Market that only opens in the mornings :

Very pretty Tiny Thai Cucumbers – Cucumbers are one of the best & most crunchy vegetables I’ve eaten in Northern Thailand :

Thai Colored Sweets Varities stall :

Thai Home Cooked Food stall :

Thai Desserts stall :

Interesting Thai Rice Dumplings on Pandan Leaves spread :

Thai Roast Duck stall - this vendor strikes me the most cos he sits very straight almost motionlessly behind his stall – heheh so funny so funny even my brother’s staring at him!

Huge Thai Roast Duck & Stewed Duck Wings & Feets :

Thai Goodies stall :

Thai Barbeque Spicy Pork Sausages (called “Kaeb Moo” in Thai) all curled up & displayed on Khantoke Rattan Trays, with Golden Piglets ornaments - how cute & clever of the vendor! 

Thai Rojak stall – with small Crabs stored in the bottom left glass bittle. I’ve eaten this type of Thai Rojak with the tinier Crabs last December when I visited the San Khampheang Hot Spring, & it was so so delicious with the little sour so spicy taste – superb!!

Thai Bread Loaves baked in the old traditional method :

Now we see a sexy Thai Scooter Beauty doing her marketing too by the side of the road!!

And we stop here to buy some Thai Grilled Soy Sauce Chicken :

Well, Dad gives the “Go-ahead” sign & decide to buy from this particular stall cos there’s a Stove griller in this stall which the Thai vendor makes hot the already grilled Chickens (called “Kai Yang” in Thai) by giving them another grill on top of the charcoaled fire.

This way, Dad thinks it’s safe for us to eat since the Chicken will be grilled one more time before it’s packed as the grilling process will kill all unclean unhygienic gems on it!

And so we order 1 whole Chicken & specially request it to be grilled much longer. The Chicken is then cut into 4 quarters & being grilled on the stove over charcoal now:

Mmmmm…….the Chickens look real yummy & we do hope they taste equally good!

Here below is another type of Thai Steamed Chickens sold in the same stall – Dad actually likes this type of Chickens too but he’s afraid that they’re not clean since the stall stands by the busy roadside & cos these Chickens won’t get grilled for us before take-away :

The Thai vendor busy grilling our Soy Sauce Chickens :

Our Thai Soy Sauce Chickens are finally grilled to our satisfaction with the Thai vendor packing them now :

And WOW, see what we find next in the Market as we continue walking on?!

Braised Pig Trotters with Eggs!! Wow, that’s Dad, Mom & my favourite Cuisine too!! Yummy yummy but again we dare not think of buying cos these are not covered at all & the stall is by the roadside too!

In fact, we wonder why most of the Thai vendors we see here in the Market do not cover their food but leave them to exposure & dust & dirt along the so busy side streets, guess it’s for convenience sake when they’re selling & when the locals are buying ha?

But we wish all the food are being covered cos most of them look really delicious & we so wish to try them out! Too bad we’re more concerned & worried for our tummies so we can only just see & walk past them……….

Anyway, we soon come across a huge tall Stove where Squids, Meat Skewers (or Satays), & Fish are being grilled :

We’ve now walked to the end of the Market & NOPE we did not find any Mango Sticky Rice (though we managed to buy some Mango fruits) as we’d planned to come here to buy, cos the shop happens to be closed today!! So disappointing!! Guess we can only get to eat the Thai dessert when we’re back in Chiang Mai tomorrow.

Well, here below is another Slideshow of all my other photos taken in the local Market & of us passing by the Thai local School while walking to our car, And inclusive in the Slideshow is an interesting Thai Song Video about a Thai food vendor preparing his delicious Thai Cuisines & entertaining his guests while they’re enjoying his yummy delicacies :

And well, I really enjoy this evening’s visit to the Thai local Market as it’s an extremely enjoyable one where I get to see its many colorful interesting all sorts of whatever you can imagine or can’t imagine Cuisines & items on sales!!

It’s truely truely another of my best Thai local cultural experiences I’ve had in this Northern region of Thailand!