J.Co Durian Flavor, McDonalds + Shopping for Souvenirs in #MALIOBORO STREET

What's with the title you might ask. Seriously, dining in McDonalds in Yogyakarta? Well, I can't blame my companions if they are fed up with gudeg. I personally think Indonesian food is something that you don't fall in love with that easy. You should give it time. 

And while I was so excited to try each food in the list I always carried with us while in Jogja, my colleagues were thinking of something else. And so on our second day in the Central Javan city, we opted to try something more familiar. We thought of something not very "fastfood"but when we tried Malioboro Mall in the famous street with the same name, there was not much choice. McDonalds it was then.

 #MALIOBORO STREET

It was a rainy afternoon but the street of Malioboro famous for its shopping was still full of people.
Malioboro Mall is rather small with shops dedicated to class c and d segment consumers.

We noticed only a few restaurants located at the ground floor mostly fast food chains including McDonalds. I know it's just McDonalds but at least it's familiar taste. They have this local burger ---- Chicken prosperity burger---which is more of a huge salty patty.

We then went around window shopping. Nothing much to see. We tried some snacks being sold at some small stalls inside the mall.

Finally settle in J.Co for some coffee. Our friend Rupert was excited trying J.Co Indonesia because they sell "durian" flavored doughnut. Never tried durian doughnut before and I am pretty impressed at how they incorporated this pungent smelling fruit in a doughnut. Durian is of course abundant in Indonesia as it is in Southern Philippines so there is no shortage of this flavor in local J.Co stores. Hope they can also introduce this in the Philippines soon as this company is undergoing rapid and aggressive expansion in here.

We ordered half a dozen assorted donuts with J.Pops. 1/2 dozen donuts + 24 pcs J.Pops costs 79.000 Rupiah or roughly 307 Php. Not bad. Almost the same prices with the Philippines?

J Co. Indonesia's "durian" flavored doughnut

Carrying a box of J.Pops for take out, we crossed the street again to check some souvenirs to bring home to the Philippines. There are plenty to choose from at Malioboro.

There are small items like locally made key chains, wallets, figures and the like with a touch of Yogyakarta in them. And when I say touch of Yogyakarta, I don't just mean anything to do with Borobudur or Prambanan. Togyakarta is also about Ramayana Ballet and you can buy a lot of stuff associated with it. Same goes with "batik", a a cloth that is traditionally made using a manual wax-resist dyeing technique--- which you can see everywhere in Yogyakarta.

My wife developed a liking for shoals a few years ago to compliment her simple upper clothing when we go out. Since lamigin din sya, perfect ang shoal. And so she bought many pieces of em in Jogja. And sarongs for pasalubong too. Of course ref magnets are not ti be missed out and we found this nice shop selling wooden products.

Simple shopping and picking rather cheap items but it has certainly put a smile on our faces. Simple mementos we brought with us back to the Philippines along with the memories. If it is souvenirs, Malioboro is the place to be.

ALSO READ:

--Taxi to PRAMBANAN? No, do-it-yourself via TransJogja
--Postcard Perfect PRAMBANAN TEMPLE in Yogyakarta
--#PRAMBANAN2014: Free Museum, Souvenirs, Nasi Gudeg and the Notorious Becak Ride

--EDU HOSTEL Yogyakarta is about Comfort and Space

--WIJILAN GUDEG: Nasi Gudeg Komplit Special Bu Lies
--WHAT TO DO IN YOGYAKARTA: Ride a #Becak
--Borobudur Golden Sunrise Tour
--#BOROBUDUR: A Temple or a Shrine?