Discover Kobe: Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Shin-Kobe

Day 3

December 30, 2012

Kobe (DIY Tour)

Japan Railways (JR)-West Rail Kansai Wide Wide Area Pass is the best way to get around Japan. With our passes, we were able to board Japan's Bullet Train called Shinkansen to Shin-Kobe. Passes are sold for only JPY 7,000 (PhP3,500) per person and is good for four days. You can reserve your pass here.

 Shinkansen and I

Running at speed of up to 300 km/h, the Shinkansen is known for punctuality (departs on time to the second), comfort (silent cars with spacious, always forward facing seats), safety (no fatal accidents in its history) and efficiency - SOURCE

I have listed a lot of Things-To-Do but unfortunately, it was raining that day in Kobe. We were not able to visit Kobe Harborland. We were not able to ride Shin Kobe Ropeway or even take Fantasy Kobe Sea Bus (cruise). 

Anyway, let me take you to the Shinkansen Station first, read more about it after the break...

Gift Guide: Starbucks Glass Water Bottle (White)

With All Saint's Day over, it's officially holiday season on my blog! I posted several Gift Guide entries last December 2011. This year, I am posting a month earlier to give you more ideas on what to give your loved ones and friends. I'm starting with this uber cool 16 fl. oz. white glass water bottle from Starbucks.

Starbucks Glass Water Bottle 16 oz. PhP 795

I first saw the Starbucks Glass Water Bottle from Kris of OCMomInManila when we both participated in the Amherst Plant Tour. She brought it with her during the tour. I thought it was expensive but she told me it was only less than PhP 1,000 and she has already bought two... wow!

Fast forward last long weekend, I visited Starbucks Trinoma and... voila! I found it hidden in the corner of the cabinet display, only 3 were left ; ( I quickly grabbed one. While lining in the cashier, I saw two ladies in front of me holding one glass water bottle each ; p

Glass: Made in Japan
Silicone Sleeve: Made in China

To get a closer look of the Starbucks Glass Water Bottle, read after the break....

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).

Merienda at Chef Laudico's BFAST

My visit: October 14, 2011

Chef Laudico's BFAST

Space #3 Restaurants @ Ayala Triangle Gardens, 

Ayala Ttriangle Garden

Ayala Avenue, Makati City

I have read about Chef Laudico's BFAST from a blog but I rarely go to Makati so I never had a chance to try the restaurant. My one and only chance was the day of my sister's graduation. I was with my parents and I was keen on sampling the menu of the restaurant.

 Angus Tapa PhP168

I suppose it was a slow day because only one other table was occupied when we entered at around 3 in the afternoon.  It was humid outside and even inside the restaurant despite the fact that one air con was running. The management's solution was to open the other air conditioner but even that didn't help. We were still sweating and had to get out of the restaurant immediately after our meal.

On with the food... I ordered an Angus tapa. It was served on a red plastic plate. A third of the beef was fat. It was chewy. The egg was cooked well though.

OOTD at Ayala Triangle Makati

I was in Makati last Friday together with my parents in support of my sister who graduated Valedictorian in the 5th PSE- ATENEO Certified Securities Specialist Course (PSE-Ateneo CSSC). Anyway, we were there 3 hours prior to the event. While waiting, we ate at Chef Laudico's BFAST and collected my free drinks courtesy of HSBC credit card in Starbucks. 

at Ayala Triangle, Makati

I saw a photo opportunity while walking towards the restaurant row. My mom, who is by now used to taking my photos, was instructing on how to angle my body towards the camera. That's why my body is a bit contorted in the following photos lol

Afternoon treat in Dome Cafe Shangri- la Plaza Mall

My visit: September 23, 2011

Dome Cafe

Unit 104- 105 L1

Shangri- la Plaza Mall

EDSA cor. Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City

6359746   6359625

You have all read about my cousin's lunch treat, if not read it here. Immediately right after, we went to Dome Cafe, this time the treat is on me! 

hot choco  PhP90

My dad's stomach acidity is acting up so he decided against ordering for a cup of coffee. He ordered hot chocolate instead. He loved the cocoa taste. It reminded him of his childhood days wherein cocoa tablet is dropped in a boiling water.  

The White Hat Yogurt Experience

My visit: July 15, 2011

The White Hat Italian Frozen Yogurt

Trinoma Mall

Pag- Asa, Quezon City

When my friends and I go out, we try as much as possible to use up all our gift certificates and charge slips for more shopping money ; p

 regular yogurt from The White Hat PhP90 each

We always meet up late with just enough time to shop before the stores closed. I have to eat a little or else I am going to faint from hunger hahaha One of my friends, Reggie, has a PhP250 gift certificate from The White Hat. I know this is not real food but I needed to eat, ok?

First bite in Sango Rockwell

My visit: June 17, 2011

Sango Rockwell

The Burger Master

Unit 103H  R1 Power Plant Mall

Rockwell

Once in awhile, DH and I have a date night where in we dine out and then watch a movie after. This is one of those nights. After getting a movie ticket, I think it was for Super 8, we searched for a place to eat. DH would usually suggest Oliver's Sandwiches if we are out of time but we have plenty of time on our hands that night. 

I saw a huge tarpaulin banners at the center of Power Plant mall advertising Sango Burgers. We were a bit lost because the ad says that the location of Sango Burger was in Lower Ground Floor. We searched the whole floor and back. We were getting irritated because we couldn't find the restaurant. Thank God for security guards who directed us to the place. It turned out that it is located outside just beside Starbucks. 

okonomi hotdog PhP155

The okonomi hotdog shown in the photo is just half of the order. I have made the mistake of telling the waitress to sliced both of our orders in half. When presented to us, our orders were separated already in different wrappers. It looks kind of small in the photo but it was very filling nonetheless.

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese pancake/pizza consists of different ingredients. Okonomi means what you like/ want. Yaki means grilled/ cooked.

The hotdog contains lettuce, onions and dancing fish flakes also known as katsuobushi.

Starbucks: Cinnamon roll and Lemon Poppy Seed muffin

My visit: October 24, 2010

Starbucks Coffee

Cinema level

6th floor, Shangri- la Plaza

EDSA corner Shaw Blvd.,

Mandaluyong City

Before my blog turns into an all fashion blog, I am sharing a food post for all you foodies out there!

cinnamon roll PhP49

Sneaky me, always when DH is not around, I will order a cinnamon roll. I am a late bloomer when it comes to the cinnamon taste. My palate was not accustomed to it but I learned how to like it. Now, I enjoyed it so much that I end up ordering it every time I go to Starbucks... without DH of course lol

Starbucks Christmas Wishlist contest

5 Christmas Wishlist

1. 13 in. MacBook Pro

Don't get me wrong! I love my 2 year old macbook but if I have the means I really want an upgrade lol I should have just said world peace, no? But most entries would have said that right? hehe

2. an iPhone 3GS

I have a macbook already and since I'm a terno girl, I want everything Apple. Call me materialistic but who is not? Reality bites!

3. Louis Vuitton Epi Leather Passy GM (white)

I don't want the logo to be screaming so I want an LV Epi Leather. I love everything blue but white is my new blue!

4. Limited Edition Starbucks USB thumb drive

My mom is a computer newbie. I got her a desktop and my DS is now teaching her to find her way around computers. I want to give her the USB so she can watch TV series using it. Save the earth and don't burn CDs.

5. Starbucks Planner 2010

It's hard to go on with everyday life without a list. I have a list whenever I go out especially when I grocery shop. And a planner would help me plan days in advance on what to do.

There you have it my complete wishlist. Make your own wishlist too and submit to adminatnomnomclubdotcom. This contest is brought to you by NomNomClub.

Promo: Starbucks

My visit: June 11, 2009

Starbucks

Shangri- la Mall

another promo code

What a lucky month! I got my second free Starbucks tall beverage just by answering a survey on www. mystarbucksvisit-ph.com. Honestly, the receipt was not even mine. It was an unclaimed receipt from the customer right in front of me. I asked the cashier who in turn asked the manager if I could have it and they handed the receipt to me.

With no time to waste, immediately after getting home I went to my computer and answer the survey right away. Hopefully, I can claim it today with DH. He was not able to benefit on my first free beverage lol

Starbucks: Caramel Dark Roast Coffee Jelly Frappuccino

My visit: July 5, 2009

Starbucks

3/f The Powerplant Mall

Rockwell Center

Makati City

As I have posted, I got my Guess who? card already. The card is redeemable from July 2 thru July 15. I initially wanted the Vanilla Dark Roast Coffee Jelly but in my enthusiasm to order I was not able to read that it is a caffe latte and not a frappuccino. When I got it, I was so disappointed seeing there is no whipped cream on top. If I want the whipped cream I have to shell out an additional PhP20 plus fat to my thigh lol Buti nalang the barista who is serving me is kind enough to change my order and suggested the caramel dark roast coffee jelly frappuccino instead. I paid the difference, an additional PhP10 for a grande. And with my Guess who? card, I get an upsize to Venti.

I was a bit confused because the barista gave me an ordinary straw. I found out that along with the new variant came a change in size and texture? in their coffee jelly. It is now twice the size of their old jelly and it is softer ergo the ordinary straw. But I still love the old tiny bits of coffee jelly plus the old unique straw. Bakit ba? kanya kanyang gusto lang yan... walang pakialamanan!

xoxo

Promo: Starbucks

My visit: June 22, 2009

Starbucks Coffee

1st floor Annex A

NS Amoranto cor. Speaker Perez St.,

Quezon City

9737006

complimentary drink

I paid for my grande drink and what do I get? A long receipt with instructions on how to get my complimentary beverage! Lucky me lol All I have to do is go to their website and answer the survey form. After that a code will be given and you can enjoy a beverage of your choice on them.

Love promos!

Feelings of a First- Time Freeloader

It was January 29 when I got 2 email messages from my correspondent in SPOT inviting me and a guest to attend food pairing tips from Starbucks the next day. I was initially hesitant and quickly told my DH all about the email during breakfast. DH was not so keen on attending . What to do? call a "friend"... my ever reliable "sister" AC- my partner in crime~

Luckily, she doesn't have job, uh huh, sorry to divulge that but maybe this blog can help in finding her one. So, post if you need a "L-I-A-R" oops... my bad, lawyer tee hee~ 

I called up Karl, introduced myself, and asked if there were any fees to pay to attend the coffee seminar. I learned that all I have to do was to bring myself and that's it. No fees whatsoever. check. Bring a friend? check.

Not expecting anything, AC wondered out loud if Filipino time or ON time will prevail. The later won. Good thing, we were there a few minutes before the seminar started. We were only about 10, plus 1- that's AC, in the group so it was very intimate. The only downside with doing it inside the coffee shop was the pipe- in music which was a bit high in volume and sadly, I wasn't able to hear much of the food pairing and just settle with the food tasting which was SUPERB by the way, no complaints here. I was actually shocked that my fellow blogger came prepared with cameras, pen and pad in hand. I, on the other hand, have my trusty IXUS 860 which for me was good enough. I'll keep in mind to bring pad paper next time. *wishing & hoping to be invited again*

What's yours?

My all time starbucks favorite drink is the Mocha Frappucino followed by the runner up Coffee Jelly, which I found out, that not all countries were serving. Taiwan for one doesn't serve it and I guess China too. Maybe my China reader can tell me. Gotcha!

Mocha Frappucino

Hmmm come to think of it, maybe the coffee jelly is only sold here in the Philippines and not everywhere else... Anyway, I'm not too keen on the jelly especially now that I'm watching my weight. But sometimes, I indulge myself *lol* Guilty pleasures!