One Nice Evening In Takayama

Previously:
Gifu Prefecture 5 Days 4 Nights with Japan Airlines

The weather, the town, and the food temptation are too nice to be missed.  Although physically begging for some rest but my mind was dragging me out from hotel to enjoy the town has to offer.  The breeze always fresh in here even though slightly chilly from the melting ice left from winter around this early of March.  My food menus in this trip, mostly repetitive from my previous trip in Takayama.  Because what we had before were all good and I missed those flavors.   

First stop was this Hida beef shop.  The food taste was still as good as what I remembered.  It is a little price though for little portion of beef.  Understandable as they used high quality of beef.  But there are getting more and more popular among the tourists as well unlike in the past.  

Hida beef bowl (prime) ¥2,420

The char-grilled beef was so tender and smeared with the sweet sticky sauce which totally well-matched the meat.  I definitely need more than just four thinly sliced beef.

It was a nice afternoon with a clear blue sky while strolling the city.  The old town of Takayama is full of Japanese merchant houses charms and real-life Edo period (not museum).  There are so many things to see and buy in this Sannomachi Suji area.  From visiting shrines, museums to buying sake and souvenirs.  There are also a lot of small stalls or restaurant selling Japanese delicacies to try for.

7-eleven with a touch of Japanese-style wooden house

Must try: Japanese matcha green tea ice cream 250¥

Another must try: Hida beef A5 skewer 1,000¥

Another great snack here in Sannomachi is this beef nigiri.  The queue was absolutely not worthed to join today, so we just gave it a miss.  You can read from my previous blog for the review though.  Instead, we went to had some sweets right across from the sushi shop. 

What we had here: hot match green tea, creme brulee, zenzai (sweet red bean soup with dango), and green tea ice cream.  They were all delicious, especially the cream brulee.  They absolutely executed the crackling burned sugar top and the custard was creamy with the right level of sweetness.  The red bean soup was nice as well, to warm up our palate in this cold weather.

perfect sugar crackling on top

Takayama is actually famous with their fresh apples, however for me, more like the city of strawberry.  Not a single day of my trip this time that passed by without strawberry.  These red goodies were so plumpy, juicy and deliciously sweet and of course extremely fresh.  There are a few different prices for different sizes.  Mostly bigger is more expensive, so whatever you prefer.  But they all were gooooood.

Kajibashi(Hida beef)
3 Chome-62 Honmachi, Takayama
Ph: +81 577 32 0473


茶乃芽 (dessert)
83 Kamisannomachi, Takayama
Ph: +81 577 35 7373


Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:
Kanazawa & Shirakawa-Go (Part 1)

Gifu Prefecture 5 Days 4 Nights with Japan Airlines

It's always nice and convenient to fly direct to everywhere especially with full-fare airlines.  From Bangkok to fly to Nagoya directly took us around 6 hours.  We totally need this comfortable flight as our journey not only stop in Nagoya, we will then need to catch train straight away to go to Takayama and stay there for 3 nights.  The in-flight food was OK, but the best part is I could get the plum wine and sake to accompany me while watching in-flight movies.  

They only served breakfast menu the next day

We caught Mietetsu Line train from Chubu Centair International Airport to Nagoya then exchanged our JR Pass (JR Takayama-Hokuriku Pass) at the Nagoya station before catching the Hida Wide View train to go to Takayama.  Because our type of JR Pass did not cover the airport line.

This is the Nagoya station map 

Btw, for your information.  For the first timer of JR Pass users, you firstly need to validate the JR Pass at the JR information center then book your train timetable at the ticket office.  The office is located opposite each other.

Tonkatsu pork sandwich for our lunch

From Nagoya station took another 2 and half hours train ride to arrive at our destination, beautiful old town of Takayama.  It was a really exhausted and long day for us.  Once we arrived at the hotel, I honestly just wanted to take a rest or maybe NOT!!!! Who knows, how I feel like at that time...... Let's find out...

We went there around early of March.  And my purpose and hope, of course to still be able to see some left over snow.  In Nagoya, I could not see any snow.  Then after I woke up from my short nap on the train, it was somewhere near Takayama already, I opened my eyes and glared at this shining white covered grounds.  I was so excited and happy.  From there, more and more white covered the little town.

Best Western lobby hotel

We stayed 2 nights at this hotel.  The location is very close to the station, only 2 minutes walk from Takayama station and the staff has pretty fluent english.  The room is slightly bigger than any standard Japanese hotel with very western style decorations.  Although the bed is always to small for us couple with a young kid.  However, I still can walk comfortably after putting my luggage.

Best Western Hotel Takayama
6 Chome-6, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture
Ph: +81 577 37 2000


Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:
One Nice Evening in Takayama

Nana Beach Resort, Chumphon

Previously:
Suan Nai Dum (Garden of Black Uncle), Chumphon

On the last night, we stayed at the Nana Beach Resort, Chumphon.  To break the long driving journey to Bangkok.  It was a quite and peaceful resort by the beach.  Although not much activities offered from this hotel but just a nice stroll at the beach in the morning on your own and swim in the quite swimming pool were totally rejuvenated our soul and body. 

At that night, we ordered a room dining food to share with the family.  We had the range of authentic Thai dishes, such as pork basil, fried rice, omelette with minced pork, tom kha kai and pad see ew.  There were all delicious and big portion as well.   

In room dining with authentic Thai cuisine

Breakfast buffet

Like your own private beach

Immigration gate Thailand and Myanmar

Had a sip of Myanmar tea

Nana Beach Resort, Chumphon
10/2 Moo 8, Saphli, Chumphon
Ph: +66 77 622 999

Suan Nai Dum (Garden of Black Uncle), Chumphon

Previously:
Royal Taste Dim Sum, Krabi and Dinosea World Park, Phuket

This place is actually a coffee shop and plus plus, which is located on the Highway 41, Chumphon.  The toilet-theme cafe is more for people to resting while sipping some nice coffee and for toilet break as well.  There are so many styles of toilet from the normal to the fancy butt-shaped room.  It is definitely worth to see and so many to explore in this park.  They are actually famous for their luwak coffee.  Wile you were there, it is also good to have a look the OTOP products and souvenirs for gifts for friends and family. 

Kopi Luwak (Luwak coffee - hot for 199 baht)

Giant s*it  seat

Suan Nai Dum
Highway 41, Thung Tako, Chumphon
Ph: +66 7753 6338 9


Stay tuned for the next blog still in Chumphon:
Nana Beach Resort, Chumphon

Royal Taste Dim Sum, Krabi And Dinosea World Park, Phuket

Previously:
Knomjean Ko Choi, Krabi City

Early in the morning we had dim sums breakfast from one of the famous dim sum restaurant in Krabi city.  Pretty similar style with the one in Hat Yai but in here was less hectic and the service was far better.  We need to choose whatever dim sum we want, then the waiters will heat them up and serve them on our table.  Great range of choices from classic style dim sum like shaomai, bbq pork bun to more fancy dishes like chawanmushi (steamed egg) and mussels.  They also serve a delicious and herbally ba-kut-teh.  Warm and hearty spare ribs soup that goes well with a bowl of steamed rice.

bakuteh

After spent a short one night in Krabi City, we keep heading further down south toward Phuket.  On the way we stopped at the water theme park, called Dinosea World Park.  The theme park is decorated with soft rubber dinosaurs, some can even move and make a noise too.  The water park is so huge and is actually great for racing-like water sport competition.  We tried only for the junior one and it was already pretty hard for me who lack of exercises.  I even lost to my own son who only 5 years old at that time.  The challenge stages were too hard or I was just plainly unfit???

Dinosea World Park, Phuket

Adult zone

junior zone

The scariest challenge is this 6 meters jump.  Are you dare??

Royal Taste Dim Sum (Racharos Dim Sum), Krabi
Utarakit Roak, Pak Nam, Krabi Town
Opening hours: daily 6am-12pm

Dinosea World Park
90 Moo 11, Khok Kloi, Phangnga
Ph: +66 86 851 4499

Stay tuned for the next blog in Chumphon:
Suan Nai Dum (Garden of Black Uncle), Chumphon