Day #3: Locals’ Life.

Wednesday, 2016, 7 January.

The day was relatively relaxing and we started off with a mass group visit to Doi Suthep in the morning. Other than that, we had the rest of the day to ourselves, and we embarked on a short exploration of what it’s like to be a local student in Chiang Mai.

First up was a trip to the Huay Keaw waterfall near the Chiang Mai University (CMU). Yok (the CMU student attached to our group) explained that CMU students would frequent the place to take study breaks and some even brought their work to study there! Indeed, it is a place of tranquility, a rather conducive environment especially for those that enjoy the quiet company of nature.

Afterwards, following Yok’s recommendation, we stopped by a famous chicken rice stall that the locals frequently visited for lunch. And yes, it was delicious indeed. Not forgetting the main purpose of our trip, we then moved on to the Maya Shopping Mall to conduct interviews and surveys. Similar to Singapore, the Maya Shopping Mall is a commercial hub, a congregation place for global brands and retail outlets. Moving on, after a satisfying Thai massage to soothe our aching bodies, we had dinner along the streets of CMU with vendors selling a wide assortment of local delicacies. Yum! Lastly, we ended off the day with a trip to the CMU night market, but not before a campus tour via their tuk-tuk, which functions much like our shuttle buses in school.

By the end of the day, we had already explored four different night markets: the Sunday walking street on the night we arrived, the night market in Chiang Rai, the one just outside Le Meridian and finally, the CMU night market. Such abundance of night markets show how the way of life for the Thais is closely tied to it. Thriving with an expanding tourism industry, the night market is a major source of income for many local families, and it is of great importance to them. This really made me think how tourism has a crucial and direct influence on the locals. And no matter the attitude of tourists that flock to the place, the locals have to accept them with open arms.

In sum, exploring the more local side of Chiang Mai really gave me a greater sense of appreciation for such foreign culture. Their way of life is simple yet amazing. The waterfall is an ideal place to bask in nature, a peaceful retreat in the face of rapid globalisation and urbanisation. The dinner we had along the bustling streets was also an especially meaningful experience where we enjoyed a taste of Chiang Mai.