Thailand - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 750

Kritiya 46 Th Khwang Men. In the atmospheric lanes to
the south of Warorot Market, this small shop is probably
the best place in town to buy bolts of high-quality local
silk at competitive prices. Closed Sun.
Sop Moei Arts 150/10 Th Charoenrat W sopmoeiarts
.com. Gorgeous fabrics - scarves, wall-hangings, bags and
cushion covers - and stylish basketware, with part of the
profits going back to the Karen refugee camp where
they're made.
Thai Tribal Crafts (Fair Trade Shop) 25/9 Th Moon-
muang, near Th Ratchamanka. Non-profit shop with a
wide range of products made by seven hill tribes, from
bags and silverware to musical instruments. Closed Sun.

BARS
Chiang Mai has a huge number of bars, most of which
serve food; Riverside (see opposite) is also a great place
just for a drink. There's a clutch of hostess bars along
Th Loi Khro, but the town generally avoids Bangkok's
sexual excesses.
The Drunken Flower Soi 17, Th Nimmanhaemin.
Laidback and congenial, this quirky venue is a favourite
among twenty-somethings, both Thai and farang . Reason-
able prices for drink and an eclectic range of background
music. Tues-Sun 5pm-midnight.
Jack Van Bar Th Chaiyapoom. Favourite late-late hang-
out, where you sit at outdoor tables on a large forecourt
and order up mean cocktails from a Jack Daniels-sponsored
camper van. Hours are temperamental: usually around
10pm-very late.
Warm-Up Th Nimmanhemin. Hugely popular bar-club
hosting both DJs and live bands, where girls in short
skirts dance around their handbags to pulsating techno
beats. Either chill out at the tables out front or tackle the
madness of the masses within. Daily 6pm-2am.

10

MARKETS
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar Spread expansively around
the junction of Chang Klan and Loi Khro roads, this is the
main shopper's playground, where bumper-to-bumper
street stalls and shops sell just about anything produced in
Chiang Mai. Highlights are the hill-tribe jewellery and
bags, and buffalo-hide shadow puppets. Daily from 5pm.
Walking Streets Th Ratchdamnoen turns into a huge,
pedestrianized market on Sunday evenings, spreading
west from Tha Pae Gate as far as Wat Phra Singh; on offer
are typical northern Thai items such as clothes and musical
instruments, lots of cheap street food and music. There's a
smaller version on Saturday night on Th Wualai.
Warorot Market Bustling daytime market selling food,
cheap cotton, linen and ceramics; there's a pungent and
colourful flower market on its east side.

SHOPPING
Chiang Mai is a shopper's paradise, selling everything from
touristy slogan T-shirts to unique hill-tribe handicrafts. It's
worth shopping around as quality and prices vary, and
don't forget to haggle in the night market, but be prepared
to pay out for quality handmade products.

BOOKS
Backstreet Books Th Chang Moi Kao (just off Th Tha
Pae). The main, equally well-stocked rival to Gecko Books,
right next door.
Gecko Books 2/6 Th Chang Moi Kao (just off Th Tha Pae).
Sells a huge range of secondhand books in a well-
organized display.
Suriwong 54/1 Th Sri Dornchai. The best place for new
books, and also sells maps.

DIRECTORY
Banks and exchange There are banks all over Chiang
Mai, most of which offer exchange facilities and ATMs.
Consulates UK, 198 Th Bumrungrat ( T 053 263015); US,
387 Th Witchayanon ( T 053 107700).
Hospitals 24hr emergency service (and dentistry) at
Lanna Hospital, 103 Superhighway ( T 053 999777,
W lanna-hospital.com), east of Th Chotana.
Immigration o ce 300m east of the airport ( T 053
201755-6).
Laundry Laundry is available at most guesthouses (around
B35/kg) or at small shops and hairdressers across town.
Post o ce Probably the most convenient is on
Th Samlarn near Wat Phra Singh (Mon-Fri 8.30am-
4.30pm, Sat 9am-noon).
Tourist police They have a base at the end of Th Huai
Kaeo at the start of the road up Doi Suthep, but in
emergencies it's best to phone them on T 1155.

CRAFTS AND FABRICS
The road to San Kamphaeng, which extends due east
for 13km from the end of Th Charoen Muang, is lined
with craft shops and factories, including silverware,
lacquerware, ceramics, woodcarving and jade. The
biggest concentrations are at Bo Sang, the “umbrella
village”, 9km from town, and at San Kamphaeng itself,
dedicated chiefly to silk-weaving. Frequent white
songthaews to San Kamphaeng leave Chiang Mai from
the central Lamyai market. In Chiang Mai itself, the
biggest selections of local crafts are at the Night
Bazaar and the Walking Streets. There are several stylish
outlets for clothes and interior design around Sop
Moei Arts on Th Charoenrat, and at the northern end
of Th Nimmanhaemin around Soi 1.

LAMPANG
he north's second-largest town and an
important transport hub, LAMPANG ,