Food Trip 2: Manang's Chicken

I have tried the specialty of Manang's Chicken several times, which if of course their own version of fried chicken. I first learned Manang's Chicken when a member of Pinoy Exchange told me that the chicken of Manang's is better than Bon Chon (which I also tasted a few months ago). And so, the rest, is definitely history.

Last week (9-22-2011), during my dinner break from work, I decided to buy at their store in Ortigas Center (it is located at AIC Gold Tower, Garnet Road cor. near F. Ortigas Jr. Road Ortigas Center Pasig City. Contact # 5848848). I bought a 1-piece chicken (which costs P75) and I took the mild sauce. Since I have my camera with me, I decided to take some pics of the chicken I bought.

They should consider paper bags instead of plastic bags.

Packaged in Styrofoam

1 pc. chicken (mild sauce) with rice

Closer look of the chicken

In case you didn't know, the chicken is double deep-fried, dipped with a special sauce (you may choose the original one, mild spicy, or extra spicy) and sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Since they are located in Pasig, they should have consider their packaging like box cartons for the food instead of styrofoam, paper bags for take out instead of plastic, and plates, metal spoons and forks for dine-in at their branch. But hopefully they will comply with these, just like other fast foods around the Ortigas Center. 

 

I really love Manang's Chicken! Tasty, delicious, and crispy! I would also recommend their chicken wings as well. "Ang bagong fried chicken ng Pinoy!"

For more info about Manang's Chicken, you may visit their Facebook page: Manang's Chicken. You may also follow them on Twitter: @ManangsChicken

Adventure Trip 1: Malaysia (Day 4)

August 30, 2011

It's our last day in Kuala Lumpur and our flight going back to Manila was scheduled to fly in the afternoon, so we woke up a little late, but at least we left the hotel on time and we had prepared our things to bring along. We were supposed to take a bus at KL Sentral going to LCCT, but our companion decided to take a taxi all the way to the airport since we woke up a bit late, might take a long time at KL Sentral Bus station and arrive at the airport late as well.

I was unable to get the paper of my companion that contains the itinerary of places that we can visit while we were in Kuala Lumpur, well, that include some places we had not visited like Genting Highlands, Batu Caves, and others.

It's quite sad that the day has come to go back to Manila, but who knows one day, we might come back to Kuala Lumpur and even stay even longer and even go to more places (hello Singapore as well?)

To wrap up this amazing trip (for me), Here are the summary, ideas, and tips while you are in Kuala Lumpur and nearby cities and towns: 

- Travel from the airport (we landed at LCCT) to KL Sentral usually takes an hour. There is a network of expressways as you travel along.

- The streets in Kuala Lumpur proper is narrower than the streets in Manila, but they have lots of street signs and confusing street turns. And they have an array of mass transportation around, like the BRT, LRT, Monorail, and the conventional buses.

- If you will take a taxi, make sure you demand the driver to use the meter and not by contract. Based on our companion when flagging down a taxi, it's better to deal with a taxi driver who is Malay rather than those who are Chinese or Indian (just an observation)

- If you love shopping, you will see malls almost side by side (especially in the Bukit Bintang area) and they have a wide variety of choices to choose from. Clothes, shoes, IT products, you name it! Most of the malls in Kuala Lumpur closes at 10PM.

- Since I have no idea what are the local delicacies of Malaysia (when it comes to food), I still would recommend eating at the row of Chinese restaurants also at the Bukit Bintang area. You may choose from the restaurants and Chinese dishes you may want to eat.

- Aside from Batu Caves and Genting Highlands, I would recommend visiting Kuala Lumpur City Centre (where the Petronas Twin Towers and other landmarks within the centre are found), Merdeka Square, KL Tower, etc.

Here are some pictures going to the airport for departure going  back to Manila.

Our home for 4 Days, near the entrance

Plaza Low Yat, it's an IT mall where you can find all the gadgets and its accessories you want to buy.

Sungei Wang Plaza

Berjaya Times Square

SMART Tunnel Entrance (Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel)

Toll Plaza at Putrajaya

Signage to KLIA

Another Toll Plaza

Scenic view of the expressway

Sepang F1 Circuit

Nearing LCCT

Cebu Pacific Banner encouraging tourists to visit Manila

Check-in counter inside the airport

My lunch: McChicken Sandwich, McShaker Fries-BBQ Flavor and Coke

Last pic at the airport before departing to Manila

Ready for take-off

Sunset while inside the airplane and home sweet home Philippines!

Adventure Trip 1: Malaysia (Day 3)

August 29, 2011

While my mom and my sister were still sleeping, my companion and I went to Merdeka Square to see the site and the architectural structures within that area. After waking up at around 8AM, we quickly proceed to the said site and take some pictures. It actually rained on that time, so we brought umbrellas to go there. So we rode the KL Monorail at Bukit Bintang station going to KL Sentral, then after disembarking, we walked a short distance to the LRT station-Kelana Jaya line, and disembark at Masjid Jamek station, and walked a few meters to reach the square. Here are some below pictures.

Inside the monorail

It's me @ KL Sentral Monorail sstation

@ KL Sentral LRT station

Information Board/Kelana Jaya line route

At the platform, and it's raining outside

Architectural structure in Malaysia

Merdeka Square

Marker of Merdeka Square

We actually entered the National Textile Museum building, but I was unable to take some pics and we only had limited time because we will going to Selangor after our photoshoot within Merdeka Square.

National Textile Museum building

After the photoshoot, we accidentally went again to the Central Market and then to Chinatown, and at that time, we decide to eat our breakfast. After eating, we went back to our hotel, buy some food for my mom and my sister, and take a bath while they are eating. Then we are heading to Selangor, particularly at Sunway Lagoon. I really thought that we are going to Batu Caves or even Genting, but instead we went to Selangor. Maybe my sister don't want to go to Batu Caves due to the monkeys. We would love to go to Genting, but it is too far and we only have limited budget left in our pockets. Maybe the next time we will go back to Malaysia.

To get to Sunway Pyramid, we rode the monorail, stop at KL Sentral, ride the LRT Kelana Jaya Line also at KL Sentral, disembark at Kelana Jaya Station, take a cab going to Sunway Lagoon. (http://www.sunway.com.my/pyramid/index.asp)

Look, no driver!

Entrance of Sunway Pyramid Mall

As always, we shopped around the mall to find items, and since it's Malaysia's nationwide sale at that time we were there, the items there are on bargain or with discounts.Then our companion asked us if it is okay to enter the Sunway Lagoon Park. but when we learned that the entrance fee at the park is too expensive for the all park package, even the 3 park package, we begged off. (http://www.sunwaylagoon.com/main.asp)

Sunway Lagoon

Entry fee is too expensive!

So we decide to go back inside the mall and shop around again. We had spent the whole afternoon to roam around the mall to see and buy some items that we will like. Hehe. At around 5:30 PM, we decide to eat at Nando's. Remember my last post that we were unable to eat at Nando's at Bukit Bintang, KL? This time around, we were able to eat at Nando's. Its specialty is their peri-peri chicken which spicesEating will not be complete without rice, hehe. We ordered 4 mild-spicy flavored chicken and a couple of sidings, one of them is rice. It might not be spicy, but I'm satisfied with the taste of the chicken. (http://www.nandos.com/)

Nando's Menu

Mild Spicy Chicken

After eating, we traveled back to Bukit Bintang, and do some last minute shopping before we depart for Manila the next day. We bought the I <3 MY t-shirts, a 16GB Sandisk Memory Card (for me, since its availability in Manila is limited, so I bought it for RM70), even tennis balls for my dad. After the last minute shopping, we went back to our hotel, eat snacks, prepare things for our departure the next day and surfed the net. It's so sad that our short stay in Malaysia will come to an end. Maybe next time, my next stay in Malaysia will be more exciting!

Bukit Bintang @ Night

Good night!

Adventure Trip 1: Malaysia (Day 2)

August 28, 2011

Second day of our trip in Malaysia, and it's getting excited each time!

Since we already have tickets for the Petronas Twin Towers' skybridge (courtesy of our companion), we went to Kuala Lumpur City Centre and entered Suria KLCC first. The mall doors are open, but the stores are still closed since we went there at around 8:30 AM. Since we haven't taken our breakfast, we went at a supermarket inside Suria (Cold Storage) and bought some food.

Suria KLCC

Outside the mall

Inside the mall basement level

The food we bought @ Cold Storage, looks like fish nuggets, but it's a tofu, sort of.

After eating some snacks, we immediately proceed at the Petronas Twin Towers. Since we already have tickets, we just have to wait at the lobby. While entering, the ticket counter has long lines for those who will be lucky to go to the skybridge since the tickets are sold out already. While waiting to go up the skybrdige, we watched a video on how the Petronas Twin Towers was built and started. Then after a few minutes, we are now called to go up the skybridge. We were given 15 minutes to view the city from the skybridge and take some pictures. Entry at the skybridge costs RM10, which is affordable. (http://www.petronastwintowers.com.my/internet/pett/pettweb.nsf/frm_skybridge_hi?OpenFrameset)

Sorry, no tickets for the others

Our companion and me

Shot @ the skybridge

View of the KLCC Park

Camera shots: Bottom

More shots @ skybridge

Begging for more, hehe

After the Petronas skybridge experience, our companion bought some coffee buns for us, and it's delicious and tasty. Then we walked around the park and entered Aquaria also located within KLCC. My companion said that Aquaria is bigger than our own Manila Ocean Park (which I haven't entered yet). So many attractions inside, so many kinds of fishes, and other animals out there. Entrance fee for this costs RM45 each for adults. It may be a bit expensive than Manila Ocean Park, but it is worth visiting. (http://www.aquariaklcc.com/)

Rotiboy coffee bun: better than Roti Mum, I guess?

Some sights at the park

Going to Aquaria

Piranhas!

What is that creature? So big!

More fishes...something fishy

Nice backdrop, looks real!

More @ Aquaria

After our Aquaria experience, we went at Sun Yat plaza for lunch.This time we went at this Japanese resto named Sushi Zianmai. I am not a fan of Japanese food, particularly the raw food they served, the sushis, the makis, whatever raw, I don't eat. But I like the cooked ones though. All of us ordered chicken katsudon bowls, and some drinks. We don't bother getting those Japanese food that are spinning around. The food we ordered is good though. 

Menu of Sushi Zianmai

Get what you want; but I don't like them.

Katsudon

KL Mororail @ Bukit Bintang

After our lunch, we go from one mall to another until we stopped by at Berjaya Times Square (http://www.timessquarekl.com/). It is actually the biggest and tallest mall in Kuala Lumpur, or maybe the whole Malaysia. You can find there bargain items and some branded items (just like our very own Greenhills, only bigger) and it has an indoor theme park (sorry I haven't entered the theme park though). We've spent some time there to shop around (my mom and my sister are shopping addicts) so I have no choice but to tail around them. We we not able to roam around the whole mall since it has 10 floors (it's tall and big) and we only reached the 5th floor of the building so we decided to go back to our hotel and buy some snacks at KFC. 

Shoes for my dad, RM179

View of Berjaya Times Square

After some snacks and rest, we proceeded at the Central Market to check around some stuff there. Then we went to Chinatown where you will buy the cheapest giveaways like key chains, ref magnets, and so on. Afterwards, we went to Mydin supermarket to buy chocolates and also t-shirts for my two nephews. 

At Central Market

Central Market

We had some difficulties going back to Bukit Bintang. We want to take a taxi, but the drivers insist of contracting us. Then we ask somebody where are the bus loading station back to Bukit Bintang. Since our companion is fluent in Bahasa Malaysia, it was easy while being in Kuala Lumpur. We went back at the Bukit Bintang area without any hassles (except that the traffic in that area is bad even in night time). Then we shopped again, hehe. After which, we decide to eat dinner. We were supposed to eat at Nando's, but the waiter said that there is no rice available at that time, so we transferred to another restaurant nearby @ Old Town White Coffee, where we ordered a large chunk of fish fillet. (see below photo)

 

So that's it for the second day of my trip in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tiring second day, but still enjoying it!

Having some beer while having internet.