Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
authentic handicrafts, talented craftsmen; intrigue around every corner |
| Disadvantages: |
Possible rip offs and no price tags - its all bartering ! |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
The Chiang Mai night bazaar is a wholly original and magical place to shop. As the lights dim in the Northern Thai city, traders fill the streets and underpass with a huge array of crafts, knock off clothing/watches and various types of art. As you walk through the narrowed aisles Thai sellers compete for your attention, from fake designer watches to meticulously carved wood sculptures - this market has it all.
Particular mention must go to the hard working painters in the centre of the bazaar who offer good quality art reproductions or portraits at bargain prices (£15 for a 60cmx60cm print). They are inundated with requests and must work night and day to fufil the high demand that is asked of them. My advice would to buy as much of this artwork as you can afford, prices in western countries would be ten times as much and you will always regret not buying that special piece when your back on home soil.
Competing with the painters talent is the wood sculpters, who paintakingly carve their crafts while squatting on their shop floors. The bulk of the work is replicas of the Buddha but some spectacular show pieces grace the shop walls and would be a wonderful buy if you can afford them. The most time consuming piece may set you back £300 - a massive amount of money by Thai standards, but still a bargain!
The rest of the stalls are made up of counterfeit designer goods, hand-made beeded jewelley and colourful bags, wallets and purses. If your shopping for some souvenirs in Thailand this is the place to do it. Not only does it have the widest range of tourist-interest goods you wll find, but the prices are rock bottom. Combined with the bustling and friendly atomosphere of the place - this shopping experience will certainly be one to remember.
