S.P. Publishing Group Co., Ltd. 11/1 Soi 3 Bamrungburi Rd., T. Prasingh, A. Muang., Chiang Mai 50200 Tel. 053 - 814 455-6 Fax. 053 - 814 457 E-mail: guidelin@loxinfo.co.th

	---> MORE Features/Stories: _________________________________ Close Shave in Chiang Mai HALLOWED GROUND GOLFING WITH THE GHOSTS European Union Film Festival 2009 THAILAND'S SURVIVORS - Wonderful creatures BEYOND THE SEA - Chiang Mai's unseen industries THE ASTONISHING SUCCESS OF BEER LAO THE ANGRY JAO TEE - A true Chiang Mai story Kong Lor Cave: Remarkable Treasure in the Heart of Laos KHAOSAI GALAXY: THAILAND'S GREATEST WORLD CHAMPION The Wild Elephants of Laos Up Close and Personal A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE: Chiang Mai's Sunday Market What on earth do Thai people have to smile about? CHIANG MAI - HUB OF INTERNATIONAL CRICKET FANCY A MAGICAL SPELL BY THE SEA? A DANISH HERO IN CHIANG MAI WHITE BOVINE SHINES at Four Seasons Resort Buffalo Camp Why Wai? Why do Thai people wai? 'Monk Chat': Interactive Visiting at Wat Suan Dok Doi Suthep Pui: Chiang Mai's Defining Mountain THE MYSTERIOUS WHITE CHEDI Weird and Wonderful Chiang Rai OF KITES AND KINGS - AND LOTS OF OTHER THINGS TOO Ganesha: God of Art and Remover of Obstacles CHINESE NEW YEAR THE CHIANG MAI WINTER FAIR: Don’t Miss It Five Fantastic Days in Chiang Mai European Union Film Festival 2007 Doing the Mae Sot Loop Firearm Fun in Chiang Mai HERMIT SUTHEP: Founding Spirit of Wat Doi Suthep CHIANG MAI PUB CRAWL II With an Addendum CHIANG MAI WEATHER GOES OFF THE GRAPH - AGAIN!! Chiang Mai Pub Crawl: A Shock and Awe Campaign Chiang Mai Shooting Club and ATV Park The Meditation Retreat THE AMAZING SURVIVAL OF A PRECIOUS TIGER ANGKOR AS IT WAS, ALIVE AND BUSTLING UP TO THE MAE SAI BORDER AND ACROSS TO TACHILEK THE WANDERINGS OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA LUANG PRABANG Dowager Duchess Sitting Pretty Exploring Kong Ta Walking Street ELEPHANTINE Coup for N. Thailand BIKING IN CHIANG MAI Durian - King of Fruits (but a bit of a ponker) Back to Battambang RESURRECTION OF THE CHIANG MAI SIXES TEXTILES WITH A HISTORY THE GENTLE ART OF WALKING THE (CHINESE) YEAR OF THE DOG AHEAD OF US EGGHEADS OF THE NORTH - REJOICE! The 4.p.m. from Chiang Mai to Bangkok Mountain-biking up Steep Doi Pui Close Shave in Chiang Mai A Trip to Nan: In Nature's Embrace The Rice Birds: Folktales from Thailand THE EUROPEAN UNION FILM FESTIVAL 2005 UP THE PING RIVER with a paddle A Model Weekend at Lisu Lodge It's not full-scale War... it's just Paintball !!! TWO WHEELS UP DOI KHOM RONG The Spa Boom - What's in it for Men? THE LONG JOURNEY HOME Riverine Life in Thailand FINDING THE REAL THAILAND: at the Dalaat Pratu Gom Ang Khang in the rain SWAN LAKE IN CHIANG MAI: The Chiang Mai Ballet Academy THE GYMKHANA CLUB: In the Shade of the Big Tree LISTENING TO THE DEAD: The Chiang Mai Foreign Cemetery MOO KHA TA: A NEW WAY OF EATING CRICKET EXPERIMENT BACKPACKING IN VIENTIANE FLYING INTO HISTORY GETTING ABOUT IN CHIANGMAI SUBURBAN WILDLIFE: Nest-building ants DOCTOR WITH A DIFFERENCE THE STREET VENDORS: A story worth dying for AN EARLY MORNING STROLL DECORATING YOUR GARDEN WITH A BUDDHA KHRU BA SRIVICHAI: THE SAINT OF DOI SUTHEP OASIS IN THE CLOUDS: Rejuvenation in a Secret Valley

You Don't Have To Travel To The Moon

"Put her on the moon, and she'll make a great astronaut." That is what a close friend of Raffaela Marongiu had to say about this Chiang Mai expat, originally from Sardinia, Italy. And she may be right."

When asked how Chiang Mai became her home, the Italian travel agent answers simply, "Muay Thai (kick boxing)." And why wouldn't she? Chiang Mai is home to several Muay Thai kick boxing camps and two Muay Thai stadiums. But this small-framed travel agent, fluent in five languages, doesn't strike you as the kick boxing type at first glance. After her initial answer, Raffaela explains that while she was a camera woman making films in Italy, she worked on a project with a colleague who had studied Muay Thai for more than a decade. After hearing so much about the Thai sport, Raffaela became very intrigued and began training in Italy. She later decided to visit Chiang Mai for a three month training spell at Lanna Muay Thai kick boxing camp.

After her first visit to Chiang Mai, it wasn't long before a chance meeting at a Thai festival in Italy landed the young cinematographer a job as a travel agent here; guiding visitors to the many "must see" spots of Chiang Mai. Frequent visits to nearby Mae Ping elephant camp introduced Raffaela to Mae Chaem native, Sinchai Jarernbanpot.

Owner of four elephants, Sinchai Jarernbanpot is an elephant driver at Mae Ping elephant camp who, having got to know Raffaela, began visiting Chiang Mai. As these visits grew more frequent (and after traveling to Italy with Raffaela), Sinchai decided to open a cafe with his sister, Fai. Having recently completed her kitchen studies, Fai was able to recreate (with the help of her brother and recipes sent from Italy by Raffaela's mother) some of Italy's finest cakes and cookies; thus, becoming the proud owners of Cannella Caffe, Dolci Italiani.

Everything at Canella Caffe is made from fresh, preservative-free ingredients. The shop is full of delights, such as butter cookies, biscotti, tiramisu, crostata, cakes, and much, much more. A whole soft yogurt cake can be ordered with just an hour and a half's notice, and even be made gluten-free. Saturday's feature homemade pizza, salad can be ordered any time, and a whole loaf of sourdough or whole wheat bread can be made especially for you for only 50 baht. The restored Thai-style wooden structure is abound with cappuccinos, lattes and mousse coffees, and the free Wi-Fi might be all you need to slip out of the office for an afternoon treat or to plan your next Chiang Mai adventure. The cafe's walls are adorned with photographs, taken by Raffaela, of some of Thailand's most beautiful attractions, and the garden, surrounded by a pink and green picket fence, offers up a tranquil and tasty opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Chiang Mai city.

Asked to name a few of her favorite Chiang Mai delights, Raffaela Marongiu replies, "Ah, Sunday market. It's something like… ahhhh. All my friends love it." She goes on to explain where each of her favorite foods is located (such as fried chicken and sushi) and says, "I know all the ladies!" Another of her favorite foods is the fried pork at Warorot Market, and she loves to visit the Muang Mai Market for fresh produce. About her favorite fish from a nearby Isaan restaurant, an Italian accent exclaims, "Ah, I can die for that fish!" But Raffaela speaks of none of these with as much passion and enthusiasm as she does for the elephants. She shows us numerous photographs of Sinchai's elephants being bathed in the river and is overjoyed about the latest, a newborn. Raffaela travels regularly to visit the elephants and doesn't seem to be making plans to leave Chiang Mai any time soon.

So, I guess you don't have to put Raffaela on the moon to see how capable she is of finding the best in life, wherever she is. And when you live in a city like Chiang Mai, who needs to go to the moon?

This month marks the one-year anniversary of Cannella Caffe. If you're still not sure what to get your sweetheart for Valentine's Day, consider one of Cannella Caffe's homemade, heart-shaped cookies, made just for you!

Cannella Caffe - Open Tuesday-Sunday 8:30 am - 7:30 pm. Free Wifi.

Text : Martha Berner
Images : Courtesy of Cannella caffe, SP.