Our Favorite Yum Cha in Saigon

Some times you just have to Yum Cha!  Our favourite Yum Cha place is Ocean Palace which is situated on Le Duan on the corner near the zoo.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, Scarletts break was her dominant arm.  It has been fascinating watching her adapt to using her left hand.  She actually did an amazing job of learning to eat with her new "L" plate chopsticks!  Both Quiddy and I are left handed so it would not surprise me if after 6 weeks like this she ends up ambidextrous.

One of the things we love about Ocean Palace is that it is big and noisy.  No need to keep telling the kids to be quiet every five minutes.  On Sundays it is filled with families and has a fantastic friendly atmosphere.  Not the place to go for a romantic Sunday lunch.

The other reason we love it is of course the food!  Consistently good and reasonably priced.  Service is fast and friendly and the waiters all have a reasonable grasp of English.

And last but by no means least, it is fabulously child friendly.  This guy sets up his table downstairs and creates the most intricate, jaw dropping plasticine creations for the kids.  It is supposed to be for free but we always slip him a little something when no one is looking.  Seriously, talent like that needs to be rewarded!

Quiddy asked for a dragon.  This took all of five minutes.

Scarlett asked for a pony.  He was just incredible!  Best thing was, if you can manage to get them home without them getting squashed, they harden overnight so they can keep them forever.

All in all a great way to spend a Sunday lunch.  It usually cost us a total of $40 Aussie dollars for a couple of beers and soft drinks and 6 dishes with rice.  Kids entertainment....priceless!!!

Sayonara Japan. Last Day

Our last full day saw me get the morning off for good behaviour.  It also saw our only rain of the trip.  I headed straight to the shops!

First stop was Kuromon Ichiba Market.  This market runs for about 600 metres and is crammed full of  about 170 shops , most of which specialise the freshest and best quality meat,  vegetable, eggs and fish from around the country and abroad.    Although well over half of the sales are for professional business they also sell to the general public.  For over 170 years everyone from restaurant chefs to housewives come here for the best of the best. 

I had yet to have breakfast so when I spied this place was serving food decided to give it a go.  You know it must not get any fresher than when the fish you get served is served by the guys still wearing the white fishmonger boots!

The "kitchen"

Best.  Miso.  Ever.  Not tofu but these little babies hiding at the bottom!

Yes, I had sake for breakfast.

Absolutely the nicest, most delicious, freshest sushi I have ever eaten.  Hand down.

I love how instead of the hassle of taking gloves off and on they have these little hand warmers attached to the bike.  Great idea!

Oh Lordy....

Hard to see in this pic but this seafood is actually being steamed, ready to eat.

And of course this had to be the last supper :(

Love Hotels are just matter for course it seems.  You have to go somewhere for some privacy right?

America Mura says farewell.

And so do we from amazing Japan.

...but not without a photo of the kids favourite thing.  Seriously, people underestimate how amazing a heated toilet seat can be.  Scarlett in particular loved it but her little butt was so small the bidet used to fly up the back and soak the bathroom!  We obviously had the el cheapo model in our hotel.  One I had the pleasure to use even had odour control!

So that was Japan.  Thanks for coming along for the ride.  We really did have an absolutely  amazing time and can recommend it to anyone.  It was at times a bit of a challenge with the language barrier but a smile is universal.  No problems if travelling with kids and no where near as expensive as we had anticipated.  If anyone needs any info drop me a line and I would be happy to help.  Back to Vietnam now and I promise to show you lots of interesting and wonderful things to do and great places to eat in our wonderful city (and country)!