Fah Thai Magazine Jan-Feb 2018

HAPPENINGS
THAILAND
CHIANG MAI
SPOTLIGHT
Hippocampus Getaway
Hippocampus is an escape from the
chaotic city life for both the owners and
their guests. The Thai couple fled their
busy lives and settled on a beautiful
piece of land in Chiang Dao – which
offers a priceless mountain view. They
first designed and built a comfortable
abode and lived in the “Baan Noi (small
house)” for a certain period. Now as
proprietors, they offer a corner of their
paradise to homestay guests.
Hippocampus is a café, gallery (the
male owner is an artist) and homestay
rolled into one. The owners now stay
in another house they have just built
and the addition of another small
house called “Baan Yung” has been
added. Little in size yet comfortable,
the wooden house was formerly a rice
barn that has been renovated. Guests
can come and share the beauty of
nature with the two owners. It is highly
recommended that you book in
advance – for the reason that
there are only two houses for
rent but also because booking
ahead allows one of them to
prepare the ingredients for
your meals. The food here is
freshly cooked and freshly
baked. Hippocampus serves
a homemade breakfast and a
nice gourmet coffee. Guests
can stroll along the farm where
people plant rice, mulberries,
coffee and passion fruits,
among others. There is no TV
in the rooms so guests can
enjoy what nature has to offer.
At night, stargazers can marvel
at the panoramic view of the
sky – which sums up the very
reason why the owners and
their guests are there.
334 Moo 12, Chiang Dao,
Chiang Mai, facebook.com/
HippocampusChiangdao,
open between Thursday and
Monday from 9am - 6pm
BOOKISH BUFFALO
A relaxing shop with great coffee and second-hand English books for children and young
adults, “Bookish Buffalo” just opened in October this year. The owners are book and coffee
lovers so they have filled the place with a great selection of both. Firmly believing that all kids
should be encouraged to read or have access to good books, the owners bought plenty of
second-hand English books from the UK and sell them at very affordable prices.
The shop has comfortable bean bags for kids to
spend time reading or selecting books for as long as they
wish. Outdoor tables let you enjoy the mountain views,
while indoor ones allow parents to spend time with their
children. Named after ‘Nong Khwai’, the sub-district where
it is located, Bookish Buffalo is quite close to the Chiang
Mai Night Safari intersection. Located on a large field
where the owners plant organic vegetables for personal
consumption, they are also happy to share produce with
customers at reasonable prices. It opens from 8.30am to 6pm
on weekdays, but closes every Wednesday, and from 9.30am
to 5pm on weekends and public holidays.
facebook.com/bookishbuffalo
THE SWEETEST QUALITY
What’s considered popular food in
Chiang Mai isn’t just all about Northern
specialties. One of the lesser-known gems
in the city is a street food shop called “Tao
Huay Savoey.” They sell Chinese desserts
like “Tao Huay” (silken tofu in ginger tea)
and “Bua Loy Nam Khing” (black sesame
dumplings in ginger tea) with gingko as an
add-on ingredient. Prices start at about
50 cents (USD) for a basic bowl and about
$2 for a bowl featuring a combination of
everything in ginger tea.
What makes this shop stand out is
the sweet tea soup which gives a strong
and refreshing taste of ginger, unlike a
new generation of commercially-made
“Tao Huay”. Another main difference is
the thinner flour wrapping for the sesame
dumpling, giving it a softer bite with an
authentic burst of the stuffed sesame. It
opens twice a day – in the morning from
6am to 9am at No. 3 Soi Sirimangalajarn
and in the evening from 5.30pm to
9.30pm at the mouth of Soi Sirorot off
Suthep street, not so far from the morning
shop. In case you can’t find the shop, call
+66 (0) 86 916 9856 or +66 (0) 53 894 103.
98