Short Trip To Vientiane, Laos

Only one hour flight direct from Bangkok to Vientiane.  It is a quite and very laid back city.  Unlike Bangkok, this city has much smaller population and less crowded.  People are still very traditional and you hardly find any tall skyscraper buildings.  Locals live in very humble way.

This short trip purpose is specially for celebrating Songkran Festivals, so we didn't visit much tourist places in the area. But local food is still on our A-Must try list.

Vientiane baguette

Pork baguette

This shop is recommended by my sister-in-law who is originally born here in Vientiane.  This place is loved by locals.  Not only the baguette is great but the price is reasonable as well.  The bread itself is crisp on the outside and still soft in the inside.  For the fillings, as you can see from the picture, they are loaded.  There are 3 types of pork combined, BBQ pork, ham and pork floss.  The baguette is balanced with fresh and crunchy cucumber, pickles and spring onions.  Finally, pate and chili sauce act as flavor-enhancers. 

Made a quick stop at Patuxay

Wat Sisaket

Some sweets and drinks from Joma Bakery & Cafe

Joma Bakery and Cafe is one of the famous franchise coffee shop.  It is always nice to include this place in your list while you were here.   Not only locals but foreigners do visit this cafe too.  I especially love their Chai latte.  Smell divine with spices aroma and it tastes delicious, their milk froth is very smooth and full body.  It is definitely a great coffee.  They also have a great range of cakes and savory dishes.  Their coconut cake and carrot cake are wonderful.  Previously, we tried they savory croissant in Luang Prabang, it was delicious too.  Never disappoint us. 

Chai latte and carrot cake from Joma

For dinner, my sis-in-law took us to the very very famous fried chicken shop in Vientiane.  Besides, this is the "KFC" of Lao people.  There is no actual KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) in Laos as yet but they have their version of KFC, which is Kuvieng Fried Chicken. 

We arrived pretty early, to avoid the dinner peak hour.  However, the shop was still packed with hungry customers.  And there were lots of them buying for take away.  All the workers are women but they all are very consistent.  The frying lady aka the owner, fry and look after those golden chickens nonstop.  Her fingers are nearly fully coated with flour as she moves quickly from picking up the coated chickens onto the hot oil and ensuring that those chicken pieces are cooked to perfection.

One portion consists of one piece of fried chicken that comes with a few pieces of chips.  The batter is very crispy and flavorsome and chicken is tender.  But from all, I fell in love with their chips.  It is made from real potatoes, chunky cuts and really really superb flavor.  Do not expect a crunchy fries, as it is soft yet very delicious.  I'm so addicted to it. 


Baguette shop
In the Rue Dongpalane, Vientiane

Joma Bakery and Cafe
There are a few branches across Vientiane
Joma Bakery Cafe Nam Phou
Rue Setthathilath
Ph: +856 21 215 265

Joma Bakery Cafe Phonthan
Dongpaina Road
Ph: +856 21 454 663

Joma Bakery Cafe That Luang
Nongbone Road
Ph: +856 21 453 618

Kuvieng Fried Chicken

on the Boulevard Khouvieng, Vientiane
Ph: +856 21 314 514

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Vientiane:

One Day Stop Over In Hong Kong

Previously:
Doraemon Waku Waku Sky Park, New Chitose Airport

We made one night stop-over in Hong Kong before we flew back to Bangkok.  While we were in Hong Kong, the main dishes that we shouldn't miss of course the BBQ and roasted pork dishes from our favorite chain roasted pork restaurant.

Mixed BBQ pork and roasted pork on rice

Beef brisket wonton soup

Pork chop with green fried rice

Hong Kong egg tart

After had breakfast, we headed to Snoopy World which is located inside the New Town Plaza on Sha Tin stop.  Free entry and good for taking photos and it was my son's favorite character as well.

Some ice cream stops

Milk tea ice cream with caramel popcorn toppings

chocolate ice cream also with caramel popcorn toppings

Not forget about some cakes as well

Emirate child meal 

Flight's meal

See you soon in our next journey.  Thank you everyone for following my blog.  Octie Appetie

Doraemon Waku Waku Sky Park, New Chitose Airport

Previously:
Last Day In Sapporo

Breakfast from family mart underneath the hotel

Last day and our flight was around 4pm.  But we left the hotel early and arrived airport about 12pm.  Because we wanted to visit that Doraemon Waku Waku Sky Park.  The airline counter wasn't opened for about 3 hours before departure but you have an option to keep your luggage in the locker provided around the airport.

Buying ticket through ticket machine

The park is definitely for doraemon mania.  All about Doraemon, more like the photo spots.  And at the end they have this short performance and photo session with the 'Star'.

I just posted one photo because I don't want to spoil the surprise

Flight's meal

Bye bye Hokkaido...  Til we meet again...


Stay tuned for the next blog:
One Day Stop Over In Hong Kong

Last Day In Sapporo

Previously:
From Noboribetsu Back to Sapporo

We spotted this Kit Kat store in Sapporo (around Tanuki Koji).  They sell nearly all flavors of Kit Kat from all over Japan.  Not only that, they also have Calbee products in the shop.  One stop for snacks heaven and good for souvenirs as well.

Time for lunch.  Near Tanuki Koji we found this restaurant sells some sushi and other don dishes.  If I weren't wrong the name is Sai Kaku Restaurant.  The price is pretty cheap (as it was our last day and our wallet was soooo thin).  When we entered the shop, there is this long narrow counter bar seating.  But then the lady showed us inside, which is bigger space and divided into small private rooms.

I was aiming for their buta don since I saw menu in front of the restaurant.  And my hubby ordered sushi plater for himself.

Buta don 850yen

This time my dish was the winner.  He was extremely jealous with my food.  I would go mad too if it was the other way around.  That was the best buta don dish I've ever eaten in my life.  Guarantee that!!!!  The pork was not only juicy and tender but very very flavorsome, slightly sweet and sticky from the sauce with a touch of black pepper.  And above all, the meat is unbelievably loaded.  For 850yen, it was a great deal for sure.  And that onsen tamago (egg) has been cooked perfectly.  The egg yolk was running through the rice when cracked open.  Taken this dish to another level.  Perfect dish.  FLAWLESS!!!!!

Sushi platter 1,290yen

He kept offering some of his sushi pieces in exchange for some of my pork.  Nah... nahh..  I just stick with mine, thank you....  But his sushi was good too actually, fresh but not as good as mine.  Winner!!!!!

I saw this tram around Sapporo city, but have never caught once.  And not sure too how to pay money or the route.  So is there anyone could tell me what is it or how to catch it?

Sapporo Clock Tower

Sapporo TV Tower

We came back again to this Sweet Bisse for hunting some sweets.  This time we went for some chocolate strawberry cake and Hokkaido milk soft serve.  Yum.. Yummm...

Soft serve 250yen

From there, we walked pass this fish market in Sapporo, called Nijo market.  We had to give it a missed though.  We were so full.  They sell all the fresh seafood dishes in here.  However, it is slightly smaller than Curb market.  And they have the combination that I have been looking all for so long, salmon, ikura and sea urchin don.  Damn!!!!!!!

For dinner, we had some ramen meal just 1 block away from our hotel.

Kara spicy ramen (level 3 spiciness) 980yen

Chasu ramen

gyoza

Sushisho Saikaku Kitaichijo Shop
+81 11 218 8700
They open for 2 periods lunch and dinner.
The shop closes between 2.30pm and 5pm


Stay tuned for the next blog:
Doraemon Waku Waku Sky Park, New Chitose Airport