Manila, Phlippines beyond Airport Customs!

Usually when tourists head to the Philippines for vacation, their destination is the surrounding islands to visit places like Boracay, Palawan, or Cebu City with beautiful beaches, relaxing resorts, coral reefs, and wild giraffes flown in from Africa. Somehow Drew and Alex did not get the memo. But that's fine. Who would want to go island hopping in the picturesque outdoors with non-native giraffes awkwardly galloping on beaches (ok the giraffes are actually in a safari type area but I thought it was a funny mental image.) Apparently instead they'd rather go to malls.....  Hurray..... No judgment, guys.

Well, they were in Manila, and they were going to make the best of it. At 4.2 million square feet, the SM Mall of Asia is the third largest mall in the country and the fourth largest shopping mall in the world. A well needed trolley is available to take people around.

 

Ice skating rink for those not inclined to shop. There is also a bowling alley, an IMAX theater with one of the world's biggest IMAX screens, and a stage for concerts.

From one mall, they head to another, Market! Market!

 As if there weren't enough malls, Manila is also the location for the SM Megamall, the seventh largest mall in the world at 3.9 million sq ft. And what mall would be complete without a Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord  for that quickie confession between standing next to Ironman and eating a Cinnabon...

 (SM Megamall. Web photo.)

Ok, so I'm being harsh on Alex and Drew's vacation choice. There were lots more to see and enjoy in Manila and the surrounding areas. If Drew had the time to write these blog entries he would be able to tell better stories that reflect a worthwhile trip. Things get lost in translation as I try to piece his trip together through pictures and inadequate chats.

In the end Drew enjoyed himself greatly in Manila including experiencing a monsoon that flooded the streets and buildings, which according to Drew was one of the highlights of the trip. He also gained invaluable insight into the unequal distribution of wealth as he saw impoverished areas with entire families living in small cement blocks with tin roofs and no running water, something not experienced in the artificial milieu of resorts. I guess vacation is not all about sipping tropical drinks on the beach as giraffes graze in the distance. (I cannot get over those giraffes.)

Moral of this post? Giraffes are cute.