An expert's guide to shopping in Chiang Mai......

The headline to this page "An expert's guide to shopping in Chiang Mai" is not strictly the truth. Actually, my wife Helen is the expert, mainly because she spends most of her time doing it (the little darling).

She has a couple of friends and they can spend whole days in the various department stores and plazas. To their great credit, they don't always buy stuff (crawl), but they have a wonderful time window-gazing and of course, lunching.

The reason that they can do this is that the buying facilities in this city are superb. Unlike modern western cities, here we have modern precincts standing side by side with traditional Thai shops and markets. Just about anything can be obtained here, from traditional Thai artefacts to modern digital products.

Clothing here is ridiculously cheap compared to the West. Many designer labels can be bought here for silly prices and copies are even cheaper.

A visit to the famous Night Market and Night Bazaar in Chang Klan Road is a must for residents and visitors alike.

Don't be afraid to bargain. The vendors here love to negotiate and it's all part of their culture to do so. But, as you push your way through the crowded sidewalks or pavements, don't forget that the stallholders have to make a living too! I usually offer about half their starting price and end up paying anything between the two. You may be able to do better.

But not all buying takes place here. At Kad Suan Kaew or Central to give it it's Western name, you'll find a large shopping complex, with modern departments stores alongside smaller Thai-style shops. Central Airport Plaza shopping, just next to the Airport, is an even more modern four floor shoppers' paradise, with one whole floor devoted to electronics, computers and telephones and a wealth of fashion and eating establishments.

Great shopping can also be had at Carrefour supermarket, on the Super Highway, the inner ring-road around the city. Hop into a tuk-tuk or a sohng-tao and you'll get to any of these places in super-quick time.

Thai people love markets

The Thais love a market and you'll find open-air markets everywhere you go. The most famous is the Sunday Walking Market in the Old City, which only takes place on Sunday evenings. At this huge market, you can buy just about anything from one of the thousands of stalls and while you're wandering around, you can eat dinner from the various food stalls along the way. Take a tu-tuk to Tapei Gate and walk into the Old City to your left, after 5pm any Sunday.

Ruam Chok or Meechok Market is located on the Mae Rim Road, going North out of the city. This market specialises in fruit and vegetables but stalls selling meat, fish and anything else you can think of can be found here also. Rimping Supermarket is part of this complex, specialising in Western foodstuffs, wines and spirits.On Monday and Tuesday evenings they hold special evening markets here in the car park, so it's wise to get there early in order to park. At these evening markets they sell anything, from clothes, shoes and make-up, to jewellery and food.

If it's flowers you need, try Warorot Market, just over the bridge of the sake name, on the banks of the river Ping. It's a bit like a rabbit warren but they specialise in blooms here, although as in most Thai markets, you can buy most things there.

Also, here in Thailand, the people like to buy gold. I know we would all like to buy gold, but here there's a gold shop on nearly every corner. The gold here is of higher quality and a lot cheaper than in the West. If you have some cash to invest, you could do worse than buy some Thai gold.

Give yourself a treat. Come and browse these excellent Thai markets when you can. You won't be disappointed.

We actually buy all our vegetables at the markets because they are always fresh and much, much cheaper than the supermarkets.