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Prior to our Da Nang, Vietnam trip, I already made research on the must-buy items in Vietnam and in my mind, I will buy Non La (Conical Hat), Lanterns, Fish Sauce, Coffee Grounds, and Coconut Candy. I planned to buy these items during our tour or when we have nothing to do at the hotel. But it did not happen because we are lazy to shop because of the rainy weather. 

A few years ago, whenever my husband goes to Singapore, I always asked him to go to IKEA Alexandra but now that we have IKEA Philippines, it is no longer part of his itinerary. Hehehe! When we say Singapore, the most popular pasalubong are Kaya Spread and Irvin’s Salted Egg Chips but our country has its own version of coconut jam, and Irvin’s products are also available here. In addition, I don’t crave these foods so my husband no longer buys these for pasalubong.  

After our canceled beach getaway last February, I already accepted the fact that year 2021 is the same as the year 2020; no travel trips again. Though I miss traveling, I don’t want to waste my energy on the things that I can’t do, instead, I shifted my focus on the things that I can do even I am stuck at home. International or domestic travel is unachievable but I can still explore the world through food tripping, 

OldTown White Coffee is a pride of Malaysia which was founded in the year 1999. They are the largest and halal-certified kopitiam restaurant chain. Kopi tiam or kopitiam means a traditional coffee shop that is mostly found in Southern Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, and Malaysia. These coffee shops offer toast or kaya plus coffee or tea. Some kopitiam in Malaysia offer extended menus where you can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner meals.


Whenever my husband goes to Malaysia, he always eats at OldTown White Coffee and at the same time, he buys OldTown White Coffee instant beverage mixes. Yes, the company is not just a coffee shop but they also manufacture instant beverage mixes. It started with a desire to serve the finest coffee at home or in their 200 outlets across Asia.


OldTown White Coffee is a perfect blend of three types of coffee beans which are Arabica, Liberica, and Robusta. OldTown White Coffee has different variants, they have Classic, Hazelnut, Less Sugar, Mocha, Cane Sugar, Coffee & Creamer, and Extra Rich. They also have OldTown White Milk Tea, Nan Yang White Coffee O with sugar added, Nan Yang White Coffee O Kosong, Black Series Coffee with sugar added and Black Series Black Coffee.

Among the flavors, we have tried the Classic, Hazelnut, Mocha and Extra Rich. Since I’m not addicted to coffee, my favorite variant is Mocha but my husband prefers the Classic one. My husband bought a lot of this coffee during his trip in Malaysia last December so this coffee was our gift to colleagues and friends.


Just this month, my husband went back to Kuala Lumpur and bought a few boxes of coffee. He also bought OldTown White Coffee Extra Rich, we haven’t tried it yet so I’ll just update this post.


So if ever you are going to Malaysia and you are a coffee lover, don’t forget to eat or drink at OldTown White Coffee shops or buy their instant beverage mixes, instant coffee, ready to drink OldTown White Coffee or even milk tea. This coffee is made from premium beans so expect that the price is not budget-friendly compared to the brands that you see in the supermarket.

OldTown White Coffee 3 in 1 Classic
A perfect smooth blend of the original white coffee. Rich, creamy and aromatic, it has a heightened lingering mouthfeel.

OldTown White Coffee 3 in 1 Hazelnut
A rich fragrant Hazelnut flavored white coffee blend. Creamy, nutty and unique, it leaves a tantalizing mouth feel.

OldTown White Coffee 3 in 1 Natural Cane Sugar
A satisfying blend with the great taste of natural cane sugar. Smooth, tasty and milky, it delivers medium strength coffee aromatics.

OldTown White Coffee 3 in 1 Less Sugar 
25% less sugar compared to OldTown White Coffee 3 in 1 Classic.

OldTown White Coffee 3 in 1 Mocha 
An irresistible treat- the perfect union of cocoa and OldTown White Coffee Blend. Indulge yourself with a creamy rich and full of depth OldTown White Coffee 3 in 1 Mocha.

OldTown White Coffee 2 in 1 Coffee & Creamer 
A great alternative for the health-conscious. A full-bodied white coffee minus the sugar.

OldTown White Coffee 3 in 1 Extra Rich 
Bolder and richer in taste and aroma, created using coffee beans that are roasted at a special high temperature. Stronger overall coffee enjoyment with our signature creamy and smooth texture.

OldTown 3 in 1 White Milk Tea 
A flavourful combination of milk and tea. Aromatic and calming with a smooth creamy mouthfeel.

OldTown Nan Yang White Coffee O with Sugar Added
White coffee “o” with sugar added, roasted to perfection! Strong, dark palette with a nice bittersweet balance.

OldTown Nan Yang White Coffee O Kosong 
Distinctive and strong- just like the good old days!Thick and bold with full-bodied white coffee “o” aromatics minus the sugar.

OldTown Black Series 2 in 1 Black Coffee with Sugar Added 
Features deep rich flavors with a hint of caramel, satisfying aroma and a lingering sweeter note. 

OldTown Black Series Black Coffee 
Features irresistible, deep intense flavors with a well-balanced hint of caramel.

OldTown Black Series Enrich Freezed Dried Instant Coffee 
Feature a both and smooth flavor made possible only from our premium freeze-dried coffee beans. Enjoy a 100% gourmet-style black coffee or brew it your way!

OldTown White Coffee RTD Can Drink 
Perfect for people on the move. Now you can truly enjoy the great taste of the original white coffee anytime, anywhere… chilled!

Read: Where to Stay in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 

Buying pasalubong or souvenir is not always part of my travel itinerary so when we went to Batanes, feeling ko wala naman ko mabibili. When I also checked our 3 Days Batanes Tour Itinerary, there is no souvenir shop that was included in our tour. I thought makakatipid ako but I was wrong, napagastos din ako.


On the last day of our tour, we saw a souvenir shop and we asked the tour guide kung pwede kami tumingin so we checked some stuff and decided to buy a ref magnet. I don’t normally buy ref magnet kasi natatambak lang but this one, I put it on our fridge.


Then we visited Honesty Coffee Shop, this coffee shop is very popular because there is no staff who will assist you. It is a self-service store where honesty rules. So for experience, we bought something. Just get the product, list the product and price in the notebook, and drop your payment in the drop box. We bought one keychain and two coin purses.



Since we finished our South Batan Tour earlier than expected, our tour guide dropped us at Tawsen Souvenir Shop. We bought cookies and t-shirts. I’ve seen these cookies in Honesty Coffee Shop too so we bought few pieces of it so we can try Batanes delicacy. If you notice the flavor of the cookies, puro root crops noh? Yan kasi tinatanim nila sa Batanes.





You can buy camote cookies, turmeric cookies, peanut cookies, garlic bits, turmeric powder, and turmeric tea. We enjoyed the cookies naman, pwede din snacks habang nagtour or while waiting for your flight. They also sell basket, hat, native bag and vakul. I saw some foreigner who bought vakul, hand-carry nila sa flight.

And on our last day of breakfast in Bernardo’s Hotel, my husband asked kung san pwede bumili ng longganisa and the staff said, they are selling the longganisa. So I bought one pack, my son has been eating this longganisa every single day so para hindi niya mamiss, binilhan ko siya. The longganisa was frozen, they just wrapped it in paper and plastic. Hindi naman siya nasira sa tagal biyahe namin.


While waiting at the Basco Airport, I checked their souvenir shop and I saw sungka. I’ve been looking for this since 2016, nung nakapaglaro kami sa Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan. Akalain mo sa Batanes ko lang makikita.

Traveling is already costly so buying pasalubong for families and friends is an additional expense. My husband is a frequent traveler but we don’t expect him to buy pasalubong every time he has business trip. But of course, we’re happy if he has pasalubong especially those foods or things that are not available in the Philippines.


Thailand is not only known for temples, delicious foods, or shopping malls. They are also famous for being one of the affordable countries that you can visit. We had a chance to visit Bangkok Thailand last summer and I agree that Bangkok is not that expensive compared to other countries that we have visited in South East Asia so you can stretch your budget and buy some pasalubong.

Read: 6 Days in Bangkok with Kids

Bangkok is a popular shopping haven so I’m pretty sure even you don’t like to shop, you will visit at least one mall. You can buy souvenirs or pasalubong from malls, markets and even at the airport if you have no time. If you love giving pasalubong or if you just want to buy souvenirs from Thailand, here are some of the best things to buy in Thailand.

1. Tamarind  

We have tamarind here in the Philippines but tamarind in Thailand has more flavors. Yes, you can buy sweet, savory or even spicy tamarind. It is really a popular pasalubong, parang pag may pupunta sa Bangkok, expect na may tamarind na bitbit.

2. Dried Squid 

Just like tamarind, you can also buy dried squid and they also have different variants. We were able to try some of the delicacies because this was the pasalubong of my sister-in-law when she went to Bangkok few years ago.

3. Durian Chips 

When I was buying pasalubong in Bangkok, I always see Durian products but I did not mind it because I dislike durian. Naku, amoy pa lang niyan hindi ko na gusto. I even told my husband na wag na bibili ng durian candy pag galing sa Davao. Kasi nasasayang talaga at wala kumakain sa bahay and even sa family and friends namin, wala may gusto. hehehe!


Then few months ago, my friend said that she likes the Durian Chips in Thailand, masarap daw siya. So out of curiosity, I asked my husband to buy Durian Chips when he went back to Thailand last August. Since he has no time to go to the mall, he bought the chips at the airport. One pack is THB195 and to be honest I find it expensive for chips, parang Irvin Salted Egg Chips na ang mahal. So I was really hoping that I did not waste my money.

While my son was reviewing for his exams, I opened the Durian Chips and surprisingly, there is no bad smell and when I tried it, it tastes good. My son said, “I don’t like durian” but when he tried it, halos siya na umubos. The packaging said "No Cholesterol" and "Salty" but it is not salty and not oily so you will feel less guilty in eating chips. Now I know, why people like this so if you are going to Thailand, buy Durian Chips and you will be amazed because you won’t think that you are eating Durian.

4. Mango Sticky Rice 

They say that people will travel anywhere for good food, which is true because Mango Sticky Rice is one reason why I wanted to go back to Thailand. We have mango and sticky rice here in the Philippines but I love the mango sticky rice that I’ve eaten in Bangkok. I have tried the mango sticky rice in The Terrace Restaurant and from Robinsons Supermarket and both taste good.



And because it became my favorite, my husband buys me mango sticky rice if ever he had a chance like a layover or business trip in Thailand. He always buys at the Suvarnabhumi Airport so the price is a little bit higher, I think it ranges from THB180 to THB200. He only buys two packs because there is expiration so you cannot hoard. I eat it right away.

5. SIANG Oil 


Oil is one of the trends now so I’m pretty sure that your family or friends will appreciate SIANG pure oil. Honestly, I’m not familiar with this brand but I saw this when we went to the supermarket and when I was in the airport so I bought it. SIANG pure oil is used for pain, inflammation and insect bites. This is available in different packaging and I chose this one so you can bring it anywhere.

6. Lounge Pants and Silk Scarves 

As I’ve said before, Thailand is known as a shopping haven so you can’t help but visit malls and market. During our trip, we visited MBK Center where you can find affordable stuff so if you have time, visit this mall. You can see a lot of lounge pants with elephants print and silk scarves which is a good pasalubong. Jim Thompson House & Museum has a souvenir shop where you can buy silk scarves but expect the price is steep.

7. Namu Life SnailWhite Products 

While I was looking for souvenirs at Suvarnabhumi airport, I checked different stores and I even visited the pharmacy and I was surprised when I saw foreigners who are buying Namu Life SnailWhite products. I got curious kasi basket of SnailWhite talaga ang binibili nila, kung makahoard sila ganun na lang. I thought mura siya na pwede pampasalubong but when I checked the price and it is not cheap, pangmaharlika. lol

Then I just learned that Namu Life is a famous brand in Thailand and Snailwhite is a popular beauty product in their country. This beauty product is good for repairing and renovating aging skin. They have different products such as facial cream, sunscreen, body wash, facial mask, mist, and the whipp soap.

Just this month, Snail White Whipp Soap is already here in the Philippines. Yes, you can already buy this soap in Watson or online shop but dahil sikat pa siya, lagi sold out. I’m also curious about trying the soap, maybe next time. I will ask my husband to buy this for me baka mas mura sa Bangkok. :)

That’s my list, care to share your favorite pasalubong from Thailand.

Read: Where to Stay in Bangkok Thailand

Just like that, Holy Week is finally over. I was looking forward to this holiday because I know that we can have a long vacation. It is a good time to go out of town or out of the country but unfortunately, we were not able to travel because we had a home project and my mom went back to the Philippines. Though we did not travel, our Holy Week was quite busy too.

Palm Sunday 



If you read my post last week, you already knew that we went to Acuaverde Beach Resort last Palm Sunday. My husband treated my in-laws for an early summer getaway since he will be busy the following weeks. Check my post here.

Holy Monday and Tuesday

Last January, my husband already contacted a contractor for a small project at home, we already scheduled the date but for some reasons, the contractor did not show up. Grrr. We looked for another contractor, but the rate is too steep, so we did not get it. Finally, we found another one and he was able to finish everything in just two days and we only spent half of the rate of the second contractor. Imagine, two days lang ginawa compared sa 4 days na sinasabi ni 2nd contractor. I just realized, na kaya baka hindi natuloy yung mga nauna kasi mas makakahanap pa kami ng mura at mas okay gumawa.

Holy Wednesday

I was happy that our home project was done in two days so I have time to finish my errands. We need to go to the bank before the long vacation, ang haba ng pila sa bank parang nag last minute bank transaction din ang mga tao.

Holy Thursday 



It was the year 2008 when we first visited Caleruega and since then it became my husband’s happy place so every year, we always visit this church every Holy Week. Last week was our 10th year anniversary, naka-isang dekada na pala kami.

Good Friday and Black Saturday


My mom is back to the Philippines so we spent our holiday at my brother’s house because my mom stays there. We also visited my grandmother in Bulacan, it was like a mini-reunion. The most exciting part is my mom gave us our favorites from Norway. Yey! Ang hirap magcontrol na naman ng “less sweets”.


Easter Sunday 

After church, we went to SM Megamall and ate lunch at Abe. They went shopping but my family went home na to avoid the traffic.

Now back to reality, I need to finish my laundry, iron clothes and clean the house because my mom will stay at our house this coming week. The busy mode is on again.

There are no classes for two days already because of Nationwide Transport Strike but I’m still busy because I need to finish my son’s reviewer for his exam. But now, let me take a break and continue my Summer in Norway series.

My friend asked me “kung ano daw mura bilhin sa Norway na pangpasalubong”. I said, “Walang mura! Hehehe!”. If you’ve been to Norway or if you’ve read travel blogs about Norway, you will always read that Norway is one of the expensive countries in the world so you really need an extra budget if you are planning to visit this country.

I agree to that, whenever I go to their grocery store, if ever we will eat in the fastfood or restaurant or if we will take public transportation, I can’t help myself in converting the amount to Philippine Peso. Mahal talaga siya. Good thing that their water is potable so no need to buy mineral water if ever you will stay in a hotel.

But of course, even the price is expensive I still bought some pasalubong, minsan lang naman ko makapunta ng Norway e. Few days before we left, we went to the grocery to buy chocolates, juice, sauces etc. As usual, my son bought Kinder Egg Surprise and Kinder Maxi Chocolate.

Hindi kasama Snickers, baon ko pa yan from Philippines. hehehe!

Don’t forget to buy Freia chocolates, we really love their chocolates and you can’t buy this anywhere. So far, hindi ko pa siya nakikita sa ibang country so I can only taste this pag-umuuwi mom ko. There was no sale when we bought the chocolates, sana pala bumili na ko ng madami nung April. We bought Freia chocolates before my husband went back to the Philippines for my in-laws, at that time nakasale. Nung pauwi na ko, wala man lang sale. Waah!


Freia chocolate has so many variants, I almost tried everything na rin since my mom always buys different flavor but our personal favorite is Melkesjokolade and Firkløver. We also like their chocolate chips cookies so I bought this for our snacks while waiting in the airport.


The Freia Kvikk Lunsj chocolate is my husband’s favorite. It is like Kitkat chocolate pero mas type niya ito.



There is Freia Twist too, it is an assorted chocolate. Not really our favorite but this is good pasalubong for those who like to try different flavors.


My aunt wanted to buy chocolates para iuwi ko but I don’t have enough space so she just gave me money. I bought this Freia Melkehjerter at Oslo Airport,  it is buy 3 + 1 promo. This is good pasalubong too kasi may I heart Norway pa na nakalagay. Hehehe! There are two boxes of chocolate inside the box.


And because I like their sauces, I bought Hollandaise Sauce and Bearnaise Sauce.

We also love their Lerum juice syrup, just add water lang. If hindi lang mabigat sa luggage, bibili ko ng marami nito. I bought Blåbærsaft, I have Solbaer sirup na, prize ko sa Bingo. Hehehe!

We also went to the bookstore to buy some souvenirs like magnet and keychain. I saw the receipt in the plastic bag so check the price below. You can also buy this in the airport, I think, hindi naman nagkakalayo price nila.


Stuffed toy keychain NOK79
Refrigerator magnet NOK49
Keychain NOK70
Swiss Knife NOK115

If your stopover is Netherlands, check my post about Pasalubong from Netherlands.

If Sweden, Pasalubong from Sweden