Chiang Mai was one our our prime furniture/accessory/antique sourcing areas for many years when Marla and I had our business. Only an hour flight north of hyperactive Bangkok, it has an unique old city charm with walls and moats and hundreds of beautiful and often elaborate Buddhist temples. We took our two oldest grandsons to Thailand in 2019 then returned last July with grandsons Vaughan and Owen. They are admiring the view from the Horizon Club room of the Shangri-La Hotel.

The Shangri-La has been our go-to Chiang Mai hotel for many years and offers great value, especially at their Horizon Club level, for extra amenities. It is walkable to many of the city’s landmarks and places like the Night Market.

The boys really like their room.

Marla and I planned our trip so we could attend the Sunday Walking Street Market. It opens around 4pm and runs along Ratchadamnoen Road from the ThaPae Gate and is closed to car traffic. The market finishes about 10pm.

The street is filled with hundreds of stalls selling everything from food, jewelry, art, and antiques to fashion.

Owen was on a shopping mission to find a new necklace.

Wat Phan On with its glimmering golden chedi is on Ratchadamnoen Road. During the Sunday Walking Street Market many stalls set up on the temple grounds.

Owen is next to a giant gong at the temple.

I found a small dealer of antiquities at the temple I haven’t seen in many years. Marla took this of me at the same place 10 years ago. Grandson Owen was so busy observing my bargaining he forgot to take a photo. I purchased an antique Burmese puppet head and a few bronze bells.

The next 3 photos were taken by Vaughan. We left the market and walked up Rathchapakhinai Road toward a restaurant for dinner.

Owen and I head up the street.

Marla stops to admire the chedi at Wat Pan Ping.

As we continued up the street we walked into the enchanting grounds of Wat Umong Mathathera Chan.

An ancient chedi on the temple grounds. This area was a new discovery for us. Chiang Mai has many wonderful ancient sites like this to explore and admire.

We finally came to our destination, Annie’s Restaurant. I researched in advance suitable restaurant menus for Marla’s need for low-sodium because of her heart failure.

Annie’s is popular for expats and tourists alike.

Vaughan and Owen both ordered chicken Pad Thai and really loved it!

Vaughan and Owen wanted to do some exploring on their own after dinner then take a tuk-tuk back to the hotel later in the evening. They left while Marla and I waited to pay our restaurant bill. We spied Owen outside a place next door. Asking, “Where is Vaughan?”, he said he was inside playing chess. It turned out his opponent was Chiang Mai’s 9-year-old chess champion! (Vaughan is a pretty good chess player, but the kid beat him 3 games of 4.)

Archer’s is a popular haunt for expats and even locals who love chess and a good beer.

Vaughan took pictures of the Sunday Walking Market later in the evening after we headed home. It was still busy!

Owen posed next to a giant Transformer busker outside the market at Tha Phae Gate on their way back to the hotel. The boys loved their independent excursions as this was really a first in a foreign country. We were very proud of them. 15 year-old resourceful Owen discovered Grab for us! It is a very good transportation service similar to Uber. We used them all over Southeast Asia and really loved the service!

Photos: Dick Gentry and Vaughan. Not to be used without permission.