After our wonderful Lanna Thai Dinner, we’re now back at Wiang Inn Hotel in Chiang Rai City :

The time now is almost 10pm!! Hmm…….I’ve still got an hour more to the closing of the Night Bazaar in Chiang Rai!! YES YES, let’s go shopping!!

Along the way to visiting Chiang Rai Night Bazaar with my brother & our Thai friend, I stop to purchase these following Thai Hilltribe Post Cards :

Below show 2 Northern Thai Hilltribes Post Cards – the Northern regions of Thailand are strongly colored with 6 main Hilltribes who make their homes in the Highlands - Lahu, Akha, Lisu, Hmong (or Meo), Mien (or Yao) & Karen (or Longneck, or Padung).

These Hilltribes people maintain different lifestyles, each with its own distinct culture, religion, language, & colorful style of dress.

Below are 3 Karen (or Long Neck or Padaung) Post Cards – The Karen Hilltribe people belong to the Sino-Tibetan linguistic family. They’re found along most of the length of the Thai Burmese border.

The biggest in Thailand, their population is about 350000 in Thailand, with over 4 million in Burma. Over the past 200 years, the Karen Hilltribe people have moved eastward away from Burma into Thailand, & they’re considered or called the “Aliens of Thailand“.

You can see from the above Post Card’s right top corner that reads Long Neck Karen – Mae Hong Son – well, these are the Hilltribe refugees who have settled in Mae Hong Son & whom tourists from all over the world usually visit when they come to Northern Thailand.

And I’m sure you already notice the Brass Rings around the necks of these Karen (Long Neck) Hilltribe women in the Post Cards. In fact, these women also wear Brass Rings around their legs & arms.

The rings on the arms are worn from the wrists to the elbows, & those on the legs are worn from the ankles to the knees. It’s the Karen (Long Neck) Hilltribe’s tradition, custom & culture to put on the Brass Rings as a form of beauty, & the women are considered more beautiful the more Rings they have around their necks, arms & legs.

The beautiful Children of the Hmong Hilltribe Post Card – The Hmong Hilltribe people belong to the Meo – Yao branch of the Austro-Thai linguistic family.

Known as the Miao in China, they’re now scattered throughout Northern Thailand after they migrated from China into upland Southeast Asia in the 19th century, to Laos & then to Thailand. The 2nd largest group after the Karen Hilltribe, the Hmong Hilltribe people were specialised as Opium Poppy growers.

Below is the Poppy in the Past with an Akha Hilltribe Woman carrying her Baby Post Card – Obtained from the milky latex Sap of the Opium Poppies, Opium has long been an important cash crop of the Hmong, Yao, Lahu, Lisu & Akha Hilltribe.

Poppies & Maize are usually grown in the same field. Maize is planted in April & harvested in August. In September & October, the Poppy seeds are sown amongst the Maize stalks which protect the young seedlings.

The crop must be weeded several times before harvesting in February or March. A few days after the Petals have fallen, the outside of the flower pods are scored with a 3-bladed knife. The white milky stinky Sap exudes from the pods & dries on its surface overnight. The Sap oxidises to a brown Gum which is scraped off with a broad bladed knife, formed into Balls & wrapped in banana or mulberry leaves, & buried until collection.

Each pod can be tapped several times, & the seeds from the most productive flowers are kept for planting in the next season.

However, the production of Opium has been made illegal since 1959. And in 1988, the Doi Tung Development Project was launched under the initiative of the late mother of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Srinagarindra, or the Princess Mother, as the Thais call her.

Now, commercial & economic agricultural products such as fruits, coffee beans, mushrooms etc are grown instead of Poppies, & the Hilltribe people have become richer, more prosperous & healthier.

Chiang Rai – Mae Sai District Post Card – Mae Sai is the Northernmost district of Chiang Rai Province in Northern Thailand – a major border crossing between Thailand & Myanmar (or Burma).

Well, Chiang Rai Night Bazaar is but only a short straight street from where I’m staying at the Wiang Inn Hotel in Chiang Rai City. And once I step into the bazaar, I see the Thai Northern Hilltribe Dolls which I can’t help but buy more!!

So you see below – my 2 Lisu Hilltribe Dolls inside the 2 colorful handsewn embroidered Hilltribe Bags : 

I must be obsessed with the Lisu Hilltribe in this trip of mine cos I keep buying Dolls – I just bought 2 from the same Lisu Hilltribe before dinner haha!!

Well, not exactly that I’m crazy, cos all the Dolls that are being sold or that I can find are only the Lisu Hilltribe Dolls, besides they’re all so colorful & beautiful that I’m so attracted to them!! Best of all, these Dolls are all handmade, handsewn & handpainted!!

Below shows my Lisu Hilltribe Doll wearing a beautiful long black velvet dress with a wide orange belt with silver ring, with silver jewelries over her neck, & a colorful multi-colored Poms Poms with Streamers silver ornamented Headdress – this type of dressing showing dazzling displays of wealth is typically seen during the New Year Festival (like the Chinese) of the Lisu Hilltribe :

Another Lisu Hilltribe Doll wearing a simple long black velvet dress with a wide red belt, & thick red pom-pom like trim over her neck, & a tasselled turban over her head :

And I jump in joy when I see Thai Northern Hilltribe Souvenirs Magnets on sales in boutique shops along the night bazaar! Being a World Souvenir Magnets fanatic, I can’t help but buy many of the souvenir magnets to add on to my World Souvenir Magnets Collection!

The following photos show the Lahu Hilltribe Souvenir Magnets – called the Musur who originated in Tibet & Southwest China, the Lahu Hilltribe people migrated to Thailand through Northern Burma, & they belong to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino Tibetan linguistic family.

As Lahu means “Hunter“, the Lahu Hilltribe people pride themselves on their skills in hunting & trapping.

The Lahu Hilltribe women wear Thai shirts with bold colors of red, yellow & blue, over sarongs, & they like to sport beautiful necklaces & earrings, usually in silver.

Below are my Karen Hilltribe Souvenir Magnets – with the left elderly Karen woman wearing Brass Rings over her arms, & smoking Opium in a pipe, & carrying a huge basket full of fresh yellow bananas over her shoulder.

The following are the Lisu Hilltribe Souvenir Magnets – the Lisu Hilltribe people belong to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan linguistic family, & they’re considered the best looking people of all the Northern Thai tribes.

The Lisu Hilltribe women wear brightly colored costumes with silver ornamented jewelries, & turbans with colorful streamers over their heads :

Below are 2 Mien Hilltribe Souvenir Magnets – Also known as the Yao, the Mien Hilltribe people are distant linguistic relatives of the Hmong (or Meo), & they originated from China, belonging to the Meo-Yao branch of the Austro-Thai family.

The Mien (or Yao) Hilltribe is the only tribe to use a written language – Chinese, & many display Chinese facial features. And they’re also the businessmen as embroiderers & silversmiths, or high quality paper makers, among the Hilltribes.

The Yao women wear very distinctice long black jackets with lapels of bright scarlet wool adorned with pom-pom like red trims over their necks, & embroidered black turbans over their heads.  

Now, the following is the Hmong Hilltribe Souvenir Magnet – the clothing of the Hmong Hilltribe woman is richly decorated with magnificent embroidery & silver jewelry, with simple brimless black & blue cap :

Below is the Palong Hilltribe Souvenir Magnet – the Palong Hilltribe people belong to the Mon-Khmer branch of the Austro-Asiatic linguistic family, & they originated from the Shan State & Kachin State of Burma & Yunnan in China.

The Palong Hilltribe women wear red sarongs over blue or black jackets with red collar & broad silver waistbands, with one seen here carrying her baby :

And then there’s the Akha Hilltribe Souvenir Magnet below – the Akha Hilltribe is the poorest among all ethnic minorities in Thailand.

Well known for their extraordinary & exotic appearance, the Akha Hilltribe people are historically linked to ancient Lolo tribes that inhabit South Yunnan, belonging to the Tibetan-Burman branch of the Sino-Thai lingusitic family, who came to Thailand in the 20th century.

Chiang Ria was the 1st destination of the Akha Hilltribe, which is the most fascinating & colorful of the Hilltribes, where the women wear very intricate silver jewelries, & eye-catching headgears adorned with all kinds or ornaments like silver, coins, beads & plumes of red taffeta.

Now, let me show you my Elephant Drawing with its Trunk Souvenir Magnet – it’s amazing how clever the Thai elephants are cos they can draw beautifully, which I’ve personally seen last December when I visited the Elephant Camp in Chiang Mai.  

Below are my Elephant Trekking Souvenir Magnets – I fell in love with elephants when I went jungle trekking in Chiang Mai last December!! It was all so much cool & fun!!

Below is my very handsome Jesus of Nazareth Souvenir Magnet in which Jesus Christ is wearing a long white robe & carrying & protecting a baby lamb, with its mother lamb beside.

I’m surprised to find this rare Jesus Christ Magnet among the many Hilltribe Souvenir Magnets, & then I realise cos many of the Hilltribe people have been converted to Christianity, that’s why.

My Karen (Longneck) Hilltribe Key Rings showing the women wearing loose white V-necked shifts with colorful head scarves, & of course the many shinny Brass Rings around their necks :

My wooden Chiang Rai with Dolls Key Rings :

Next I come across a few stores selling more Thai Northern Hilltribe Dolls, but this time they’re in smaller versions & their heads, lower hands & lower legs are made of Porcelains, with the rest of their bodies made of Resin! How special!

And being a Doll lover, especially of cultural dolls, I buy 2 at a go!! But hey, why do I buy 2 of the same Hilltribe doll?! And they’re also the Lisu Hilltribe Dolls, just like the 4 taller Lisu Resin Dolls I already have!!

Haha I must be getting old & boring – told you I’m obsessed with the Lisu Hilltribe earlier haha!!

But well, I still find these 2 Lisu Hilltribe Porcelian Dolls very beautiful & interesting, wearing colorful tunics with silver ornaments, split up the sides to their waists, with black belts.

And on their heads are intricately designed multi-colored pom-poms with streamers adorned with silver ornamented headdresses. And these Dolls are also wearing multi-colored beads & silver necklaces & earrings.

Below store in the night bazaar shows all kinds of interesting unique Fire Lighters – See the 3 “Penis” Lighters – haha my hubby Dear asks me why never I buy that when he later sees this photo when I’m back home in Singapore!!

Haha, actually I want to, cos it’s so unique & special & I’ve never seen a lighter made in that design!! But being so shy cos my brother & our Thai friend are with me, I’ve to let it go haha!!

But the next time I visit Chiang Rai again, I’m sure to come back here to grab it (with or without nobody!!!) hehehehh!!

The time now is 11pm, & most of Chiang Rai Night Bazaar shops are already closing!! How sad, cos I’ve but only shopped for about an hour!! NOT enough NOT enough!!

Well, at least I’m lucky to have purchased this below huge handmade Rattan Bag just before its store closes – such a sweet & lovely bag!!

And I manage to take some quick snapshots of some of the night bazaar’s stores while the storekeepers are busy packing & closing shops!

Cutie Colorful Rattan Bags – I’d have bought one of the below oval shaped Rattan bags (on bottom right) if they’re not so hard when I try opening one of them!! 

Thai carved Soap Candles in exquisitely handpainted round containers :

Now, the shops are all almost closed by the time I’m walking out of Chiang Rai Night Bazaar with my brother & our Thai friend :

A street food vendor by the roadside at the bazaar :

And well, on our way back to our Room inside Wiang Inn Hotel, I stop by the Hotel’s cafe to order some Supper for Mom cos I know she must be feeling a little hungry!

And I have the Supper brought into our room as “Room Service” – a plate of warmly toasted Sandwiches with Bacons, & lots of fresh Salads with Thousand Island Sauce!

Haha, of course my brother & I end up finishing this whole plate with Mom – Hmm………they’re really delicious, especially the crispy tasty bacons & so crunchy so fresh salads!! So yummy yummy!!

And now it’s bedtime & I have the Hotel housekeeper bring me a new set of toothbrush & toothpaste – & NOPE they’re not free but at a cost of 50 baht!

So the next time should you come stay at Wiang Inn Hotel here in Chiang Rai, North Thailand – be sure to remember to bring your own toothbrush & toothpaste!! Or else go grab one at a local Thai shop – I bet they’ll be much cheaper!!

Well, have a good night sleep & sweet dreams to you – I bet I myself will have the sweetest dream ever in Chiang Rai after having spent such a fulfilling day & night; having seen so much of the Northern Thai countryside, & eaten so much great Northern delicacies, as well as bought so many lovely Northern Thai treasures!!

See you tomorrow!!