Lanna hill house, Chiang Mai Thailand

Wawee paradise coffee shop

Wawee is a chain of coffee shops in Chiang Mai, with a menu that supports locally grown hill tribe coffee and an ethos that represents all that is hip and cool about Chiang Mai.

There are several branches attracting a different mix of people depending on the location. But there is one branch that stands out. It is one of the original branches, tucked away in a side street (”soy”), boasting a large decked tropical garden with mature trees, an ultra cool interior (which is very tasteful), super fast internet and a predominant Thai clientèle.

If you like people watching then this is a great place to be. The mornings are quite, which is great if you have work to do or simply fancy a leisurely read, but by mid afternoon the place is jammed packed with students and professionals. It’s not too noisy though. Thais rarely shout! On some days there is live music in the garden (which can be loud), that is popular with the college crowd. If it’s not to your taste then you can always slink inside and pick out a yummy cake (the chocolate ones are the best) with your “garfair yen ruur rorn” (cold or hot coffee)

Siam Celedon Tea house

Located on Thapae road (not far from Narawat bridge) is the Siam Celedon Tea House. Crafted out of an old colonial style wooden building, dating from 1915, the house is shared with a shop selling high quality housewares, including silks and pottery. Inside ornate cast iron rafters combine with painted wooden panels, to create a feeling of yesteryear. High ceilings and a courtyard with vaulted ceiling add to the airy feel.

The tea shop serves a selection of delicious cakes and a teas, including fruit and herbal teas, Stassen teas imported from Sri Lanka and others from China, India and Japan. Of course there are locally sourced teas too. Cooked western breakfast is available as well as a western lunch menu. A large selection of fruit smoothies should give you an excuse to pop in, regardless of the time of day or how hot it is!

Strawberries in the tropics?

Not many people know about the strawberry season in Chiang Mai. From December through to February they are available from street sellers and supermarkets all around the city. The pleasant winter climate in the mountains is akin to the summer in northern Europe (without the rain) and provides the perfect environment for cultivating strawberries. They are expensive by the standards of what you usually pay for fruit in Thailand, but at as low as $1 a kilo they’re still a bargain.

(Pics: Strawberry promotion at the Mandarin oriental, Chiang Mai, February 2007. Strawberry cake and Tea for less than $3 in one of the most amazing hotels in the world)

Chiang Mai Dentists

Thais make perfect dentists: They are service orientated, dexterous and caring. In the north of Thailand these traits are perhaps more evident than anywhere else. Once more, many of them speak excellent English.

Thailand is one of the biggest exporters of medical tourism in the world. However, visiting a dentist is a safer and more practical bet if you are looking to combine your holiday with some “personal maintenance”. Bookings can be made at short notice and there is little danger of being misdiagnosed. Once more prices are incredible. You are unlikely to pay much more than $10 (£5) for a filling or scaling.

A guest at Lanna Hill House (Mr. Bruce Kidner) commented that the dental treatment he experienced in Chiang Mai was the best he has ever had. His brother is a senior dental consultant in the UK!

We will be posting recommendations of specific dental clinics in due course. All of which we have visited.