Just Three of Us at Khao Yai

Another happy family fun day! After a long while and not be able to finish my japan trip's blog... I just felt like writing up another blog to actually be a long last memory. Today's trip was just so worth the effort and time.

Starting the day with 2 hours driving by our lovely dad to Nakornratchasrima (Korat) with the first destination at ChokChai Steak House. We arrived at the farm and restaurant around noon so there were "TONS" of people. Ploy counted 12 humungous tour buses, plus around 100 or so passenger cars. The line for seating in the restaurant was ridiculous. This just turned us down completely. We gave up the steakhouse right away, headed back to our car, with one pineapple pie for Ploy as she started to get hungry.

With help and suggestions from our everything-guide friend, Noi, we headed towards Khao Yai with new destination of the restaurant within the winery called: The Grand Monte. We finally found it. The restaurant situated among the winery and next to a lotus pond. Yes, this was worth the drive and the wait. It's the real serenity (for me) and great food for everyone. The T-Bone and Cognac sauce was good, and so was the soft shell crab salad and the fusili  salmon with fresh cream sauce. Fresh grape juice was so nice and refreshing. 

After lunch, we didn't leave the winery right away. We decided to check out the serene surrounding and wasn't disappointed. We found a perfect spot -- very nice and peaceful "sala" right next to the extended lotus pond (ศาลาริมน้ำ) Daddy was the first to lie down and doze off. Ploy was walking around picking up flowers from the ground. I was sitting in the sala, couldn't move as my lovely hubby was napping on my lap. But that's OK. I was happy just like that. It's all I needed. (Well, it'd be better if I have a book to read.) 

The peaceful sala

After being interrupted by a noisy family, we took off. Heading back to Primo Posto, a newly hip cafe and restaurant with a Tuscany atmosphere. It would have been really nice if there weren't a lot of people, which kinda destroyed the whole Tuscany feel. The place was so beautiful. We called it a complete architectural success! because it is the architecture that sets the whole Tuscany mood & tone among the winery in the back and the valley surrounding it.  I liked it a lot. I had plan to go there during the weekdays sometimes, so there won't be too many people. 

Ploy was having so much fun with everything, actually. She enjoyed taking photos and posting for mom and dad to take photos of her. It was very nice.

We left the restaurant around 3pm. We drove back on a different route, which was much nicer. It actually reminded me of Route 10 in Connecticut, U.S.A. I told my husband that when Ploy grows up, gets her own job and her own family, we should retire here. And by "here" I mean that route we were on, literally!  It'd have been really nice.

Ploy felt asleep almost as soon as we left the restaurant. She was tired, but I did believe that she had a lot of fun. It confirmed my decision on going out of town. I wanted her to learn the world outside of Bangkok and all those fancy department stores. I myself wanted (so badly) to spend time, quality time, with my husband and Ploy, and also going to see the greens upcountry. Well, I achieved my objective today. Thanks to my lovely husband for driving. 

Final word, I had a very good time and I am very very happy. Thanks to my husband and Ploy for being a part of my happiness today. Without you, this wouldn't happen or complete as I had hoped.

I love you.

Fabulous Japan: Part III Achi Lake - Shinjuku

...Day 3...

Started the day with photo taking on the most beautiful spot on the trip. From the hotel we stayed last night, we could actually see the Fuji mountain from our room. After breakfast, we left the hotel for about 15 minutes to arrive at the picture perfect spot. There was the Fuji in the background with frozen lake in front. We took pictures. It was gorgeous......and cold.

After a little fun with photo taking, we headed off to Achi Lake. The lake was formed by the lava explosion from the Fuji mountain around 3,000 years ago. It was a very beautiful sight.

We cruised in the pirate-like ship. The weather was nice and clear. However, with the wind, it got very cold. Ploy couldn't take it. She took a couple of pictures then draged her dad to go inside the ship. I was still outside taking more photos with my friends. I was cold too, but it was OK for me (of course, I had all winter clothes on, including the gloves). I just didn't want to miss any moments here as I didn't know when I could go back to visit Japan again. I just wanted to take in all the happiness in the air and not to miss any molegule.


We cruised about 20 minutes. Then the ship arrived at another port where we got onto the cable car lifting us up to the top of the Owakudani valley. Once arrived on the top, we had lunch. It was a bento-like lunch with hot plates for kinda stir fried beef. It was not great, but nice. After lunch, we had to walk up to the top of the valley - about 500 meters, I guessed. Here there was a sulfur hot spring that could boil an egg with almost 100 degree (celcious) heat. It was believed that if you eat one of this boiled egg, you will live 7 years longer. Of course, everyone had to go up there and eat a sulfured-smelled boiled egg... (yike...) Ploy enjoyed the white-egg. She enjoyed eating it. Actually, she had two. She didn't eat the yolk though.

After finishing with the egg(s), we walked down through the same path we walked up. From this very high spot, we could still see the Fuji mountain again. (Some people didn't get excited anymore, but I still did.) The mountain was a really beautiful background.

Now, we were ready to take off. Heading off to Tokyo. We actually had plan to stop by the Asakusa Temple prior to the Shinjuku. However, the traffic into Tokyo was just like Bangkok. We decided not to stop by the temple and went directly to the Shinjuku for shopping.

Shinjuku at dusk

Here came my personal shopping spree. My lovely husband agreed to take Ploy with him just so I can go shopping with no worries. Oh..I loved my husband. He knew me so damn well for my shopping habit. I got pretty much stuff I want and what I was asked to buy for some people. I went to Mutsumoto drug store to buy cosmetic. (Now I wish I had had more time in that store.) I was hoping to get more stuffs - stuffs that are hard to find or more expensive in Thailand. However, the girls in the stores (in every stores in Japan) couldn't speak much of English so I was so hard to get explanation for the usage of particular cosmetic items. I ended up got what I planed for with a little bit out of plan. I did well that day. I went also to the 100 Yen store. It was nice thought I didn't get much stuffs. Guess I have to mention here that I of course did make a stop at the sex shop. he.he.he..I got 2 strawberry sticks and a box for Ploy. The strawberries really needed to be mentioned about because it was so sweet and big too. They were really nice. I could eat much much more.

We re-grouped again around 8pm. I and my husband were right on time. He also got a nice Adidas sneakers and a big box of toy for Ploy. Apparently, she behaved so well that her dad couldn't resist buying what she wanted. I would do the same as I already saw that Ploy was a wonderful kid and I could take her to any trips. She was so good and well behaved all the time.


We had japanese ramen for dinner. It was so so. I didn't excited as I was not a ramen kind of person anyway. I preferred sushi, seaweed and tempura. After dinner we just went to the hotel and rest. Ploy was still excited for the day. She didn't want to go to bed even though she was real tired (after walking in Shinjuku for 3 hours). She was talking and talking and talking, with real excitement. She drew some pictures before I finally got her into showering and to bed.

Gosh...only a couple of days left. Oh..my dream Japan. I didn't want this journey to end. I was so happy.

Ooh..lovely couple... eieiei

Fabulous Japan...Part II: Fuji Mountain

...Day Two...

A fresh morning with breakfast in the hotel. Food was OK. Then, we headed off to the Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) Hamamutsu station to go to Chizuoka station. It took about 20 minutes. After lunch, we headed off to the Fuji Mountain, the landmark we couldn’t miss. It took so long to get to the mountain, but once we got there, it was worth it. We could also got a preview of the mountain along the highway. We were so lucky that the weather was so good. Clear blue sky, no rain, no snow. It was picture perfect.

We went for the snow sledding. Great fun. Ploy went with daddy only on the first round. After that she wanted to go alone and didn’t feel scared at all. What a character. She enjoyed the snow very much. After a while, she got bored with the sledding. She just wanted to play with the fresh snow. I taught her to make the “angel”. She was excited. The Fuji and the snow had put on smiles on my angel's face.

Leaving the Fuji Mountain with a lot of fun and wonderful memory… we made a stop at Kotemba Outlet. I got what I had planed: a new Nike Air. That’s about it. After shopping from a lot of great outlets in the US, this outlet didn’t excite me at all, especially when it doesn’t have “NINE WEST” store.

That night we stayed at the Yamanakako New Star Hotel. We had to sleep on the mattress, Japanese style. The hotel provided the “Onsen”, the Japanese natural hot spring. We didn’t go in as – for the Japanese culture - we couldn’t wear anything… I just couldn’t bring myself to be naked with other people. (Maybe if I was in shape, but I was SO NOT)…

Forgot to mention that we stopped by a supermarket and get some fresh sushi and sashimi. We brought them and ate in the hotel room with the Plum sake (I think). Ploy was excited again with the setting and atmosphere (even though it was not comfortable at all.)

That’s all for day two. Only 3 days left.

(I started to feeling sad then.)

Stay tuned…

Fabulous Japan...part I: Osaka - Kyoto

...Day One...

Started off the trip with the Osaka Castle, but just only stopped for photo taking. However, this was where we had the "real" Takoyaki. I'd never liked Takoyaki served in Japanese restaurant in Thailand, but I did like what I had that morning very much.

Next stop, the Osaka Aquarium. As we were on a tight budget, daddy sacrified. I and Ploy went into the aquarium because she wanted to.. (2,400 yens spent)... The aquarium was nicely designed. There weren't much of sea animals, but they were different from what Ploy used to see back in Thailand. It was a pleasure walking through - better than I had expected.

Lunch stop didn't worth mentioning.

Then we traveled to Kyoto, the world heritage historic city. We went to Kinkakuji Temple. We walked around the walk way circling the entire area of the temple. It was a gorgeous site where snow had covered all the trees and grounds.The Golden Pavilion, the best known temple in Kyoto, probably in Japan, was really beautiful. With the postcard-like scenery, the overall atmosphere was like a dream.

What can I say...if I can find better words to express the beauty of it, I would. But all I could say is that it was really gorgeously beautiful. I wished I had had more time to take more pictures and absorb the serenity in the air. No matter how many tourists were there, I still felt peaceful and relax.

Then, moving on to the next temple. The Kiyomizu Temple, where we had to walked uphill the same time it started to snow heavily, was beautiful. The temple is up on the big hill. Ploy enjoyed the snow very much. Actually, it was probably her sole attention at the moment. I felt good to see her happy. It re-assured my decision of bringing her along.

Daddy & Ploy at Kiyomizu Temple

Then, there was dinner. Korean/Japanese style barbecue. It was somewhat good, not enough to mention though. After dinner we checked in the hotel, tired and ready for bed. The hotel was another excitement for Ploy, especially the intelligent toilet. She did have a lot of fun with it. :-)

with my chubby hubby


Stay tuned...

Fabulous Japan

Japan...was it a dream?
(If it was...I didn't want to wake up.)


Time flies, especially "good time." A fabulous family trip to Japan with my hubby and my little pumpkin brought back old-time memory. It felt just like the old days...when there were only "us," no one else. And the cold weather, my good old jacket can be used again...

It was so happy that none of us wante to come back. 5 days and 4 nights (not include one night on the plane) had gone by incredibly fast.

I was happy...very happy.