Mae Hong Son, the Town, the City, it's Temples and Walking Night Market

   
     Ploy and I recently took a road trip from Chiang Mai all the way to Mae Hong Son. The road is famed for having over 1000 hair pin curves. In actuality, the road has over 1,800 sharp corners. It a majestic ride through the northern mountains of Thailand. We ran into some rain along the way, and had two close calls, when the front tire of our bike hit slick spots.    That will wake you up for sure, if you have never experienced it before.  Still, we persevered, and made it the rest of the way to the small city nestled in the mountains.

     Please enjoy this post, and look at all of the pictures. We have detailed everything you will find in Mae Hong Son, from the temples, to the lake and the park, to the walking street, and its food vendors, as well as the guest house scene inside the town.

    Above the city is a most revered "Wat," or temple, which has stood looking down and protecting the city for four hundred years.

     The first evening we arrived, after checking into a nice little hotel along the edge of the lake, we drove up to pay respects to the two Pagodas on top of the mountain at the edge of Mae Hong Son. Here are the two Pagodas, in the dwindling evening sun.

   

I love the Palm tree alongside the temple.

     Here is a guard at the temple's entrance. It is a giant stone lion, in full battle armor. The mountains surround the valley of Mae Hong Son.

Thalad Muang Mai (The New City Market) in Chiang Mai Thailand



These giant bowls are filled with fresh Thai Curry Paste.
Look at the varieties, and colors. I would bring these curries
back home if customs wouldn't take them away.

     The vibrant local market along the Ping River in Chiang Mai Thailand is called Thalad Muang Mai. The exact translation is "The New City Market." Touching the river bank, this market is only open at night, and it's vendors begin to show up and set up from about 7-8 PM. The stay until 4-5 AM.
This is the market where Thai restaurant owners come to shop for their produce. Its prices are low, its produce is fresh, and its competition is fierce.

Take a look at these pictures if you haven't been for yourself. This post will give you a good idea of what it feels like to walk and shop in the market itself.
 

Cucumbers, tomatoes, chilies, peppers, carrots, potatoes, mini egg plants,
and cherry tomatoes are among the vegetable this vendor is selling.



Rambutans anyone?



Here are some HOT Chili peppers. Look at the size of these bags.
One bite, and you would be screaming "FIRE!"

These are called Rat Ear Mushrooms.

White Chinese Carrots

I am sorry, I do not know what these are called.
Please comment below if you know their name.



These are in the EGG plant family.
There a number of varieties in Thailand.





Here are the Chili Peppers from another vendor.
Even standing near these bags, I could feel the spice heating up my throat.