My Japan Itinerary Part 2

Day 5:

1. Depart for Nara (奈良) from Osaka
   

   

   Nara (奈良)  Sika Deer

2. Todai-ji Temple (東大寺)

   

   Todai-ji Temple (東大寺)

3. Lunch at Tonkatsu Ganko Restaurant (とんかつがんこ 奈良店)

   

   Yummy Tonkatsu for Lunch

4. Return to Osaka and Shopping at Umeda area
5. Umeda Sky Buiding (梅田スカイビル)

   

   Osaka City Night View from Umeda Sky Building

Day 6:

1. Osaka Castle (大阪城)

   

   Osaka Castle

2. Shinsekai (新世界) – Tsūtenkaku (通天閣) – Kushikatsu (串カツ) for lunch

   

   Tsūtenkaku (通天閣)

3. Shopping at Shinsaibashi (心斎橋) and Dōtonbori (道頓堀)



The famous Glico Man in Osaka

4. Dinner at Gyu-Kaku (牛角)

Day 7:

1. Depart for Kinosaki Onsen (城崎温泉) from Osaka

   

   Kinosaki Onsen (城崎温泉)

2. One day pass for 7 public hot spring baths at Kinosaki Onsen

   

   Me in Japanese Yukata and Geta

3. Lunch at Kinosaki Onsen
4. Depart for Osaka from Kinosaki Onsen
5. Check in Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka
6. Dinner at Tonkotsu Ramen Ichiran (一蘭)

   

   Best ramen ever~!

Day 8:

1. Depart for Kobe (神户) from Osaka
2. Lunch at Plasir, Kobe

   

   The one and only Kobe Beef~!

3. Shinkasen (新幹線) from Kobe to Osaka
4. Shopping at Namba City (なんばCITY ) and Namba Parks (なんばパークス)

Day 9:

1. Brunch at Endo Sushi (ゑんどう寿司) at Osaka Central Wholesale Fish Market (大阪中央卸売市場)

   

   Best sushi in Osaka~!

2. Shopping at Shinsaibashi (心斎橋) and Dōtonbori (道頓堀)

   

   Too many things but too little Yen

3. Dinner at Tonkotsu Ramen Ichiran (一蘭) again

Day 10:

1. Depart for Kuala Lumpur from Kansai International Airport

My Japan Itinerary Part 1

Just a quick update of my recent Japan trip with my Part 1 itinerary... I really enjoyed the trip and had a really good time exploring this country that I'd been dreaming to visit since young... And the best part was Japan is so much better that I'd ever imagined!

Day 1:

1. Kansai International Airport – Pick-up B-mobile SIM Card, JR Rail Pass and ICOCA Card
2. Kansai-Airport Express "HARUKA" to Kyoto Station (京都駅) 



Hello Kyoto

3. Check in Matsubaya Ryokan (京都 松葉家旅館) 
4. Lunch at Gogyo Restaurant (京都 五行)



Gogyo Burnt Ramen

5. Shopping Nishiki Market (京都 錦市場)
6. Shopping at Kawaramachi (京都 河原町)
7. Dinner at Kyogokukaneyo (京都 京極かねよ)



Kyogokukaneyo Unagi Don

Day 2:

1. Fushimi Inari Taisha (京都 伏見稲荷大社)

   

   The amazing Fushimi Inari Taisha (京都 伏見稲荷大社)

2. Lunch at Musashi Sushi (寿しのむさし 京都駅)  
3. Free guided tour at Yamazaki Whiskey Distillery (山崎蒸溜所) 

The great whiskey factor

     4.  Kaiseki Dinner (懐石料理) at  Kyomachiya-Suishin (京都 京町家すいしん)

Kaiseki Dinner in Pontocho Street of Kyoto

     5.  Shopping at Gion (京都 祇園)

Day 3:

1. Arashiyama (京都 嵐山)
2. Sagano Sight-seeing Tram (京都 嵯峨野トロッコ列車)

   

   Lovely view of the Arashiyama

3. Tenryoji Temple (京都 天龍寺)

   

   Awesome Bamboo Forrest

4. Lunch at Arashiyama Udon Ozuru (京都 嵐山うどん おづる)
5. Kinkakuji Temple (京都 金閣寺)

   

   The reflection of Kinkakuji Temple (京都 金閣寺)

6. Saba sushi (鯖寿司) dinner at Izuu (京都 いづう)

   

   Delicious Saba sushi (鯖寿司)

7. Shopping at Gion (京都 祇園)and Kawaramachi (京都 河原町)

Day 4:

1. Kiyomizu Dera (京都 清水寺)

   

   Super crowded Kiyomizu Temple

2. Lunch at Kiyomizu Dera (京都 清水寺)

   

   Yummy Cold Soba

3. Depart for Osaka Station (大阪駅)
4. Check in Hearton Nishi Umeda Hotel (ハートンホテル西梅田)
5. Shopping at Umeda (大阪 梅田)
6. Dinner at Chikuchikuya (矗々家 JR大阪駅前店)

Ho Chi Minh 102 - Quan An Ngon 138 Restaurant

Located opposite the Independence Palace, Quan An Ngon 138 Restaurant was our first stop for lunch after a short walk around the hotel. It was raining and our lower bodies were pretty wet when we reached the restaurant right before the lunch crowd started to swamp the place. We took our time to browse through the menu which came with English translation, but the many choices available there took me a while to decide what I wanted to sample...  

The restaurant

Inside the restaurant

The beverage counter

Inside the restaurant

Appetizer Menu

Noodle Menu

Seafood Menu

Coffee and Tea Menu

Vietnamese Dessert Menu

In the end, I went for the obvious choices like Vietnamese Coffee (VND40,000), Fried Spring Roll (VND52,000), Ngon Style Grilled Squid (VND110,000), Pho/Beef Noodle Soup (VND54,000) and Assorted Beans and Jelly in Coconut Milk (VND25,000). Of all the food we ordered, I loved the grilled squid the most, followed by the Vietnamese Coffee. The Pho was just okay as I still prefer dry noodle over noodle soup. The fried spring roll tasted about the same as any Chinese spring rolls, perhaps because both Chinese and Vietnamese food have too much in common. Also, I'm never a green vegetable person so all the fresh vegetables that came with all the dishes didn't quite turn on my appetite. 

Overall, the ambiance of the restaurant was good and service was attentive although most of the staff couldn't really understand English. The price was considered alright as we saw quite a number of locals were having lunch there as well. In the mean time, we also had fun watching the locals ordered some weird food that we had never seen before, while waiting for the rain to stop before we could continue exploring the city... 

Vietnamese Coffee (VND40,000)

Assorted Beans and Jelly in Coconut Milk (VND25,000)

Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls (VND52,000)

Side dishes and sauces for the Pho/Vietnamese beef Noodle Soup

Pho/Beef Noodle Soup (VND54,000)

Ngon Style Grilled Squid (VND110,000)

Other food that we saw at restaurant.... 

 Ho Tay Style Crispy Shrimp Pastry

Rice Vermicelli Spring Rolls

Pounded Shrimp Hash Fried on Sugar Cane

Address: 138 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Tel: +84 8 3827 9666

Official Website: http://quanngon138.com/

Tripadvisor Review: http://www.tripadvisor.com.my/Restaurant_Review-g293925-d809040-Reviews-Quan_An_Ngon-Ho_Chi_Minh_City.html