When East Meets West at Mall of Asia
After a quick workout, I hopped on a motorcycle taxi for ₱85 ($1.50) and headed to SM Mall of Asia. Malls don’t usually excite me, but this one had a few attractions I was curious about.
I started with breakfast—the kind that made me tell the motorcycle driver mid-ride, "Here is fine!" The sign that caught my eye said Egg Drop, and I could already taste the meal before I even stepped inside. The staff welcomed me with warm smiles, and I ordered a scrambled egg and avocado sandwich. It was even better than I expected—soft, perfectly baked bread, flawless eggs, and creamy, melt-in-your-mouth avocado. A true delight!
I continued wandering through the mall and was shocked by its massive size. It felt like an endless structure—you could walk for hours and feel like time had stopped. The atmosphere was luxurious yet inviting, spacious yet lively. Even with so many people around, it still felt open and pleasant.
As I explored, I realized that the mall was divided into different sections, each with a distinct style. One area felt like a vibrant Asian market, another resembled a European-style pedestrian street, and another looked exactly like an American shopping mall. It was like a whirlwind world tour—without the cost of a plane ticket.
This place has everything—luxury brands, local shops, budget-friendly chains, and a strong American influence. I saw all the familiar U.S. food chains and fashion retailers, even though they were so far from home. Even the traffic laws here are influenced by the U.S.—I found out that turning right on a red light is legal, just like in America. At first, I thought drivers were just ignoring the law until someone explained that it was perfectly legal.
Interestingly, I found myself instinctively sticking to the left. Whether entering stores or walking in the streets, two years in Australia have left their mark. Even though I grew up in Israel, where people naturally walk on the right, I’ve rewired my habits. I only noticed it on the mall’s escalators, which had small signs reminding people to stand on the right. Every time I got on, I instinctively moved left, then laughed and corrected myself—I’m not in Australia anymore. Funny how quickly new habits stick.
I browsed around to get a sense of the prices and discovered how incredibly cheap everything is here:
🍔 A Burger King meal – ₱188 ($3.30)
🎬 IMAX movie ticket – ₱390 ($6.80)
👕 T-shirts in clothing stores – ₱300 ($5.20)
🥪 My breakfast sandwich (considered an expensive Western meal) – ₱200 (~ $3.50)
☕ Caramel iced macchiato – ₱200 ($3.50)
The most interesting discovery? The intensity of flavors here. Everything is richly seasoned, the flavors are bold—the sweet is extremely sweet, and the salty dishes are perfectly balanced. I can already tell that the food experience in the Philippines is going to be a real treat.
I came to this mall mainly for two unique attractions that intrigued me—SPACE & TIME CUBE and The Dessert Museum. Both were so special that I decided to dedicate separate posts to them later.
After visiting them, I headed to the amusement park area near the pier. I found a beautiful boardwalk with a variety of rides for all ages. Since it was a random weekday afternoon, the place was almost empty. I could only imagine how packed it must get on weekends when everyone comes out to have fun.
I got on the Ferris wheel and started laughing to myself. A year and a half ago, when I rode the Ferris wheel in Brisbane, I was in total panic—"Wow, this is really high!" It’s funny to think about how much I’ve changed since then and how different my relationship with heights has become.
This time, I got on without hesitation, gazed at the breathtaking view of Manila Bay from above, and instead of fear, I felt pure excitement.
Maybe that’s what this journey is all about—learning to look at things that once scared me and seeing them as opportunities instead.
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