Category: Explore

[CLOSED] When in Phuket: Lhanya BBQ @ Nanai Road – Hidden Gem for Mookata in Patong; Open till 4am

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Update 20 Jan 2025: Lhanya BBQ has closed.

I’m back from a whirlwind weekend trip to Patong, Phuket.  3 rejuvenating days of good company, adrenaline pumping activities (think ATV and white water rafting), roadside shopping, and yes – cheap, good food!

And what better way to start the trip than with mookata right in the country where it originated from?

Mookata, which has its roots in Northern Thailand, means “pork skillet”. Think of it as steamboat meets BBQ, with a shallow trough for boiling vegetables, noodles and seafood while strips of meat sizzles away on a dome-shaped skillet lathered with chunky pork lard pieces. Talk about getting the best of both worlds in one meal!

Lhanya BBQ Mookata Patong Phuket

A quick search on TripAdvisor turned up Lhanya BBQ as one of the go-to places for mookata in Patong. As it was monsoon season, we were almost deterred by the heavy downpour – that and the fact that only 2 of us had packed an umbrella for the trip. But as they say, no pain, no gain!

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Konnichiwa, Kansai! Kobegyu Steak Land @ Kobe – Affordable Kobe Beef Lunch

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If there’s one thing that puts Kansai on the culinary world map, it’s Kobe beef. Tender and succulent, this mouth-watering dish is the reason why tourists flock to Kobe on a gastronomic pilgrimage.

The significance of beef dates back to the 2nd century, when cattle was first used for rice cultivation and grown in small, isolated herds between the mountainous terrains of Japan. This led to unique types of beef throughout the archipelago. Back then, though, beef was not widely consumed.

Fast forward to post World War II,  and Japan’s consumption of beef has spiked.

Only Taijima cattle (a breed from the Japanese Black family) that are born and raised in Hyogo –  and meet a strict set of standards – can be considered Kobe beef by the Kobe Beef Marketing and Distribution Promotion Association 神戸肉流通推進協議会. So prominent is it that not only has it become a registered landmark, but it has also been cross bred with local cattle in the US to meet the high demand.  

Kobegyu Steakland

Now that that little history lesson is out of the way, let’s get down to business… KOBE BEEF AT KOBEGYU STEAK LAND!

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Konnichiwa, Kansai! Remembering Kobe @ Meriken Park

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With a slight downpour on my third day in Kansai, I decided to take a break from old Japan and make my way to Kobe神戸, one of Japan’s busiest port cities. (Let’s just say that peeking at the sakura amidst an overcast sky and jostling with other tourists with an umbrella wasn’t exactly my cup of tea.)

Catch up on the rest of my Kansai trip here:

Kobe Meriken Park

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Konnichiwa, Kansai! Eating Your Way Around Nara

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While often overshadowed by her more prolific neighbours, Nara is by no means lacking in culinary specialties.

Looking back at my travel photos, I realise that I walked – and ate – a hell lot on my Nara day trip. Talk about your metabolism fluctuating during your travels.

Soooo, I thought I would relieve some of my post holiday guilt by compiling everything I ate into a mini food guide! Hey, sharing is caring, right? 😉

(Or maybe I’m just looking for any reason to look through my food pictures again…)

All of these food stops are located within central Nara or Nara Park, and pretty friendly on the wallet (about 1000¥ per person).

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Read my other Kansai posts!

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Konnichiwa, Kansai! Exploring Nara, Japan’s First Permanent Capital

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Hailed as the first permanent capital of Japan, Nara 奈良 is home to a whopping six of her UNESCO World Heritage Sites, more than any other prefecture.

Being a history buff, there was no way I could miss out on this stop during my trip, especially after reading about the Todai-ji temple complex in my Japanese Studies class.

Todai-ji Temple

Read the rest of my Kansai posts here!

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5 Ways to Travel Savvy with Cashback & Agoda Discounts (Shopback)

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Travel plans can be a stressful affair, especially when it comes to finding accommodation and activities that will satisfy everyone’s tastes. After all, we want nothing but the best when it comes to fulfilling our wanderlust fantasies, don’t we?

Thankfully, with online travel and shopping sites bringing anything and everything to our fingertips, we don’t have to look that far to plan the ultimate getaway, whether it’s a trip halfway around the world or a simple weekend staycation.

And here’s an added bonus: with ShopBack, you get to pick the best of the best from over 500 merchants and earn your money back. Hey, who knew that it was possible to have your cake and eat it?

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