My Favorite McDonald's Treats!

Almost every weekend, you can spot me and my family inside a McDonald's store. There are several branches near my place so we get to go on these branches alternately. Anyway, I just want to share with you my favorite McDonald's meal...

McDonald's Fries (large) PhP 59

One large fries can go a long way lol Our family of five always share one order along with several sachets of ketchup, of course! 

Read more after the break....

Discover Kinosaki: Onsen, Ryokan and More!

Day 4

December 31, 2012

Kinosaki, Japan

When visiting Japan, a side trip to Kinosaki-Onsen is a must! I anticipated that we will be needing a break from our 8-day vacation so I scheduled our visit on our 4th day.

Kinosaki-Onsen* is the biggest hot spring resort in Hyogo. It is a 3-hour train ride to total bliss. We boarded the 9:04 am Limited Express Kounotori train from Shin-Osaka to Kinosaki-Onsen. We arrived as scheduled (11:51am). Unfortunately, we were not allowed to check-in at Shinonomesou until 2 in the afternoon.

Jizou Yu Onsen is one of the seven sotoyu

Kinosaki-Onsen is a place which has seven sotoyu*, a hot spring water drinking spot and a foot bath facility. If you check-in with one of the ryokan*, a tour of the seven sotoyu is already included with your board and lodging fee. Wearing the traditional yukata* and geta*, you can go around this quaint town to enjoy the indoor and outdoor public baths. 

*Onsen means hot spring
*Sotoyu is a public hot spring bath facilities
*Ryokan is a traditional Japanese style inn
*Yukata is a casual cotton kimono
*Geta is a traditional wooden Japanese footwear like clogs

Read more after the break....

Korea Chronicle: Lotte World Korea

My visit: December 29, 2011

Day 7 (2nd day DIY Seoul Tour)

Lotte World
40-1, Songpa- Ku Chamshil- dong,
Seoul, Korea
02- 4112000

Weekday: 9:30am to 7:30pm
Weekend: 9:30am to 8:30pm

We were already in Lotte World around 11:30am but decided to wait until it was 4pm before buying a ticket. The After4 Special Pass entrance fee is cheaper- W23, 000 (PhP 920) per person ; p

There were ticket booths/ticket vending machines located on all 4 levels. It was not even weekend- it's Thursday but the line was really long when we got there. We saw a lot of tourists flocked near the entrance and also visitors in their teens plus families with kids in tow. We assumed that the waiting time for rides is going to be longer in the morning than in the afternoon.

welcome to Lotte World

While waiting, we had lunch at Lotteria. It's like Korea's version of McDonald's. We spent like W5, 900 (PhP236) for lunch- a meal consisting of a burger, fries & drink. We shared 1 order ; p Pa sweet effect! The rest of the afternoon was spent shopping looking around  Lotte Department Store and Shopping Mall for cheap finds.

Korea Chronicle: Fashionista in Starbucks

My visit: December 28, 2011

Day 6 (1st day DIY Seoul Tour)

Fashionista? Ako yun ; p lol 

The hotel that we stayed in Seoul did not include breakfast in the package. It was a good thing that Seoul have a lot of coffee shops around. But we opted to enter a familiar coffee shop- Starbucks.

me and my signature hot chocolate W4, 800 (PhP192)

It was too late when I saw a menu with calorie count near the cashier. I already ordered a hot chocolate which has around 478 kcal, if I remembered it right. I should have just ordered Starbucks' Coffee Frappuccino which has less than 200 kcal... waaaaaah!

We also ordered Cranberry Chicken sandwich (not in the photo) for W3, 900 (PhP156).

McDonald's Miniature Store Collection by Papa McDo

It is my honor to introduce to you my 71 year old uncle, Albert Ng- McDonald's biggest fan thus crew members call him "Papa McDo" ; )

 a small- scale  replica of McDonald's Fontera Verde

He invited me to his humble abode late November over a lumpia feast to showcase his new found passion, building small- scale McDonald's restaurants from recycled materials.

Read along as I show you why he deserves the number 1 fan badge!

McDonald's Reopens 4 Stores on its 30th year!

My event: September 29, 2011

McDonald's

Makati Cinema Square

Makati City

8-MCDO

For the very first time, four McDonald's stores will simultaneously open today, September 30 at 8am. Collectively known as The Anniversary Stores- McDonald's Makati Cinema Square, Greenhills, North Avenue and Quezon Avenue commemorates the opening of it's very first store in Morayta in 1981. 

McDonald's 30 Years of Magic

These four stand alone stores differ in design concept yet still offer the same McDonald's experience- great tasting food and excellent service!

McDonald's Makati Cinema Square- as seen in the following photos after the break, offers neutral yet savvy design that's distinctly modern.

McDonald's Greenhills- calls its design LIM, short for Less Is More, a very playful interior that focuses on fun and casual dining.

McDonald's Quezon Avenue- a bullseye that is prominently displayed on the wall is just one of the graphics that separates one section from the other.

Mc Donald's North Avenue- a contemporary cafe look provides customer with warmth and comfort.

All four stores bear the signature red blade and white ribbon at the store's exterior with pylon carrying the Golden Arches.

McDonald's Fruity Strawberry Twist Sundae

McDonald love ko 'to! Fruity Strawberry Twist Sundae PhP32

I love their old version of strawberry sundae- vanilla ice cream with strawberry and strawberry syrup. I dislike the new twist that they added- wafer stick. But I love anything strawberry + ice cream so I will still eat this haha

Senior citizens, you only have to pay PhP22 for an order of Fruity Strawberry Twist Sundae! ; p

Hot Fudge on a cold, rainy day

McDo's hot fudge sundae

When it rains, I want my ice cream. Oh darn, I have been eating ice cream since lunch today. I had Arce Dairy Calamansi Sherbet and now for my merienda, a McDonald's Hot Fudge sundae. Me thinks I 'm gonna lose all the crap calories on my Sunday 5k fun run lol

What are you having in this rainy day?

McDonald's Greenhills is not PET FRIENDLY!

I was supposed to blog about this a long time ago but I guess it kept slipping out of my mind because of the pest- GLOBE!

Anyway, every Sunday, I am on a jogging mood with my parents and on one of those instances, I am with my Precious, my Pom.

Precious, our dog

After many rounds, we opted to have a quick bite and entered Mc Donald's. Upon entering, we come face to face with the manager who gave us the L-O-O-K. We proceeded and chose a table tucked in another room where it's almost deserted.

My dad doggie sit the dog while mom and I went in line for our order. We were not yet near the counter when my dad come out from the room followed by a security guard and the manager. It turned out the manager asked the security guard to tell my dad that PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE. If the manager have told us that this is not a pet friendly place OR EVEN PUT ON A SIGN OUTSIDE we wouldn't have entered! My poor dog!!!

We went to Tropical Hut instead. Ang arte arte ng Mc Donald's!