Here's one of my favorite Thai restaurants. But the picture doesn't tell the whole truth. Directly behind where I am standing to take the picture is an 8-lane "Superhighway."
Many of the main streets in Chiang Mai are congested with traffic. But with a little exploring you can find alternate routes on a quiet soi like this one. A "soi" is a side street adjacent to a major street. They are usually quiet and pleasant to walk.
