P3665 TE Day 90

Avocado Coffee from Indonesia

Travel Bite: When we lived in Singapore, we were quite adventurous and we wanted to do things that we normally would not get the opportunity to do when we're back in Manila. One of our adventures was a weekend trip to Batam, an Indonesian Island off-Singapore. It's easily accessible by Ferry, but we didn't really find anything there worth coming back for (except the Cheap/Free Massage) which would be less hassle to get in Singapore to justify the price. 

However, the Avocado Coffee from Excelso that we got from the Ferry Terminal was really memorable. Excelso has branches around Indonesia.

Location: Batam, Indonesia

Date Photo Taken: September 2011

P365 TE Points for today: 2 out of 3 (for now)
P365 TE Points from Audience Interaction as of March 30: 89

P365 TE Running Points: 269 out of 270 (as of posting)

You can read the background of Project 365 Travel Edition here.  

Feel free to come back everyday. just saying...

P365 TE Day 89

Mercado Municipal de São Paulo

Travel Bite: One of the must visit places in São Paulo, is the Central Market. It's similar to the Mercato San Lorenzo in Florence, as it has food stalls and the biggest assortment of exotic fruit. The Must Try is the Pastel (a savoury pastry) available in many stalls. People normally go for the Bacalao (Cod), but they also have meat and cheese options.

For the fruit, while stall owners are generous with tasting portions, ask the price first before you buy. My daughter wanted some Mangosteens (which are dirt cheap in Asia) and a kilo from there would have cost Php2,500 (vs Php50-Php100 here!). I just had to say NO Thank You nicely.

Location: São Paulo, Brazil

Date Photo Taken: October 2011

P365 TE Points for today: 2 out of 3 (for now)
P365 TE Points from Audience Interaction as of March 29: 89

P365 TE Running Points: 266 out of 267 (as of posting)

You can read the background of Project 365 Travel Edition here.  

Feel free to come back everyday. just saying...

Museo Orlina in Tagaytay

When we took Grandma out for lunch in Tagaytay, which you can read about here, the original plan was to also visit Museo Orlina with the whole Tansengco caboodle. But because Grandma and Uncle Raymond weren't feeling well, we just told them to go home ahead of us, and the rest of us squeezed into the remaining 2 cars, so we could all go visit the Museum for a while.

Museo Orlina is located almost right across the road where you come out to Tagaytay, if you are passing the road that takes you there from Sta. Rosa. It's right after Tagaytay Econo Hotel (where you see the look out point), and just before Colette's if you're heading towards the Tagaytay Rotunda. There are street signs, and if you're looking towards the lake, you'll also see the Rooftop Cafe of the museum.

The road to the museum is quite a steep drop.

There's a small reception table, where you just pay
Php100 per adult to enter. I think it's Php80 for students
with ID and Seniors, but it comes with a free guided tour.

The first thing that caught our attention was the butt chairs.
Sorry, these aren't for sale guys.

Here are some of his works that caught my attention.
L-R Top: Contented Heart, Multivision Nude
 Homage to Amorsolos Bathing Nudes, Burst of Sunflower
L-R Down: Blue Sapphire, Unconditional Love, Pintado, Waterfall

Just to give you an estimate of the price range, you can buy the Contented Heart for around Php300,000. Good thing my heart is already content so I don't need another one.

After a quick tour of the ground floor, we went to the Garden which also is an Amphitheater.

This structure is by the National Artist
Arturo Luz.

Group picture with the Museum behind us.

Sofia and Lukey had fun pretend performing on the stage.
In other words, running around.

Sofia and Ninang Ri (and Auntie Stell) were copying this sculpture.

The next part of the tours takes us to the garage, which is actually under the stage.

Orlina asked Ben Cab to paint his Beetle. This is called "Sabel" inspired by
the taong grasang (literally oily person - meaning homeless and dirty) muse of Ben Cab.

His other treasure is a Mondrian Inspired Car which he painted himself.
You know you love Mondrian when it inspires your art, you have the Shirt,
and you have the car to match.

We continued the tour by going up the second floor, then working our way up through the other displays. Here are the other things that caught my attention.

He makes jewelry too! Drool... (just make sure you don't drop it!)

If you look at the eyes of the "Virgin Maria" it will
follow your every movement. Quite creepy.

Orlina sold the "Child in Woman's Womb" many years
ago for Php30,000. When he tried to buy it back recently,
the asking price was Php500,000 so they just borrowed
it instead for the museum. Hahaha.

Richard Gomez commissioned this piece in 1992,
and it's called "Dawn".
I wonder if he also has one called "Lucy".

Even if you're not into the arts, this one may be familiar.
He also makes the PBA Championship trophies. Hahaha.

We were really looking forward to having a coffee and hanging out at the roof top but unfortunately, their Barista (I guess they only have one) was absent on the day that we went.

Coffee Fail.

We were there close to sunset, so we enjoyed the view,
and we finally got a taste of the cool Tagaytay weather.

It was so windy, we were all posing for a picture (on self timer),
that the camera flew, so it only got Lukey who refused to join us.

Take 2. With Lukey this time.

We all had so much fun.
This little boy didn't even want to go home.

Thank you very much Auntie Stella for taking us. Visiting the Museo Orlina is a great idea if you find yourself in Tagaytay, even if you're not really that into Art. Just ask the kids and the cousins, we all had fun. just saying.

Museo Orlina

Hollywood Subdivision Road., 

Brgy. Tolentino East, Hollywood Subd.,

Tagaytay City

Open Tuesday to Sunday

10am-6pm

http://www.museo-orlina.org/

McDonald's Kiddie Crew 2014

Sofia really enjoyed her McDonald's Kiddie Crew Stint last year with Viele, (you can read about it here), so this year, when the kids wanted to do it again we agreed.

Normally, the best schedule to get for the kids, is when there is a holiday, so it's easy for those who work to visit. These are the weeks of April 9 and May 1. I'm not sure if they have a Holy Week schedule, but this is normally when we go out of town. You can also choose if you want your kid to work the morning shift, or the afternoon (1-3PM) shift. Since we were trying to accommodate Sofia and Viele's other friends who wanted to join, we chose the last week of March. I was thinking, I would try to drop by at least 1 day this week, but if work kept me busy, her grandparents and some of her godparents could go instead, since I was able to watch her work last year anyway. 

Sofia was so excited to go back to work at McDonald's. On her first day, I was really busy, so I just sent her with the driver and her yaya and the camera. (Photo Credits: Yaya Rechil)

These three girls are excited to serve!

They meet and make new friends because they need
to work in pairs.

The kids do counter duty. (You need to pay McDonald's to crew, because
the kids giveaway ketchup like it's water!).

They also take turns manning the drive-thru window.

They are also taught to clean the tables. 1 kid sprays, and another wipes.
(But parang all the tables they clean are already clean).

Then they break for snacks. The snack is included in the package.
The dynamic duo are joined by their youngest customer, shobe Viana.

Some days, they have special activities like Cupcake Decorating,
or decorating their aprons. Photo Credit: Auntie Stella

At the end of the shift, the kids line up for a Chocolate Fudge Sundae.

They not only get a sundae as a treat, they get to make it too!

On Wednesday this week, I had a full day out of office meeting with my team, so I strategically asked if we could work within the Greenhills area, so we could eat at McDonald's for lunch. Unfortunately, something at work popped up that was urgent and important and needed firefighting, so we had a really really late lunch. The good thing is, we were still able to catch the last 15 minutes of Sofia's shift.

Oscar Selfie, McDonald's Edition, Complete with Kiddie Crew Photobomber
Thank you to my very supportive team for coming with me.

Tito Noel, Sofia sent you loads of Ketchup since you weren't with us.

It was burger making day, so I got a picture of Sof
in her toque (chef's hat).

Sof with Ate Jamie

Sof joined us while as we ate our really late lunch.

Sofia's visitors that day was Ninang Ria, Lola Yaya,
Gammy and Auntie Nina (who has no choice because they had to pick her up).

My dad was also there earlier, because I saw him
(man in yellow) photobombing Lauren's photo.
Photo Credit: Col's Facebook

Our Kiddie Crew and Mommies Photo

Our Kiddie Crew with Moms and Grandmoms Photo

Normally on Friday, the last day of the Kiddie Crew Workshop, the kids have a small graduation ceremony. I didn't really plan to attend, but when things turned out to be super light at work, I just asked permission to work off-site or from McDonald's instead since I missed this ceremony the year before. (I love Agile Working!!!)

The gang were already all friends at the last day of work.
One of these kids even has a crush on Sofia. Hahaha.

Each shift starts with the kids getting their partners and their assignments.
The kids with visitors normally get given counter duty first.

Sofia and Viele's first customer was Viele's grandmother, so these 2 kids
were each given a Php20 tip!

While Vice and I got treated to Coffee Float.
Thanks Auntie! :)

Behind the Scenes of Sofia working at the counter.

After a while the kids disappeared upstairs to eat their snacks and practice for the program.

Food today was yummy Fried Chicken and French Fries.

Then with around 15 minutes left in their shift, the parents were called up to watch their short Graduation Program.

Ready to perform Make It Happen

I didn't really do a good job of recording it, so I just got the end (Ooops!), but you can watch the video here:

Afterwards, each kid was called up on stage.

The kids get 4 badges for being an Artist, Dancer, Burger Marker
and being Station trained. Just like the girl scouts, but way cooler.

Congratulations Sofia! Mom's so proud of you.

The kids hanging out while waiting for everyone to be called.

After the short Graduation Proper, there was another number from the three girls.

You can watch their rendition of Let it Go from Frozen here:

Then the kids just took some group pictures.

The mommies and grandmothers that watched.

Lauren's Shoti really looks like Lo!

Before calling it a day, I just ordered one last time
from Sofia for the driver.

And of course, the day doesn't end till the kids get
their own Sundae.

The girls had so much fun, they just didn't want to leave yet,
so they grabbed a table and ate their sundaes together.

Benny and the girls.

I am sure these girls will be asking if they can crew again together
next year.

While the registration for Kiddie Crew is a bit more expensive in McDonald's Granada (Php1,000) compared to the other branches, I like sending Sofia here because it feels safer, and the crew here already feels like family. 

Thank you to the McDonald's Granada Crew for taking care of our kids and teaching them the value of work. just saying.

Thank you also to Auntie Stella, Big Ma and Ninang Faith who visited on the other days that I wasn't there.

McDonald's Granada

Greenhills Town Center, 2 Granada Street,

Brgy. Valencia, Quezon City