Good thing I had rubber shoes on

And like everybody else who's jumped on the bandwagon, my sisters and I went off to see the Mall of Asia this afternoon with my cousins.

As it sailed into view, I was, frankly, a bit let down that this huge spawn of a monster mall did not equal my immagined span of 8 SM's put together. Once I stepped inside, however, there was an overwhelming feeling of immensity, though no profound realization of my-size-against-the-universe lit up in my head. Not really.

Stores were sprawled left, right, outside, inside, in the middle, wherever. Though this mall may be the Mall, it is still what it is, which is a fact that isn't enough to impress me regardless of size, lighting and air conditioning. But one thing's for sure: that whoever designed this was clever enough to maximize the space excellently.

We went around (warbled around, more like) and window shopped. At least my sisters and I did. I was really really surprised to see David suddenly walk out of Lacoste with new Lacoste shoes. And then check the time with his new Timex watch. And then Ate Kat bought a chocolate fountain machine, and this huge glass thingamajig that looks like a wine glass supersized ten times over. Splurgeee. And then before that they bought some doggie clothes for Truffles and Creamer (a new mini pinscher; why is everyone getting one these days?), which were really teddy bear dresses and sweaters from Bear Cuddler (which is a good idea, if you want to try it).

The three of us ate out at Max's; the others were still bloated at gagging level, due to the p1000+ per head international cuisine buffet they had at the Philippine Plaza Hotel (or is that the Philippine Westin-something?)

While browsing around in the HYPERmarket (oh, so now the new super is hyper, eh?), I saw Nikky Cancio, holding a milk carton and probably on her way to her cart. Yaaaay! (She's still the spittin image of Violet Parr in The Incredibles.) We talked around for a bit; why she wasn't able to go to the reunion (she was in the Mall of Asia at that time), what she's doing, what I'm doing, who I'm with, my summer, her summer, her Trumpets performance as the Scarecrow... Bunch of things. I'm so happy to see her, because meetings like these are a rarity.

Went home around nine o'clock. I think Manila (well, the more tourist-friendly side of it) isn't such a bad place. I feel rather sad that I don't have the time to look over some sites and know a bit of history( like the old buildings, the ones that still work, not those ready-for-demolition-haunted-buildings). Passing by the CCP, sabi ni Ate Kat "Uy, CCP. Cultural Center of the Philippines." Kuya Patrick: "Hinde. Center for Culinary Participation yan." Lol.

Dumaan din kami sa Bahay ni Kuya. Hahahaha. It was... SURREAL. (Kahit na walang tao dun, kasi malamang nasa Pangasinan pa sila or wherever.) Some cars were stopping by to look at the House, which had spotlights on it, as if it was a huge shrine to which people prayed for the favor of their chosen housemate.

I was a bit disturbed to realize that what I see on TV actually went on in that house. It's like... I-know-what-you've-been-doing-gasp! Seeing the windows, and knowing that silhouettes that were seen there were actually real people living inside that-- that dollhouse, and that other outsiders were trying so hard to peer in... Doesn't that give you shivers? Try to think of wraiths pressing their faces against your lives and controlling the dice.