We’ve found out from a friend that McDonald’s started serving their breakfast menu last week through facebook. Being in Qatar for 5 years, it was actually surprising that McDonald’s didn’t bring their breakfast menu earlier as people here in Qatar are usually up early in the morning. So after having an early appointment with the doctor at 6:45 and ending at 8:45, Mavis decided to try out the McDonald’s Breakfast in Qatar and see how it differs from the Philippines or other places where we’ve had Mcdonald’s breakfast. When we were in Hong Kong, McDonald’s had Congee as part of their breakfast.

The McDonald’s Breakfast is available from 5 to 10 in the morning at Al Suhaim Bin Hamad (C-Ring Road along Toys R’ Us) and Markhiya. You have several options like the Big breakfast (14QR) which consists of 2 scrambled eggs, a sausage, muffins, hash brown and coffee. You also get a choice of jam; strawberry or apricot. You may also opt for the Value McMuffin Meals; Sausage McMuffin (7QR), Egg McMuffin (8 QR), Sausage and Egg McMuffin (9QR). The 3-piece hotcake would set you back for 10QR.

Big Breakfast in Qatar

As you can see above, the breakfast is served in carton boxes instead of the styrofoam plates we usually get in the Philippines. I don’t know which is better for the environment as styrofoam is inorganic while paper means cutting down trees for this purpose. Let the environmentalists decide. Anyway, I wasn’t too thrilled about the the whole thing as it seems it has been prepared minutes before we even ordered. The taste is your usual standard fare. The Sausage is good as they’re my favorite since way back. Xianelle had the3-piece hotcakes which we’re also ok. Again, nothing different nor better than any other Mcdonald’s breakfast.

3-piece hotcakes

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1. Fastfood in Qatar – McDonalds
2. 2nd Annual Doha Food Festival
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If you’re from Asia and plan to do some traveling within Asia between October 1, 2009 and January 1, 2010, try to book at AirAsia as they are giving away free seats or at least, very minimal fare. The Catch? You have to book from March 23- 29, 2009.

Booking Period: 23 Mar 2009 – 29 Mar 2009
Travel Period : 1 Oct 2009 – 31 Jan 2010
Travel Notes  : advance booking required

If you’re from the Philippines, from Clark, you can go to Kota Kinabalu for 70 Pesos (6 rials) excluding tax. Or you might want to go to Kuala Lumpur for 700 Pesos (55 rials) excluding Taxes. VEry cheap indeed.

Click here for other interesting flights being offered by AirAsia.

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3. Be the Next Millionaire Winner!

How am I supposed to even get Burgundy Status if I only travel once a year?

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Our stay in Hong Kong was definitely a blast. This time was different from our visit in 2001. Back then, we were only 2 whereas this time, we were 8 in all (6 adults and 2 kids). Traveling as a couple is definitely much easier than being in a group with both the “young once” and the “young ones”. I am referring to Tian’s parents and the 2 girls Xiane and Yiyi (Xiane’s cousin). Everything had to be done a bit slower. But it was fun just the same, nothing compares to being able to travel with family. We had been to places we wanted to visit in Hong Kong such as the Victoria Peak and Madame Tussaud’s, Ocean Park, Ladies Market, Wanchai, and of course saving the best for last, Disneyland! It was fun being in another place and experiencing a different culture and way of life and meeting other people. 

Having stayed in HK for a week, we somehow got to live like the Chinese. We used their very efficient MTR with which we used the “Octopus Card” (a card that is widely used in public transportation such as the MTR, tram, bus and the ferry and recently also being used in some outlets like 7-11, KFC, Watsons, etc.) We ate authentic Chinese food, so authentic that you know the very distinct smell of it even as you pass by a restaurant. Unfortunately, only Tian and I were fond of Chinese food, that’s why it helped that our companions brought along with them tocino, adobo, salted eggs and kilawin from the Philippines. But most of all, we had to do what is a must among the citizens of Hong Kong and that is walking for a lot for the most part of the day. How our feet and legs ached every single day! Only in Hong Kong have we walked that much.

It was great shopping in HK although now, I’ve come to realize that it is still a bit more expensive to shop there than here in the Philippines. But a visit in HK will not be complete without some shopping spree. When in HK, the best place to shop is the Wanchai area. Items are much cheaper there than those at the Ladies Market in Mongkok. Take note that at the Ladies Market, prices are marked up so one has to have good haggling skills or else you’ll end up paying more than you really should. Don’t follow my example though. I was at this stall selling Chinese blouses and tiongsams. There was this specific blouse that I liked then I started to haggle. The lady was selling it for HK180 (about QR90 or Php1,100). Trying to push my luck, I asked the lady to give it to me for HK60! The lady said “that is too much less”. In short, she didn’t give it to me for that price. She was a bit upset although not mad and when I told everyone about it, they all had a good laugh. They all teased me for what I did. The thing is, I was supposed to haggle for half the original price but being the genius that I am in math, I made the wrong calculation thus ending up with HK60. Too bad I had to leave the stall before the lady got angry.

Our last 3 days in HK were spent in Disneyland Resort. We rented a mini-bus as transportation from the Stanford Hillview Hotel in Kowloon to Disneyland, which is about 30-minute drive. Then we checked into the Disney Hollywood Hotel which I definitely loved. It was very cozy, contemporary and stylish. The rooms are good-sized and most of all the service was nice. That same afternoon, Xiane got to swim in the pool with Goofy. But of course, fun in Disney only starts once you get inside the Park. Soon enough we hobnobbing with our favorite Disney characters such as Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Daisy, Chip and Dale, Goofy, Pluto, Winnie the Pooh, Woody and  Jessie, Buzz, Cinderella and Alice. Children and adults alike are so crazy to have their photos taken with these characters that spending a day in the park won’t be enough. We also enjoyed the rides which are quite different from rides in other theme parks. Most of the Disney rides are interactive. Xiane’s favorites would be the Astroblaster, Pooh’s Hunny Pot and Stitch Encounter. But one ride we will never forget is the Space Mountain which for us is the scariest ride we have ever ridden so far. It is like a roller coaster ride without the loops. But what makes it scary is that it is an indoor ride, where the only lights you’ll see are stars that give you the feeling that you’re in space. The turns are quite sharp and not being able to see in the dark, one cannot anticipate what’s going to happen next. But the thing that scared us the most about it was when Xiane took the ride with her Tita Tin. We didn’t have any idea yet then that’s why her dad allowed her to go through it. Besides she passed the height requirement. Thank God she surpassed it with flying colors. She didn’t cry but most of all she wasn’t hurt. However, we swore that she will never ride it again. The same thing goes for me. We also loved the Golden Mickey’s, The Festival of the Lion King, Disney On Parade, Disney in the Sky. We were very lucky to have seen The Golden Mickey’s as it is shown only in HK and the Disney Cruise. Unfortunately, the use of video cams was prohibited in the theater. Disney on Parade was so fun to watch. The Disney characters paraded in themed floats along with dancers and performers in costumes who are mostly Filipinos. Disney in the Sky is probably the grandest display of fireworks that I have ever seen. Our Disney experience was definitely well worth it. All of us really had a taste of what it is like to be in “the happiest place on earth”.

Our stay in HK was just the perfect way to start our vacation. Aside from all the fun we had, having spent it with Tian’s family makes it really more special and memorable. It is something that we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

Related posts:

1. Arriving in Hong Kong
2. Off to Hong Kong
3. Almost Ready for Vacation

It felt nice to be back in Hong Kong. Having been to Hong Kong before, Mavis and I knew that it’s one of the places that one would never really get lost. First, they have a very good transportation system. You can either choose a bus, taxi, tram, ferry, and the underground train (MTR). The Hong Kong Tourist Association provides you with so much information in terms of booklets and other documentation. They are readily available once you step out of the plane for no charge at all. Mavis got a bunch just right after we got our baggages then just discarded the ones we don’t really need after sorting them. On the MTR, maps are provided for touristy places with clear indications where you are and where you should be going. Shopping areas are close to each other so you can walk in Kowloon and Hongkong without really thinking what street you are on. At the end of the day, you can probably ask anyone where the nearest MTR is so you could get back to your hotel or take a taxi. By the way, the flag down rate of a taxi is 15HKG.

Mavis was also able to meet with her friend Liezel who was a batchmate of hers in UP Baguio. We  met at about 6:30 PM and she took us to Yoshinoya where you can order korean-japanese fast food.  After some walking around the Kowloon area, we got back to the hotel ready for some rest. I’ll write some more about today when I get the chance tomorrow.

Related posts:

1. Off to Hong Kong
2. The Hong Kong Experience
3. Breakfast at Home