When H and I were in Osaka, we took a half-day trip to Nara with my sister and her boyfriend. Our only reason for heading to Nara was to the deer park to spend a couple of hours with the sacred deers and it was so much fun!!

Here's a selfie with a chillin' male deer.

Our hotel, Hotel Sunroute Osaka Namba is located at Nippombashi and there is a direct JR train to Kintetsu Nara Station which costs 560yen and takes approximately 40 minutes. Very convenient and easily accessible.

There's a supposedly famous mochi store near the train station so we went in search for it before making our way to the deers.

I don't know what's the exact address, just google map Nakatanido and you'll get there in about 5 minutes by foot.

We only got a piece each and it was actually quite good! I think there's only one flavour available and it's filled with smooth red bean. 130yen/pc

The 4 of us were feeling a little cautious when we first spotted deers 'cause I've heard people mentioned how they're aggressive?!

They're not at all!!

My sister's friend took a video of deers bowing/nodding to her because they want the treats she's holding in her hand hahaha it was super cute. I didn't take any videos but you can go to the Nara Park geotag on my Instagram (@tippytapp) photos to see what others upload!

After walking around for half an hour and observing how others behave around the deers and vice versa, we finally decided to buy the deer biscuits (150yen) and get ourselves surrounded hahaha.

I kept the biscuits in my pocket because I didn't want to finish them so quickly so I only took out one piece each time and break them into smaller pieces. The deers were sniffing my clothes/bag for treats but they didn't get aggressive at all. Pretty unlike monkeys I guess?

I started attracting them the moment the biscuits were out and it was a little overwhelming initially. Towards the end of the day though, I was waving my biscuits in the air to attract them to come to me hahaha.

The deers always want more, moreeee and after a while, we realized THIS is the sign to show them we've no more treats. Yup, surrender with your hands up and they understand! They'll leave you alone after that to bug other tourists haha.

There was this lone deer chilling by himself so I thought we should go get a picture with him 'cause I like the antlers haha. We were trying to "coax" him to turn his head towards the camera (yeah, like he understands ya) but I think he got annoyed with us after 10 seconds and he just stood up and walked away.

!!!

Okay...............

Never mind, we joined a bunch of others for a group photo 😎

Feeding with my sister who towers over me 🙆

Osaka isn't that exciting to us so I'd totally recommend taking a half-day trip out to Nara.

The deers are very endeering and they are pretty docile in nature. I think many mistook greedy for aggressiveness...although one of the deers did chew on H's shirt - too hungry, probably hahaha.

Do note there's nothing much to do in Nara though! We had a late tonkatsu lunch (which wasn't fantastic despite ranking high on Tripadvisor) then headed back to Osaka.

First posted on my Dayre

H's Birthday in Phuket

It was H's last time turning 2x last month so we booked a short getaway to Phuket! Not sure if you have noticed but we are trying to cover as much of Asia as possible, leaving our footsteps in at least one city of each country. This helps us to experience a little of the unique culture each nation has and we get to learn a tiny fraction of what each country has to offer. The world is enormous and there is so much to explore. After flying around for so long, I still feel like I haven't experienced London enough or learnt much of Italy. It's probably not possible to travel the world in one lifetime but I am always grateful for all that I have seen, and all that I am going to.

We flew via SilkAir (ticket was $200+/person) and checked into Cape Sienna in the evening for 3 nights!

We booked the sea view deluxe room with outdoor jacuzzi for around $300/night

and I was quite pleased with the room.

Initially I wanted a room/villa with a personal pool but those were exorbitantly priced 

and I'm not feeling as rich as 2012 so H chose Cape Sienna.

Overall, I would say our room wasn't too shabby but one thing I cannot stand 

was the low height between the tap and the sink in the bathroom!! 

A photo would illustrate better but I forgot to take a picture so let me try to explain.

Imagine your kitchen tap and sink -  lots of free space in between for you 

to rinse your plates under the running water right? 

That is exactly what the bathroom sink was lacking - free space in between.

I couldn't even fully put a 3.5" glass under the tap to fill it with water 

and I resorted to washing my face in the jacuzzi.

Yup, that's the only qualm I have about the room.

The jacuzzi at the balcony facing the sea!

(I didn't take a day photo)

My flight #ootd

The resort gifted H a birthday cake!

After making a wish, we finally got our lazy selves out to get food.

It was already 8-9pm then and we only managed to find a roadside stall 

selling pad thai and oyster omelette.

After a trip to 7-11 after dinner, we decided to make use of the jacuzzi before calling it a day.

Rise and shine!

There's a certain kind of tranquility about views like these, having the sea and sky connect.

The lobby in the morning

Breakfast by the pool

I didn't take any pictures of the food but the spread wasn't too bad.

At least they don't serve the same dishes everyday.

Went back to the room to change after breakfast and we were off to the beach!

Each beach chair was 400baht if I remember right

After walking through half the beach, we finally settled at somewhere less crowded.

A lot of reviews mentioned that Patong Beach is really dirty and I'm so glad we chose to 

stay near Kamala Beach because it is actually pretty clean 

and the water is very clear and cold despite the sun!

HAHAHAHA H thinks he's A&F model

Anyway we are both very shy people who are not very confident of our bodies. 

So out of courtesy, I'm just inserting two far-far-you-can't-see-much-of-our-half-naked-bodies 

pictures for your viewing pleasure.

You're welcome.

Yes, it was actually scorching hot and bright but I've already lost the tan I got from the trip, yay!

Had lunch at one of those tentage restaurants by the beach and the food sucks.

'Nuff said.

But the banana nutella crepe (no picture) we bought by the roadside was very yummy!!!

I guess you really can never go wrong with nutella.

I was getting quite sick of the sun and heat after lunch so we decided to head back 

and chill by the resort's infinity pool.

And then I got distracted because it was low tide

...all the rocks were out to play and I joined in!

H and I loved it here at Sienna Rocks!

It was exclusive, peaceful, comfortable and H fell asleep listening to the soft crashing waves.

Water was freezing though the sun was unforgiving.

Went back to our room and I fell asleep.

That's what holidays are for, right?

After numerous shakes from H, I finally woke up to shower and prepare for dinner 

only to find him sleeping when I was done.

ZZZZZZZ

The disappearing sun.

We headed to Patong for dinner and the night market. 

I didn't bring my camera along so I have no pictures to blog about it haha.

But I updated an entry on Dayre so if you're keen, go here: http://dayre.me/tippytapp/XmVwJIqgRz

Okay, I'm going to join H in bed now.

Have a great weekend guys!