Michi Photostory

I don’t like the coronavirus but I can’t deny that it opened my world to online shopping. It started with Lazada, Shopee, Amazon and now I’ve already tried Uniqlo Online Shopping. Slowly, I am learning and trying different eCommerce sites. During pre-pandemic days, I always visit Uniqlo shop in the mall, maski nung nagJapan kami, nagwindow shopping din ako dito. But during the pandemic, I tried to avoid the online site at baka mapacheck-out ako lagi. 

I rarely buy clothes online because I prefer to see the style, feel the fabric, and of course, to check if it will fit me. The last time I bought at Zalora, hindi kasya yung damit sa akin and tinamad na ko magreturn and because of that natrauma na ko bumili ng clothes. But since I usually buy clothes at Uniqlo, I know our sizes already. 

Read: My Love and Hate Relationship with Online Shopping 

My son is already a teenager so the majority of his clothes no longer fit, I remember his Confirmation bitin na yung pants but we don’t have time to go to the mall so sinuot pa rin. Since nakakalabas na naman ang mga vaccinated teenagers (depending on alert level), I need to buy new clothes for him.

Almost two weeks ago, we went to the mall to buy clothes but the guard did not allow my son so my husband and my son stayed at the parking lot while I checked Uniqlo shop. Unfortunately wala gaano available sizes sa anak ko. My son is at stage na mahirap bilhan ng clothes kasi bihira yung may kasya sa kanya (maliit kapag sa kids section at malaki kapag sa adult section). I know may preteens or teens section pero ang hirap magmall. Sa Uniqlo, I always check size 160, XS, and small pero depende pa yan sa type ng clothes.

And because of that, I went to the Uniqlo website and started “adding to cart”. The online shopping site is very easy to use and I like the fact that there are so many options and may FREE SHIPPING. For delivery, you can choose ship to address or click and collect. And for payment pwede din Cash on Delivery. Upon check-out, you will see the delivery option, payment option, and order summary. 

Ship to address: P120 shipping fee 

Orders of PHP2500 and above - FREE shipping via Ninja Van 

Click and Collect: FREE 

Note: Order will be coming from our warehouse and not from the store. Delivery will take 2-10 days. Estimated delivery time frame by region (in working days) - Metro Manila: 3 - 5 days, Luzon: 5 - 8 days, Visayas: 8 - 10 days, Mindanao: 10 - 12 days. Government-mandated Community Quarantine may impact delivery time. 

Credit/Debit Card: We accept cash and major credit and debit cards as payment. Order will be canceled automatically if no payment is made within 2 hours. Please have your order confirmation with you. 

Cash on Delivery: COD handling fee is free. Please pay upon delivery of your order. If your area is out of coverage, please select another payment option. 

Pay In Store: Kindly note that the item will be coming from our warehouse and not from the store. Pay in store will follow the standard delivery time frame and does not offer "same day pickup/delivery" 

On my first try, I chose Click and Collect because I don’t know how fast or slow the delivery, baka matapat pa doon sa araw na wala ako sa bahay. Then I chose Credit Card for the payment option, but the OTP failed me. Wala ko narereceived na OTP so naiinis na naman ako sa mobile signal ko. grrr

After several days, I tried it again, this time, I chose the Ship to Address and Cash on Delivery option since hindi na tuloy ang alis ko. And finally, success ang online shopping ko sa Uniqlo. I immediately received a confirmation email.

On the same day, I received the shipping notification. 

Feb 5 - placed my order 

Feb 5 - order was shipped 

Feb 7 - received my order 

Ang bilis lang pala ng delivery and the box was sealed. It has a receipt and instructions if you want to return the order. My order is correct and complete.

Let me start with my husband's trip to Vietnam last December 2019, this was a tiring trip because he visited Saigon and Hanoi in a span of one week so Manila - Saigon - Hanoi - Manila. Not only that, he also stayed in three different hotels. I already blogged about Sheraton Saigon, Le Meridien Saigon and this time let me share Movenpick Hanoi. 

Movenpick Hanoi is the third hotel that he tried in Hanoi, Vietnam, he previously stayed at Sheraton Hotel Hanoi and JW Marriott Hotel. If I remember it right, he had a hard time looking for a hotel during that time so good thing Movenpick Hanoi has an available room for him.   

This hotel is located in the heart of the central business district so it is ideal for both leisure and business travelers. It is 40 minutes away from Noi Bai International Airport and 5 minutes away from the Old Quarter and city center. 

The 30 sqm room is decorated in contemporary French Style with city views. It has a working desk, a comfortable leather armchair, and LCD TV. 

The bathroom has a full glass panel, magnifying mirror, and rainshower. 

24-hour room service is also available, my husband arrived late so he chose room service for his meal. 

The room package includes a complimentary breakfast at Mangosteen, it is an all-day-dining restaurant where you can order a mix of Vietnamese and international flavors. Open from 6AM up to 11PM. 

Guests have access to their Kinetic Gym and Wellness Studio and if you want to relax, they also have massage and sauna facilities. 

For leisure travelers, you can explore these attractions which are located a few minutes walk or drive from Movenpick Hanoi. 

Hoan Kiem District, 83A Ly Thuong Kiet Street 

Hanoi, Vietnam

One thing I learned about COVID19 pandemic is to learn to adjust and adapt, hindi man kami makakain sa labas, pwede naman magfoodtrip sa bahay and you know what, it is much cheaper pa. In my previous post, I shared about the Prima Taste brand and I recently discovered that they offer several Best Singaporean Favorite Meal Sauce Kits so I planned to try each meal sauce kit.

I’ve blogged about Singaporean Chili Crab so next on my list is Hainanese Chicken Rice. Hainanese chicken rice is considered one of the Singapore national dishes. This dish was created by Hainan immigrants who went to Singapore during colonial days. You can see Hainanese chicken rice throughout Southeast Asia like Indonesia, Malaysia, and even in the Philippines. We ate Hainanese chicken rice at Wee Nam Kee and Hainanese Delights.

My first experience of Hainanese Chicken Rice was way back in 2007 when we went to Singapore. I always eat this poached chicken if ever we are in Singapore, you can find this in the hotel, restaurant, and hawker. And because of that, I also tried to cook this dish from scratch pero okay lang ang lasa. Hehehe! So I was happy when I discovered the Prima Taste Hainanese Chicken Rice, I bought this online and I’m not sure if it is available in the supermarket. 

The pack includes almost everything na, all you need to add are the chicken, rice, veggies, and water. The pack includes Hainanese Chicken Rice Fragrance Oil, Hainanese Chicken Rice Premix, Sesame Soya Sauce Oil, Chili Sauce, Ginger Sauce, and Dark Soya Sauce. There is a recipe guide and how-to-cook video on their website or YouTube so cooking this dish is really quick and easy. I don’t want to use whole chicken so I used chicken thigh fillet. 

2.5 liters Water 

1 pkt Hainanese Chicken Rice Premix 

1.2 - 1.5 kg Whole chicken 500 g Long grain rice (we recommend Thai long grain rice) 

1 pkt Hainanese Chicken Rice Fragrance Oil** 

610 ml Chicken stock (for Step 3) 

Condiments: Sesame Soya Sauce Oil **, Chilli Sauce **, Chicken Rice Ginger Sauce **, Chicken Rice Dark Soya Sauce ** 

Cucumber 

Coriander leaves 

Suggested Soup Garnish Soft bean curd (tofu), Lettuce (shredded), Coriander leaves, Spring onion 

** Included in Prima Taste pack 

1. To cook chicken stock, fill stockpot with 2.5 liters water, add Hainanese Chicken Rice Premix and bring to boil on high heat. Submerge chicken into the stock with its back facing up. Lower heat and simmer for approx 30 mins. 

2. Remove chicken from stock and chill in ice water for 15 mins. Drain well, set aside chicken and chicken stock. 

3. Mix rice, 610 ml chicken stock(from Step 2), and Hainanese Chicken Rice Fragrance Oil in a rice cooker. 

4. Stir rice gently after 5 mins and continue cooking. When cooked, fluff the rice gently with chopsticks (while loosening rice, avoid the bottom of the rice cooker). Leave at the 'Keep Warm' setting for 10 - 15 mins. 

5. Put the whole packet of Sesame Soya Sauce Oil packet in a pot of boiling water and boil for 2 mins. Remove from heat, cut open packet and pour into a bowl. Set aside at room temperature. 

6. Chop chicken into parts. Arrange on a platter, over a bed of sliced cucumber. Pour Sesame Soya Sauce Oil over the chicken and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve with warm rice. In separate condiment bowls, serve Chilli Sauce, Chicken Rice Ginger Sauce, and Chicken Rice Dark Soya Sauce as dips.

VARIATION: You may use chicken pullet for tender, juicy chicken. Other parts of the chicken such as chicken leg or chicken breast. 

STORAGE: Store in a cool, dry place. After opening, keep the pack refrigerated and use it within 3 days. Volume Conversion: 1 cup ˜ 8 oz / 230 ml 

We’re so happy with the result, good thing I bought two packs. I prefer this Hainanese Chicken Rice Ready-to-Cook Meal Sauce Kit kasi mas close ang lasa niya sa nakakain ko sa Singapore kaysa sa niluto ko from scratch. Hehehe!

He thought that he can spend the remaining SGD70 vouchers after two weeks. Unfortunately, his Singapore business trip was canceled because of the COVID19 so naexpired na yung SGD70 vouchers namin (valid for 1 year only). Sayang ang PHP2,600+ marami pa pwedeng mabili doon. Lesson learned, gastusin na agad ang vouchers at baka hindi na makabalik abroad.

We rarely eat Singapore Chili Crab because it is expensive if you will order it in the restaurant, so far we have tried Mesa Filipino Moderne and Claw Daddy. But because of this Prima Taste, you can eat your favorite Singapore dishes at the comfort of your home. They have different Ready-to-Cook Meal Sauce Kit that you can choose from. 

For the Singapore Chili Crab, the pack includes Chili Crab Paste, Chili Crab Sauce Mix, and Extra Hot Chili Mix. There is also a recipe guide and you can also watch their video on how to use this sauce kit. My husband bought this in Singapore but it is also available at Landers PHP248.75 and online. 

Ingredients: Serves 2 - 3 

146 ml Peanut oil 

1-1.2 kg Live Sri Lankan crab (or any crab)

10 ml Peanut oil (reserved from frying crab) 

1 pkt Chilli Crab Paste ** 

125 ml Crab juice (reserved from soaking crab) 

470 ml Water (for Step 2) 

1 pkt Extra Hot Chilli Mix **, as desired 

1 pkt Chilli Crab Premix ** 

30 ml Water (for Step 4) 

2 nos Egg, lightly beaten 

Coriander leaves 

** Included in Prima Taste pack 

1. In a wok, warm peanut oil for 30 secs on medium heat. Add crab (without shell) and cover the wok. Fry for 1 min, turn the crab over and fry for another 30 secs. Remove crab and strain peanut oil for later use. 

2. Mix 5 ml fried peanut oil (from Step 1) with Chilli Crab Paste in a wok. Stir for 5 secs on medium heat. Add fried crab from Step 1, stir well, coating the entire crab with the paste. Cover the wok. Fry for 30 secs on medium heat. Pour crab juice (from Step A4, found inside the pack) around the crab. Mix well for 30 secs. Gradually add 470 ml water. 

3. Place shell (from Step A2, found inside the pack) over crab, with outer shell facing up. Cover wok for 90 secs. Stir and scoop gravy over crab. Cover wok for another 90 secs, then scoops gravy over crab again. Add the desired amount of Extra Hot Chilli Mix. 

4. Stir Chilli Crab Premix into 30 ml water in a bowl. Mix well, Add to crab, stir gravy evenly for 30 secs. 

5. Pour beaten eggs around crab and stir for 3 secs. Add 5 ml peanut oil (from Step 1) onto the crab and stir. Coat crab with gravy. 

6. Place crab and gravy on a serving platter and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve with steamed rice or crusty bread. 

VARIATION: You may use seafood such as lobsters, mussels, clams, and prawns. 

STORAGE Store in a cool, dry place. After opening, keep the pack refrigerated and use it within 3 days. Volume Conversion: 1 cup ˜8 oz / 230 ml 

I’m not fond of spicy food so when my husband cooked this, he did not include the extra hot chili mix. We are satisfied with our DIY Singaporean Chili Crab and we’re glad that we no longer need to order this at the restaurant since we can prepare this at home. This was also part of our holiday potluck, my husband used curacha also known as spanner crab or red frog crab. 

Anyway, despite the stress, let me count my blessings this week. Yesterday, we got this package from my husband’s generous friend. We rarely buy or order scallops because it is expensive. But if the price is reasonable or if I want to treat myself, napapaorder ako nito. I like the unlimited scallops of Yurakuen and the Spaghetti ai Tesori del Mare of Amici.  

Two years ago, I ordered Japan Jumbo Scallops at ninjas.pantry for my quarantined birthday celebration. Medyo bitin yung 9 pieces so I told my husband to buy scallops for our Christmas Eve but I was shocked kasi iba siya sa una ko nabili. Maliit siya and nahirapan ako maglinis and because of that, I don’t want to buy scallops na. Gusto ko yung katulad sa Yurakuen and yung nakain namin sa PAL Business Class na scallops. I want to buy ready to cook scallops. Hehehe!

But we got these scallops for free so I’m thankful for the blessings and wala ko karapatan magreklamo. If you remember my previous post “DIY Seafood Hotpot”, hindi ko pa nakakalimutan yung pagod ko sa paglinis ng scallops so my husband volunteered that he will clean and bake the scallops. Yey!  

After he baked the first batch, I suggested to remove all the shells na kasi anong oras pa kami magdidinner kung every 12 to 15 minutes ang baking time. So we had two versions of baked scallops, one with shells and one without shells. 

Read: DIY Samgyeopsal at Home 

Hotpot is also known as steamboat or soup-food, it is a type of cooking method that is originated in China. Sometimes we called it shabu-shabu, a Japanese term for hotpot. Our first hotpot experience was twelve years ago and since then, we already tried a few shabu-shabu restaurants both domestic and international.

Unfortunately, because of the pandemic restrictions, it is not easy to do some food trips so we do our own food trip at home na lang. Two years ago we prepared ingredients for hotpot and samgyeopsal for my mother-in-law’s birthday. We enjoyed our hotpot experience pero ewan ko ba bakit natagalan yung next hotpot namin. 

After one year, we had our first DIY Hotpot at home. For the hotpot, you need broth and raw ingredients that are easy to cook. You can prepare thinly sliced meat, dumplings, vegetables, vermicelli, seafood, and other foods that you like. 

For our soup base, I bought different flavors from Lee Kum Kee online, I purchased Pork Bone, Chicken, and Seafood. I also bought Bibigo Mandu PHP240 and Assorted Hotpot Balls 250g PHP165 at the Korean store. My husband bought our seafood at the wet market, for our family of three, nahirapan pa kami ubusin ito. We had clams, mussels, salmon, and tiger prawns. I added vermicelli and green vegetables kung anong meron sa fridge. 

We enjoyed our shabu-shabu at home so after a month, we had seafood hotpot again but this time, we only have a few ingredients (prawn head, scallops, vermicelli, and dried wakame. It just so happened that someone gave us seafood so we had crabs, prawns, and scallops. We already cooked the crabs and prawns but I don’t know what to do with the scallops so para madali, hotpot na lang. Good thing, I saved the prawn heads para malasa yung broth namin. I don’t have veggies at home so I used dried wakame na lang. 

Watch the video here.

P.S. Matagal pa yung paglilinis ko ng scallops kaysa sa pagkain namin. Waah!

We already tried several Korean BBQ restaurants like All 4 U Unlimited Korean Restaurant, Su Won Korean Garden Korean Restaurant, Siram Gyupsal Unlimited Korean BBQ House, Wow Samgyup Unlimited Korean Grill, Romantic Baboy, and just last month we tried Samgyupsalan Unlimited Korean BBQ. 

We visited my late sister’s family in Valenzuela and before we went home, magdrive through sana kami sa fastfood ng lunch but on our way to the restaurant, I saw the “Samgyupsalan” and I asked my nephew and niece if they’ve tried Korean BBQ and hindi pa daw. I asked them if they love to try it and they both said yes so yung take out namin, naging samgyeopsal. Hehehe! 

It was a weekday so the restaurant was not full. Samgyupsalan offers unlimited meat, rice, side dish, soup, iced tea, lettuce, and sauces. It is unlimited for one hour and forty-five minutes and PHP200 leftover fee per plate. You can choose from their 3 UNLIMITED SETS. 

Set A PHP319 - Unlimited pork and chicken 

Set B PHP399 - Unlimited pork, chicken, and beef with free one serving of steamed eff. 

Set C PHP449 - Unli all meat with enoki beef and steamed egg. 

Add ons: 

Unli Cheese PHP40 per head 

Soju PHP179 

Softdrinks PHP55 

Steamed Egg PHP50 

They also offer SET MENU from 1 to 5. 

Set 1 Pork - Good for 2-3 persons PHP599 450g of pork with 4 side dishes, 150g of lettuce, and 50g of ssamjang paste or garlic sauce. 

Set 2 Beef - Good for 2-3 persons PHP699 450g of beef with 4 side dishes, 150g of lettuce, and 50g of ssamjang paste or garlic sauce. 

Set 3 Pork and Chicken - Good for 3-4 persons PHP799 450g of pork and chicken (each) with 4 side dishes, 150g of lettuce, and 50g of ssamjang paste or garlic sauce. 

Set 4 Pork and Beef - Good for 3-4 persons PHP899 450g of pork and beef (each) with 4 side dishes, 150g of lettuce, and 50g of ssamjang paste or garlic sauce. 

Set 5 Pork and Beef - Good for 4-6 person PHP1599 900g of pork and beef (each) with 4 side dishes, 300g of lettuce, and 100g of ssamjang paste or garlic sauce. 

In addition, just like Romantic Baboy, you can also order frozen meat and side dishes per tub (450g) for take-out if you want to have your own Samgyeopsal at home. 

Read: DIY Samgyeopsal at Home 

We chose the Unlimited Set C. For the meat, you can choose plain, bulgogi, spicy, or curry flavor. But some flavors are not available so we only tried plain pork, plain beef, bulgogi beef, and spicy chicken. I can’t remember if the steamed egg and enoki beef are also unlimited but they served 2 steamed eggs and 2 plates of enoki beef. 

Staffs are approachable and efficient so walang matagal na waiting time kapag nagparefill kami ng drink, sauce or meat. Overall, my nephew and niece enjoyed their first samgyeopsal experience. Nakakapanibago lang kasi wala na yung sister ko na lagi namin kasama sa foodtrip din.