Sunday church social, Thai style

Every Sunday evening in Chiang Mai, hundreds of artisans, musicians, food vendors and other street merchants take over a long stretch of Ratchadomnoen Road to peddle their wares at Sunday Market. In high season this pedestrian gauntlet is jammed with tourists and marketeers, but in late June it's a pleasant stroll. My destination is nearby Wat Pan On, to graze among the food vendors before the golden statue in the temple courtyard. Many locals come straight to Wat Pan On for supper, as the prices are especially reasonable and the selection varied.

Walking the two miles to and from Sunday Market is as ambitious as I've gotten this week; several days of cocooning have been relaxing and much-needed, but it's time to get out and see some non-food-related sights.