Hello everyone 🌸

Before diving in, since this is my first post in the WORLD OF XPILAR community, let me introduce myself to those of you who don’t know me yet.

I’m Bua (บัว in Thai, meaning lotus flower), @baiboua (ใบบัว) on Steemit, which means lotus leaf. I’ve been living on Phuket Island🇹🇭 for over ten years, sharing the island’s hidden treasures, cultural gems, and history here on Steemit. To catch a glimpse, feel free to check my profile.

Today, I’m taking you to an extraordinary spot designed with photography lovers in mind. Welcome to the Ma Doo Bua Café (มา ดู บัว ภูเก็ต). If the name hints at something, it’s intentional: “Ma Doo Bua” translates to “come see the lotus flowers.” 🌺

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_{Lotus flower from my garden}

The lotus flower is deeply symbolic in Thai culture. Rooted in Buddhism, it represents purity, renewal, and spiritual awakening. You’ll find lotus flowers decorating temples, gracing home altars, and even symbolizing Thai festivals. Because of their resilient beauty and cultural significance, many Thai people, myself included, love having lotus flowers in their gardens as a reminder of nature's simple elegance. 🌸

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Ma Doo Bua Café is located in the north-central part of Phuket, just about ten kilometers from my home—a quick 15-minute drive with my husband and young son.

From the outside, this café/restaurant might seem unassuming, revealing just a glimpse of traditional Thai architecture with its three distinctively Thai rooftops. Thankfully, parking is easy to find, so you can start your visit without any hassle.

The main attraction at Ma Doo Bua Café is its fully landscaped lotus pond situated at the heart of the Ma Doo Bua Stay, a hotel made up of small, traditional wooden houses. But let’s not rush—this place has much more to admire. So, let’s step inside and take a closer look.

At the entrance, we were warmly greeted by friendly, smiling staff (after all, we are in the Land of Smiles 😊). They kindly explained the concept behind Ma Doo Bua Café and asked where we’d like to sit. The café offers several seating options: indoors with a bit of privacy, a covered area overlooking the pond, and another spot right up close to the lotus pond for the best view.

They also asked if we’d like to book a photographer for more professional photos, including drone shots. When I saw the line and the price—over 1,000 baht (about $30)—I decided to pass. My smartphone and my husband’s camera would do just fine for this visit! 555 😄

_{555 means "hahaha" in Thai because the number 5 is pronounced "ha." You'll see it often if you're chatting with Thai people—it's our way of laughing online!}

In addition to being a café and restaurant, Ma Doo Bua Café also offers massage services, a clothing shop, and a variety of souvenirs that guests can bring home for loved ones.

Wandering around like this, we weren’t making much progress, 555! The place is a series of small spaces and houses to explore. But with my husband’s and son’s stomachs starting to rumble, it was time to settle down at our table. We’d continue our exploration after we’d satisfied our appetites.

As usual, and to follow his dad, my young son started off with a refreshing Coca-Cola. I opted for something more traditional—a Foi Thong (“golden threads” in Thai), made from sweetened egg yolk threads, paired with a chilled Thai milk tea.

For our meals, we chose something light. My husband opted for a Caesar salad, and my son went for a classic stir-fried basil chicken with a fried egg and rice.

While my two food-loving guys enjoyed their dishes, I took the chance to snap a few photos of the stunning lotus flower pond right in front of us. After all, it’s the main reason we’re here! 🌸

I have to admit, the view is truly worth it!

On either side, you can see the charming traditional Thai wooden houses that serve as the hotel accommodations—they’re in for a real treat!

As usual, my husband couldn’t resist snapping a photo of me while I was taking pictures myself! He pulled this same trick in my post ☀️ Witness the Magic of Sunrise at Chalong Bay Pier 🌅 Phuket 🏝️ Thailand

After soaking up the beautiful sights, I went in search of some shade—the heat was definitely making itself felt! Driven by my curious nature, I decided to resume my little exploration, which I’d had to pause earlier to satisfy the appetites of my two food-loving guys.

I started with this adorable little shop

Next was the Baba Closet rental service, offering Thai dresses and traditional Phuket outfits like Baba Yaya costumes. These add an extra special touch to photos taken by the lotus pond.

But time was passing, and my two guys were starting to get restless, ready to head home. With one last look at the lotus pond, we made our way back, feeling deeply satisfied from yet another memorable outing on this island I love so much—my home, beautiful Phuket.

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey! 🏝️ I hope you enjoyed experiencing the Ma Doo Bua Café, and I can’t wait to take you along on my next adventure! 🌏

Until then, stay curious, stay adventurous, and I’ll see you on the next post!

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to leave a comment—I'd love to hear your thoughts! And if you'd like to support my work, a resteem/reblog would be greatly appreciated. 🌸

Sawadee kha! 🙏
@Baiboua-|- 🌸 My Achievement 1 post: Greetings from Phuket 🏝️ Thailand 🇹🇭