MCDONALD'S HONG KONG (2017)

THE YAPPY BUNCH are in HONG KONG and like what we always do when we're in another country, we check out their local MCDONALD'S because we want to see how different it would be from Manila.

We already put a space for MCDONALD'S HONG KONG in our itinerary on our second or third day -- it was our aim to have our fill of delicious Chinese food after all. BUT, lucky us we ended up in a mall because our bus going to the hotel was stationed there. And, even if we have been going around and around the place, we can't find the type of Chinese food we enjoyed before.

After about an hour of going around, the boys saw the familiar golden arches of MCDONALD'S. Immediately they asked if we could have our lunch there because they were in the mood for some fries and chicken.

NGIKS! Ha ha ha ha ha!

Oh well. I never thought that our first official meal in HONG KONG would be in an American franchise but we gave in -- we were tired and we were planning to eat here anyway. Napaaga lang! Ha ha ha! And wow, we're so glad that we did because there was something so comforting biting into hot sandwiches and drinking cold soda after a long morning. Plus, we were able to find out how deliciously different MCDONALD'S HONG KONG was from Manila.

Yup! So even in HONG KONG, we would profess our love for MCDONALD'S. And like their ad declares, "Love namin to!"  

The place with the golden arches!

MCDONALD'S KIDDIE CREW

Let me start this post with my favorite quote by Bugs Bunny that I always cry out at the end of every school year...

"No more classes! No more books! No more teacher's dirty looks!"

Yes! It's here! The season that children and parents wait for all year....

SUMMER VACATION!!!!

Of course it's understandable that for the kids, the end of school means the start of all things fun. My master Mati would go as far as to shout "FREEDOM! FREEDOM!" with so much damning emotion.

As for me and the Yubhub, we are ALWAYS looking forward to summer vacation because it would also mean that we don't have to wake up at the ungodly hour of 5:30am to get the little lords ready for school. Also, we don't have to rush home to help them with their studies. So yes, no school means we could stay up late (watching dibidis or going out on date nights), AND THE YAPPY BUNCH could now make plans on a weekday.

Oh Yipeeee skip!

Of course, as much as we all are planning to have awesome fun this summer, the Chinese Adonis and I want the little lords to learn something as well. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for kids being kids during their vacation and I'm not going to lock them up in summer schools just so that they could be "out of the way". But they should also have to do something worthwhile even if it's just for half of the summer. The Chinese Adonis and I were looking for certain activities that would not only get them learning on that thing they call "life" but we also want them to have crazy fun. The little lords would regularly do basketball and football camp, they have already tried musical theatre in Trumpets, PLUS, they would always help out in the family business for a salary. But there is also this one summer thing that they have been doing for 5 years that has given them a lot of fun, food, cool stuff, and discipline ---  the MCDONALD'S KIDDIE CREW.

From a parent's point of view, if there's one word I could describe the MCDONALD'S KIDDIE CREW, it is SULIT. Why? Because for the 5 day activity you only have to pay P650.00 to get the MCDONALD'S t-shirt, bag, apron, chef's hat, crew cap, plus snacks! Not only that, your kiddie will get to experience how it is to have a "job" at a fast food chain.

Now believe me, for your little ones who are raring to grow up, this will be something VERY unforgettable for them!

The age range to be part of the crew is from 6 to 12 years old. There are some chains though that allow younger participants provided that they have somebody look after them during sessions. It's just too bad that Mati is already too tall for the MCDONALD'S KIDDIE CREW and we cannot have Andrei do it alone since we always want them to do summer activities together. So I guess 2015 was their last year doing the crew but it was definitely a great experience for all of us.

Check out the fun that the little lords had being part of the MCDONALD'S KIDDIE CREW and why they did it for 5 years!!! 

MCDONALD'S KIDDIE CREW 2015!!!!!

MCDONALD'S OSAKA (JAPAN TRIP 2015)

During our Japan trip last May, THE YAPPY BUNCH along with my brothers and sisters were able to eat in many restaurants and pigged out on our favorite Ramen, Sushi, Yakiniku, etc. etc! However, you may call us traitors or "bakayarōs", but there came a time wherein we were craving to bite into something familiar.
  
Something that reminds us of home...
Something that would take us a trip down memory lane...
Something that we have been craving for subconsciously....

And that something is...

MCDONALD'S!

Kekekekweeeengggg!!!!

In our defense though we always made it a point to eat in a MCDONALD'S branch  in all of the countries that we've been to (US, Italy, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, etc) because we wanted to see how it was different in each culture.
And yes, we are happy to discover that we always find something different and more special in each of the MCDONALD'S that we've been to per country.
Including JAPAN! 

MCDONALD'S!!!!!!!!!!!

Somebody inside wants to join our party! He he he he he!

For some weird reason even if we are already faced with all the delicious food in Japan, the thought of eating at this popular fast food chain got us all excited!

ANDREI'S WEEKLONG 8TH BIRTHDAY!

It's my Andrei's 8th birthday and as we do every year, we give my bunsoy a week-long birthday celebration by eating at his chosen restaurants, going to his activity of choice, AND singing a surprise birthday song whenever we can! You might say the reason we put in a lot of effort in having memorable birthday celebrations to the little lords is because my parents made sure we always had a blast when us sibs turned a year older. From what I remember, my Mom and Dad did not take us to expensive places nor give us outrageous gifts but my brothers, sister, and I were made to feel like little prince and princesses on our special day with the fuss they made over it. Of course, we wouldn't give anything less to our little lords! 

However, I guess my Andrei is having too much fun in his birthday celebrations that he wished it to be extended up to May!!! 

No kidding!

Andrei my birthday boy!!!

To give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe the reason why Andrei pleaded that his birthday this year should be up to May was that he remembered last year when we celebrated his 7th birthday somewhere in "Subic" at that month. He he he he he!

Anyway for this year, Andrei started his birthday 2 days early as his Lolo Pogi treated him to a kiddie birthday party at Mcdonald's Greenhills. 

MCDONALD'S PLAY AREA (US TRIP)

The Chinese Adonis and I decided that whenever we're in another country, we would always check out the MCDONALD'S there.  You may think that we sold our souls to the "commercialized gods" but really if you think about it when you visit  a country's local MCDONALD'S you would discover different foods infused with their culture!

I remember in MCDONALD'S Thailand, there was chicken curry in the menu. In MCDONALD'S Hong Kong there was spicy chicken wings. In MCDONALD'S Rome I remember having this garden salad with a dressing I cannot pronounce. Of course, I need not go far from our Motherland as MCDONALD'S Philippines have spaghetti and fried chicken.

This foodie fact was actually a realization by Samuel L. Jackson (or was it John Travolta?) in the movie Pulp Fiction. There is actually a scene where they discuss how the Big Mac has different "personas" abroad.

Anywho, when we got back to Las Vegas I asked my cousin when we could drop by MCDONALD'S to check out what they are serving this time. Their menu is regularly changing and I remember the last time I was here, they had these MCSHAKE IT Salads that was similar to what they have in PEPPER LUNCH. My little lords, who are regular patrons of MCDONALD'S (not to mention kiddie crew members) were more than happy at our dining decision this morning because dear Mati remembered how big their play area was.

So off we went to have an early deal at MCDONALD'S Henderson in Las Vegas. I wonder what they have in their menu that is unique to this specific place of the golden arches.

MCDONALD'S!

HONG KONG EATS (What TEAM YAP grubbed day 3 and 4)

We are celebrating the kids' birthdays in Hong Kong 2 months AFTER their real birthdays (see my weird but rational explanation HERE !!!) and we are on day 3 and 4 of our HK foodfest!!! 

(Jaz - "Like our previous WHAT WE GRUBBED series, there would be no sight seeing shots here.... okay just a little bit then. But mostly food!")

We woke up extra early because we will be going to DISNEYLAND!! Wohoo!!!

Yey!!! Here we are in the HAPPIEST PLACE on earth!!! Excited that we are finally here with the kids!!!

Mati LOVED the cotton candy in Disneyland and he really wanted to have one as soon as we stepped inside. 

Check out  3 year old Mati enjoying his first cotton candy in DISNEYLAND Los Angeles.

And it was the start of a beautiful friendship.

Which he gets to celebrate once or twice in 2 years... he he he he!

My little Andrei, the monkey see monkey do boy, immediately followed suit and insisted to have his own cotton candy. He dare not get a taste from Kuya Mati. He has to have his own ASAP!

I would normally tell him to try out Kuya Mati's cotton candy first since he is known not to finish anything his whole life but he begged and begged. I thought then, "Okay fine, we are ON vacation."

And I was glad I did because how could you resist this cute little face??? HOW???!!!!

BUT unlike Kuya Mati, who could finish his cotton candy in a jiffy, Andrei was taking a bit of a longer time and his cotton candy seemed so sweet, fruity, and fluffy. So we decided to help him out.

Oh he cried so HARD after this picture was taken. HA HA HA HA!!!

While waiting our turn for the WINNIE THE POOH  ride, we had a bit of popcorn!

For lunch we had some topped rice.... 

And bowls of hot noodles!!!

Mati was a choosy eater this time...

Because he CHOSE to eat the noodles AND the topped rice!!! He he he he!

As for me, I only want to eat this one thing in DISNEYLAND...

My ever favorite DISNEYLAND Mickey waffle!

OH THIS WAS SOOOOOO GOOD!!! If I was not watching my 33 inch waistline, I will eat 3 more of this!!!! 

So since I was on a diet but wanted to indulge, I did not offer a bite to my sons. They tried but I didn't. A small bite would just ruin my computation!!

OH. I. AM. KIDDING.

I offered a bite. To Andrei. And he declined. 

(Whew)

I know we said that we will let Mati and Andrei eat the specials of Hong Kong grub only for the whole trip but they begged to have some Mcdonalds in their system. Since they were good boys in Disneyland, we agreed. 

We thought as well that we SHOULD eat in MCDONALD'S branches in other countries because they do serve different food from the next. It is an experience too to compare the MCDONALD'S from different countries :)

In MCDONALDS Hong Kong we remember they have chili wings and no rice!!! He he he he he!

While the kiddies happily ate and gobbled everything up Yub and I were excited to eat Hong Kong street food for dinner!!!!

I got for meself a bowl of Schezuan noodles. I know I have a high tolerance for spicy food (i eat siling labuyo with my rice and meat!!!) so when the nice noodle guy asked if I wanted spicy, I eagerly answered "YES!"

But wow... his noodles were SO spicy!!! After 3 chopstickfuls of the noodles, my mouth and tongue were all flaring up!!!

The nice noodle guy offered to "wash down" the chili with a new serving of soup. Though it is more edible now, it still burned my insides.

Great noodles but SO hot!!!

And I don't mean the Paris Hilton kinda way!

My yub helped himself to some balls! As if he didn't have some already.

I WAS REFERRING to the earlier balls he ordered! What do you think of me? Thinking of you???

Tee hee!!!

I was impressed that my hub, a very finicky eater, loved the spicy curry sauce that the balls were swimming in. 

Everything was so hot and rich!!! Perfect for the chilly weather!

While we ate, the little lords waited for us and played PSP to their heart's content. They dared not taste the streetfood as they were still full and happy from MCDONALDS.

Okay! They were on vacation anyways!

Dessert time!

It was certainly love at first bite for us and these mini-waffles!

I think we had about 2 orders of egg and 2 orders of chocolate to cap off the night!!!

For our last day, we checked out what we could have for breakfast in the hotel....

Our last brekky at ROYAL PLAZA!!! We will miss you!

After a morning of shopping, we had some of Mati's favorite noodles for the last time in our trip!

Good bye delicious ramen!!! Till next time!

Mati was saying good bye so hungrily!!!

Our sizzling beef bulgogi!!! This was so good too!!!

This was the way towards the mall food court. I thought of taking a picture of it so I would not forget the memorable times we would yell there and create echoes in the long hall!!

TIME TO GO!!!

The boys played some KARATEY in the airport!

Before our flight we had some dimsum!!

The airport restaurant offered dimsums similar to what we have in CAUSEWAY or GLORIAMARIS but we were getting a bit sentimental here... 

... so we ate with mucho gusto as we bid sayonara to Hong Kong.

Wait that's in Japanese.

Anywho..

THANKS Hong Kong!!! Hope to see you soon again! We had fun eating with you!!!

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Check out our other WHAT WE GRUBBED series!!!

HONG KONG EATS - day 1 and 2 (click ZHELI !!)

USA EATS  (click HERE !!!)

ITALY EATS (click ECCO !!! )

SINGAPORE EATS  (click I-DON'T-KNOW-WHAT'S-HERE-IN-SINGAPOREAN !!!!)