Saturday, January 28, 2023
Lunch at Woo Cafe

I am in my last week, and have been busy seeing various friends for the last time during this visit. I leave in five days, so today is my last Saturday here. And the day started with breakfast, then a walk to the O2 Gym and a strength workout with Ning, my trainer. These workouts balance my fitness and while challenging, I find them interesting and fun, too. After the workout and the walk back to See You Soon, I was feeling hungry. I cleaned up, and decided to make a return to Woo Cafe. This is a bit of an upscale lunch place, called “hi-so” for “high society.” I was there for what was a very good lunch a few years ago, and have walked by it a few times. So I thought, “why not check it out again.”

Woo Cafe

I arrived at about 2 PM, hoping to be after a busy lunch time. Here is the entrance to Woo Cafe, calling itself a Cafe, Art Gallery, and Lifestyle Shop. It does have a garden feel at the entrance and inside.

Inside, here is the entrance to the front desk for seating, so the garden feel continues.

Many of the people ahead of me had reservations. Since I did not, but was only one, I was seated at a smaller table (fine with me) by a piano that I suspect is more for show than use.

And behind me, the flowers and art gallery feel continued. This is a beautiful restaurant. A little more “hi-so” for my taste, but very nice.

Unfortunately, my table is out of the way and a little out of sight of the wait staff. Once I was ready to order, I was told that my first two choices were sold out for the day. So I ordered fettuccini carbonara, something I enjoy, but seldom order. I also ordered lemon iced tea, and chocolate cake for after my meal. So far, so good.

The pasta arrived fairly quickly, but no iced tea came. And I could not get the attention of a server. I finally got up, went over to where they walk past often, and got their attention and asked for my iced tea. Finally the tea came. Then I finished the pasta, the plate was taken away, and I waited for the cake. And waited, and waited, and waited. I finally had to get up again, get the attention of a server, and then my cake came. It was good, but my impression of their service was not so good.

And, then to get my bill, I again had difficulty getting the server’s attention. The food was good; the service poor. I do not plan on returning to Woo Cafe. I left for the walk back to See You Soon, about 2 kilometers.

Kamphaengdin

On my walk back, I took a photo of the Iron Bridge, known in Thai as Sapphan Lek. This is called the “new” bridge, but it was built bout 50 years ago. I have read that this was built using the former steel Nawarat Bridge as a model. The Nawarat bridge was built of steel in 1923, but the quality of the steel was not good, and after significant deterioration, it was replaced with the current concrete bridge in 1965. I walk over the Iron Bridge a good number of times. Being a one-lane, one-way bridge with wide sidewalks on both sides, it is more pedestrian-friendly than the four-lane and very busy Nawarat Bridge.

From the middle of the Iron Bridge, looking up river, the Nawarat Bridge can be seen in the distance across the peaceful (today) Mae Ping River.

And looking down river, the expanse of the Mae Ping River is peaceful today:

After crossing the bridge and walking up Loi Kroh Road, I came to the intersection of Kamphaengdin Road. The section to my right, Kamphaengdin Road between Loi Kroh and Thaphae Roads is where I first discovered the Kamphaengdin, the earthen second wall around the east and south parts of Chiang Mai. So I turned right to photograph that section of the Kamphaengdin again.

Here is part of the Kamphaengdin clear on the right of the parked cars.

Many people walk down this road and have no idea of what the earthen wall they see is or its significance in Chiang Mai history. Here is another section still existing on the same road:

And a little more of the Kamphaengdin behind the parked car along Kamphaengdin Road, closer now to Thaphae Road:

From there, I stopped to talk to Wan, a lady who is very skilled at Thai massage, then walked up Thaphae Road back to the old city, and back to See You Soon. My time here in Chiang Mai is coming to a close in just a few short days. I have much to do in those few days, and thus may not get out to photograph sights very much.

Next: Final visit to Wat Chedi Luang