Day 0: Hello Chiang Mai

When we arrived at the airport in Chiang Mai, we were not expecting such a warm reception at the airport by the Le Meridien hotel staff. They helped us put on garlands made of flowers and ribbon strips, and took photographs for us. This gesture made us feel welcomed and we began our journey in Chiang Mai on a happy note. We were somewhat amused later that the photographs had been developed speedily (in approximately an hour or so) so that we could purchase it outside the conference room after our briefing. Though the garlands were in fact part of a money-making scheme, it was undeniable that the people of Chiang Mai were meticulous enough to carry out the entire process of welcoming us, which was definitely tiring.

We attended the briefing in the conference room and were introduced to the Chiang Mai university students who were attached to our respective groups. The student attached to my group was Fye. She was petite, with curly brown hair. Her deep brown eyes were reassuring and her smile was genuine. She was to be my roommate for the rest of my trip, and I was glad to know that as I could see that she was a rather kind and patient girl.

We went to the Sunday Walking Street for dinner after the briefing. The night market there was operational only on Sundays, 6pm-11pm. On all other days except Sunday, the roads would usually be filled with cars. Hence, most vendors have a full-time job and set up their stalls on Sunday for supplementary income.

The place was bustling and lively, with lots of people, locals and tourists alike, savouring the local and foreign delicacies in a casual and simple setting. Stone tables were in the centre of a perimeter of food stalls, and we managed to grab a seat despite the crowd. I tried the pork rice, mango sticky rice, Thai tea, Northern Thai Noodle (which was a tad too spicy) and Fried Milk (definitely a source of diabetes). The food that captured the tastebuds of both the freshmen and seniors was the Grilled Pork. The sauce was similar to Teriyaki sauce but different in that it was less salty and acceptably sweeter.

We wandered the streets after dinner, and saw many vendors selling a variety of items. It was not like the night market in Singapore, where there would be an excessive number of people selling food items, and one’s clothes would most definitely reek of food and oil after a walk in Singapore’s night market. Comparatively, the Walking Street sported a wider selection and shops were set in the open, allowing the occasional cool breeze. There were buskers too, with one group of people playing a foreign tribal instrument and many gathering to document the moment.

Contrasting vividly against Singapore’s sanitised landscape, the streets of Chiang Mai smelled of local authenticity, and was rich with history. The many bars and nightclubs seemed to suggest a vibrant night life for the Chiang Mai people. However, the Chiang Mai student attached to us told me that people disapprove of girls drinking alcohol. Yet, such a view is slowly becoming outdated, and it is becoming increasing acceptable for girls to hang out at night clubs.

Overall, the trip to the night market was an enlightening introduction to our stay in Chiang Mai.