Off for a brunch ride to the Flow @ the GT with buddy Michel, another Chiang Khong resident, I get introduced to & totally stunned by a hidden oasis coffeeshop in the middle of the Doi Wao market in Mae Sai, that Michel knows......
A Flow brekky
The Flow @ the GT has a damn good full English brekky with excellent coffee + the most amazing Almond Raspberry croissants.
The best Almond Raspberry Croissants in the North!
For a while too now, I have wondered why they taste so good, and the verdict is, it is the raspberry jam that provides the sensational flavour.
The next challenge is to discover the secret of that raspberry jam @ the Flow.
And then there's always the view to enjoy as well.
More on the Flow here
www.gt-rider.com
and here
www.gt-rider.com
Mae Sai was our destination for the day, with Michel in the hunt for a new helmet, but no luck with the size. He's got a big head.
A fail, in the gent's shopping hunt then, it was time for a cuppa.
Michel says, let's go the garden cafe in the middle of the market.
What's that, a garden coffeeshop cafe in the middle of this market, no way I said. Never heard of it.
Follow me Michel says.
Up the alley way to go, stall after stall selling the same cheap products, and then Michel points out a funky little, narrow, open door.
That's weird I thought?
In we go down a dark tunnel of artifacts & memorabilia.
What a bizarre entrance I thought, what the hell is at the end of the tunnel. A haunted house maybe?
No house, but an open courtyard, absolutely chock a block full of objects of art & memorabilia.
The owner's residence.
The owner Khun Him pops out & greets us warmly.
Michel knows him from a previous visit, when he was first intrigued by that open door, decided to take a chance & venture into the bowels of the Doi Wao market.
The Cowboy Cafe, Mae Sai it is!
The owner Mr Him (his real name), is the son of a Chinese father & Thai mother.
A 3rd generation Mae Sai family he says.
Him spent 30 years living overseas & several years ago returned home.
He's lived & worked in 46 countries around the world, but now he's given up on the West, Thailand is # 1.
On the walls of the tunnel entrance are old framed photo collections as evidence of his world travels.
He has certainly been around & is an interesting character, as evidenced by his Aladdin's cave cafe garden.
Him says he started the Chinese Market part of the Doi Wao market.
He owns his own property freehold, plus 5 other shops in the market that he leases out.
Him has obviously been a man of vision & intrigue. A return visit beckons to get the full story.
maps.app.goo.gl
Thankyou Michel for the excellent tip off.
I'm still astounded finding that truly hidden gem in the bowels of the Doi Wao market.
A couple of pics wandering home down R1290 Paradise Road.
You never get tired of riding here. There are always new interesting places to discover.
A Flow brekky
The Flow @ the GT has a damn good full English brekky with excellent coffee + the most amazing Almond Raspberry croissants.
The best Almond Raspberry Croissants in the North!
For a while too now, I have wondered why they taste so good, and the verdict is, it is the raspberry jam that provides the sensational flavour.
The next challenge is to discover the secret of that raspberry jam @ the Flow.
And then there's always the view to enjoy as well.
More on the Flow here
Sop Ruak - Golden Triangle Restaurants
Mekong Pizza # 1 pizza on the Mekong according to trip advisor Smart indoor aircon dining A thumbs up from Ian Yonok for the best pizza in the region,
www.gt-rider.com
R1290 - Riding the GT Mekong - Paradise Road.
R1290 - Paradise Road - Riding the GT Mekong. R1290 starts @ R1, south of Mae Sai & ends in Chiang Khong, 95 kms away. From Mae Sai it generally follows the border & Mekong river east to Chiang Khong. There used to be an old road R1290 that started downtown Mae Sai & more closely followed the...
www.gt-rider.com
Mae Sai was our destination for the day, with Michel in the hunt for a new helmet, but no luck with the size. He's got a big head.
A fail, in the gent's shopping hunt then, it was time for a cuppa.
Michel says, let's go the garden cafe in the middle of the market.
What's that, a garden coffeeshop cafe in the middle of this market, no way I said. Never heard of it.
Follow me Michel says.
Up the alley way to go, stall after stall selling the same cheap products, and then Michel points out a funky little, narrow, open door.
That's weird I thought?
In we go down a dark tunnel of artifacts & memorabilia.
What a bizarre entrance I thought, what the hell is at the end of the tunnel. A haunted house maybe?
No house, but an open courtyard, absolutely chock a block full of objects of art & memorabilia.
The owner's residence.
The owner Khun Him pops out & greets us warmly.
Michel knows him from a previous visit, when he was first intrigued by that open door, decided to take a chance & venture into the bowels of the Doi Wao market.
The Cowboy Cafe, Mae Sai it is!
The owner Mr Him (his real name), is the son of a Chinese father & Thai mother.
A 3rd generation Mae Sai family he says.
Him spent 30 years living overseas & several years ago returned home.
He's lived & worked in 46 countries around the world, but now he's given up on the West, Thailand is # 1.
On the walls of the tunnel entrance are old framed photo collections as evidence of his world travels.
He has certainly been around & is an interesting character, as evidenced by his Aladdin's cave cafe garden.
Him says he started the Chinese Market part of the Doi Wao market.
He owns his own property freehold, plus 5 other shops in the market that he leases out.
Him has obviously been a man of vision & intrigue. A return visit beckons to get the full story.
Cowboy Café · CVVH+8V8, Wiang Phang Kham, Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai 57130, Thailand
âââââ · Bar
maps.app.goo.gl
Thankyou Michel for the excellent tip off.
I'm still astounded finding that truly hidden gem in the bowels of the Doi Wao market.
A couple of pics wandering home down R1290 Paradise Road.
You never get tired of riding here. There are always new interesting places to discover.
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