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| Test your shopping quotient in Central Plaza |
entral Udon Thani like any other city province has that subdued less intimidating feels with one common thing - shopping centers.
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| Inside the Central Plaza, you can haggle with small dress shops |
The 3-level mall is built with sophistication and character ready from the call of bargains spread in the basement level for any time the night market comes alive as early as 3 pm. Waiting for that, we paid a visit to a local hairdresser for my sister’s hair fix.
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| The shop is now open for the foot massage |
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| Amulets are sold in the streets and talk about Thai mysticism |
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A songtiao appears to service dwellers on the outskirt of the city
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| Stay under the umbrella with afternoon heat |
While my sister having a hair fix, I took advantage of the spare time sneaking into the streets and its adjacent peculiarities. To note, massage centers and beauty shops are common sightings in public places as well as amulet peddlers. Many Thais believe in the mystical power of amulets and I guess that’s inherent more in culture than religion. Few songtiao or public utility vans were plying the streets that afternoon to take passengers to their destinations as well as private vehicles that many roads look like race tracks.
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The bus is starting to appear on the road
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Few vehicles are plying the streets for an ordinary day in Udon Thani
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Commercial centers look tamed in downtown Udon Thani
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Udon Thani’s main city commercial hotspots are interconnected which makes it a walking distance from each other. That zoning makes structures accessible. and easy to find. Checking the clothes shop downtown, we searched for real bargain deals in one section that was about to open. Having found the apparel and shoes at very cheap prices, we ran towards the opposite mall to chase our hunger where the fast food stood.
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| Front displays of dress shops waiting for thw night market |
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Shopping is a relaxing therapy as we penetrate the bargain hunter area
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Most attendants wore black in mourning for the late King
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Night has begun with the night market unfolding. More varieties of street foods were lining up among the booths as well as apparels in makeshift tents were up for sale. Even in places as far as provincial corners, market hunters and mongers always have its place and Udon Thani has raised that bar.
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| Dining out in Udon Thani has its own territory |
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| Sidings of fresh cut vegetables |
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| Salt-encrusted grilled big tilapia Thailand's must foodie try |
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| Fresh veggies to go with the main dish |
In an open-air dining format, we ordered a combo of salt-encrusted big grilled tilapia with vegetable sidings along with condiments. Thai people really serve them in raw and fresh condition on separate plates that act as appetizers or side dishes. It’s a unique food episode, a glimpse of the Thai food eat-out scene that’s gastronomically satisfying.
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| Another mall's arousing my curiosity |
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| Night market food finds |
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| Sweets in cups |
That day of stopover seemed too short to accommodate the urge to find good deals for a lower price yet satisfying once realizing all the goodies and takehomes have value for money. But in Udon Thani, it's just another episode of shopping itch.
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The Next Mall in Udon Thani has both indoor and outdoor shops and a night market
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Call it a syndrome or it's just another way of saying spend your money here and now while in Thailand daylight or nightlife.
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| A free mobile charging station in The Next |
