Baan Kang Wat
Baan Kang Wat is a small community of independent shops and businesses, located in the Wat Umong area opposite Wat Rampoeng. Calling itself a ‘craft village’, Baan Kang Wat is made up of around 10 unique houses, centred around an outdoor communal area and amphitheatre. Nattawut “Big” Ruckprasit, an artist who runs one of the businesses in the community, a ceramics shop called ‘Bookoo Studio’, thought up and designed the community space and houses, says that his aim was to create a unique and close knit community, where all the businesses work together and participate in joint events to create a truly communal neighbourhood.
Although only opened recently in mid 2014, Baan Kang Wat has already played host to a number of different local activities and community events, such as several photography exhibits, an art and sculpture show produced by art students from the nearby Chiang Mai University, and a week long film festival which saw a number of local food and arts and crafts stalls come and set up shop, creating a carnival type atmosphere. It also organises community gardening, craft workshops and art markets. The businesses at Baan Kang Wat currently include a coffee shop and library, a northern thai.
however the shops all seem to have slightly different opening times.
The market is close to Wat Umong, a well known forest temple at the base of Doi Suthep off of Suthep Road. It would be difficult to get a songthaew (red trucks that act as shared taxis) here but you could get a tuk tuk. There’s a good chance they won’t know where it is so make sure to have the name written down in Thai, บ้านข้างวัด, or ask the driver to take you to the back of Wat Ram Poeng (วัดร่ำเปิง) – the market is across from the temple.
