Today we visited Ma Ha Cafe as we love going to new amazing coffee shops in Thailand. a great peaceful place to relax and unwind. It has an affiliation with the local temple next door. I believe they serve only snacks like cookies and possibly cake along with their beverage options.

During our visit in June 2020, there was still a little construction going on. Although I would say it is close to 90% finished. After translating the story I feel this place will just get better and better over time.

Translation of the story

So the story is all in Thai I will have Luna translate it for you. I apologize if get slightly wrong as some of the words are hard to translate into English.

The story is quite touching and makes me like the buddist religion more

Inspiration

In 2018
The head monk said I have a hope and dream to become the centre of the village on the 6 rai we have of empty land. He asked all the neighbour’s and people of the village to come to the empty land and to help do something to support the village.
1st invited to plant sunflower plants
2nd to plant a Rice plantation
3rd Vegetable garden
The idea was a community garden. Where people of the village come and take care in their spare time. All the benefits of the produce to give back to the people of the village. If they grew more than they needed they can sell some produce to help to survive
With the main intent to teach
the Buddhist way to share happiness and share benefit and to not be selfish

Start the project

When they first started the Buddhist learning centre project they had a lot of people come to visit to take photo’s and some came to buy produce that they grew. Some people just to come to look at the idea of the project 

Then beginning of 2019 the same head monk has the idea to have a cafe to sell drinks for visitors because it’s hot and people can relax and enjoy the serenity of the area more. After his great idea, it attracted even more people to come to visit.

Between all the monks in the temple and the people of the village, They came together to help create the idea and had everything built in just a 1 year. 

Then they come up with the name MA HA which is hard to translate as its a play on words but in general terms means  “Great” 

They have designed the area to be a mix of local Thai style mixed with modern style.

Come try come chill

Every one who come to visit the shop and project will fill up with knowledge, happiness and leave well rested after tasting quality coffee and enjoy the fruits of the seasons which benefits the local village when you buy.

Come collect good karma

All the money from the project of selling fruits and cold drinks goes to the temple and all the profits goes to the public benefit of the people and extending the project further. 
For visitor’s who come visit, they can relax and enjoy the atmosphere and drinks. They can also feel good because in buying something they have donated to a great cause which supports the project and helps it grow more as well as supports the people.

Come learn

In the Buddhist learning centre, they teach how to grow rice plantations & grow organic vegetables. They also have a banana park (which has many different spices of bananas) 
Another thing the can teach is how to farm many different species of animal’s and how to use the manure as fertilizer for growing organic. The Buddist learning centre has created a network for people who want to learn.

Rama 9 (the previous king) taught the Thai people to live within their means. They do not have to be rich to be successful or have happiness. If you have a small house and can take care of chickens, a cow, grow vegetables or can go catch fish what else do you need to have to have happiness. Not to feel money controls your life. To be happy with what you have around you and learn to survive off your land. This idea has helped influence this project.

Come shop

They changed from teak forest to become a local market to let people in that village come to sell anything they produce or craft on Saturday, Sundays and public holidays to create jobs, to create careers and money for the local people.

Take a look around

Feed the buffalo

You can make a donation of 10 baht and feed the buffalo grass that is placed next to the donation box. There was a massive male who looked a little intimidating at first although he just really wanted some grass.

He was friendly and let me pat him. Supa Larb (the pug) was not to impressed to get so close. There was a calf also who seemed excited and wanting to play with Supa Larb although his confidence was lacking.

Location

To get to Cabo-De-Rama-Fort & Shree Gramdev Temple from Palolem you will need to hire a motorbike. Its mainly country roads but make sure you have an international licence before coming. The police here have roadblocks all the time and pretty much just want to extort you for money. We saw a roadblock every day of riding. If you’re lucky try to not stop or time yourself with a car or truck to give you cover. I was stopped once with Australian Car & Motorbike (C+R) and he let me go when I explained R class was a motorbike, But my Canadian friend wasn’t so lucky. So I really don’t know what the deal is but an International licence is worth it for insurance at the least. Sean had the proper International licence and had no issues. I just left mine in Australia which was no help for me.

CABO-DE-RAMA-FORT

The fort is on the tip there are 2 sides of oceans with spectacular views. There is also a church inside the compound. Entry was free and we were asked by a local upon entering if we wanted a guide which we declined. It’s definitely worth walking straight upon walking through the gate to enter far side. That is the view in panorama photo below.

The fort has some of the best ocean views seen in India. Worth the trip there if you close. But inside there is not much else interesting but a church inside.

Shree Gramdev Laxminarayan Temple

Village View on Motorbike to Above 2 Attractions

House Boat Cruise – Kerala

So part of our 3-day package was an overnight houseboat cruise. It was quite relaxing watching people go by there daily life bathing and washing their clothes in the river, to transporting a whole small boat of freshly harvested rice. There is a whole network of shops set up along the river and narrow canals that you can explore on smaller boats (not houseboats)

I’m not going to leave the details of who we booked our 3 day trip with because I highly don’t recommend them.

The Boat & Food

Room

The View

Watching Locals Go About Their Days

Periyar Tiger Reserve – Thekkady

So as a part of our terrible 3 day trip through Kerala, we arrived at a tiger park for a tiger boat cruise as it was marketed to us. Now don’t get me wrong, The place is beautiful, Just don’t set your expectations too high when it comes to seeing animals! There is a reason they hire out binoculars before getting on the boat. We saw some wild deer as well as a few birds. I had more fun going oohhh and ahhh and WOW! Whist looking into the scenery pointing my finger at nothing having people desperately trying to take photos of what I could see… When I asked the guide on the boat where are all the tigers will I see one? He just laughed and said they are in the jungle. By the way, he said it I don’t think he has seen a tiger there either.
Don’t let me talk you out of going, Just drop your expectations first.

Avoid taking food with you and keep drinks in a bag until on boat. There are wild monkeys hanging around the entrance and we will rob you. We witnessed a lady’s water bottle get snatched bitten through and thrown at her by a monkey. It was pretty funny but scary for her!

Random Animal Pictures

Yes its true. Cows wander freely through the streets everywhere in India.

That about sums up India for me. No real desire to return. I’m not going to complain about it. Just my impressions are. If you want to go and do Yoga or get in touch with your spiritual side. Yep go. Not a great place to party.

We wrote one other piece on India about the food check it out here