#mrt-3

xxxxxxxxxx

The weather app on my smartphone says it’s gonna rain on a Saturday. Not something I look forward to on a mall-hopping trip, but I guess (if that really happens) I’ll just deal with it for now considering that the weather’s been so scorching hot these past few weeks. I just hoped that the air wouldn’t be as humid as hell.

So I’m wearing red and black this time, and something plain too. I need to make the most out of that trip so I was planning on leaving the house around 9:00 AM (I ended up leaving the house just an hour later). In case you’re wondering, it’s Bonifacio Global City this time. And I’m definitely going to have a great time there too, with my first visit to Mitsukoshi BGC, which opened in 2022.

It was still sunny when I left, but I knew it might rain at some point, probably in the afternoon. Traffic along Commonwealth Avenue is mostly light, except in some areas. I reached the MRT at 11:30 AM. The traffic at North Avenue totally killed my mood. It sucks since I always have high expectations for almost everything.

I decided to reload my beep card (I managed to drop my bag while trying to get some coins in my purse) and take the MRT to Guadalupe Station. Along the way, the Kamuning Flyover is being rehabilitated and the construction of the Metro Manila Subway Quezon Avenue Station has commenced. Approaching Shaw Boulevard Station, however, the train came to a sudden halt, and an announcement came shortly after that. Upon reaching the next station, we were told to switch to another train, as the one we were riding had a problem.

Getting off at MRT Guadalupe Station, I immediately took a jeepney to McKinley Hill, where my first destination, Venice Grand Canal Mall, is. It’s been four and a half years since I last visited the area (and the entire Fort area, including BGC, in general) so I had a hard time familiarizing myself with the area once again. If not for Google Maps, then I would’ve gotten lost.

Getting to Venice Grand Canal Mall, I decided to check the space where Fully Booked used to be, which is now occupied by Coffee Bean And Tea Leaf and/or Randy’s Doughnuts (I believe it’s the latter). I then went inside the mall area and had lunch at Takoyadon (Food Hall), but I bought a drink at the nearby Marketplace Supermarket first. It was a gyudon donburi, but it’s strange enough that it is actually made from Angus beef (it was clearly stated in the menu). I had to pay extra for an egg, but I wouldn’t mind. It didn’t took me long enough to finish my food using only chopsticks.

I then took some selfies by the bridge, but the pics didn’t really look great, partly due to my figure. God, I hate how I look, with that ugly double chin and all that. It didn’t help that the pandemic made me look like that.

Besides the supermarket, I didn’t check any of the shops inside the mall. I didn’t get to check the Venice Piazza as well. I ended up spending more than an hour at the mall, mostly taking selfies by the bridge (with the nice view of the canal and the surrounding buildings). I could’ve done that in about fifteen minutes or so if only I looked like my pre-pandemic self and I wasn’t completely stressed out.

Next stop, SM Aura. I only checked a few shops and had a fruit tea drink at Gong Cha. At this rate, I was getting really cranky due to some earlier inconveniences, especially the heavy traffic on North Avenue. Of course, the extreme heat adds up to the crankiness I’m experiencing. Once I sat down and finished my drink, I felt a little okay.

Passing by the Fully Booked branch there, I got a free comic book as part of Free Comic Book Day in all of its stores in Metro Manila and Luzon. It was an excerpt from The Drifting Classroom by Kazuo Umezu.

Both the Food On Four and the cinemas had been renovated for some time. The former appeared to have an artificial skylight, as opposed to the previous one which is actually a skylight. But the entire area was a lot brighter than before.

As for the cinemas, I was quite impressed with the lobby. Not sure if the IMAX is still there, I didn’t bother to check due to time constraints.

Checking the SkyPark, there was a temporary mini golf area and an art installation.

Going back to the upper ground floor, H&M took over Forever 21’s former space. The latter closed its branch there in 2010.

Next stop, Market Market. I only checked the Booksale branch there. As usual, there are fewer manga books, and none of them interest me.

Heading to the biggest Fully Booked branch (the flagship megastore) at the Bonifacio High Street, I decided to check every single floor of this building… except the fourth floor and the basement (both are closed off for some reason). The manga books and light novels were transferred to the second floor, along with comic books and some of the music CDs and vinyls. These used to dominate the entire fourth floor until a few years ago.

There were no more free comic books, as was the case with the other Fully Booked branches I visited later. Luckily, there were a few free comics left at the SM Aura branch when I got there a little earlier.

After that, I took a moment to check some of the shops at BHS, and then went to my next destination: Uptown Bonifacio and of course, Mitsukoshi BGC. It was a kilometer walk from BHS, but I wouldn’t mind.

I passed by The Turf and saw football players practicing there. Later on, just as I was getting closer to my next destination, I managed to sprain my left foot a little, but I could still walk just fine.

And finally, I get to revisit the Uptown Mall for the first time in almost seven years. While I didn’t check any of the shops there, I took a moment to admire its upscale interiors. I also check the alfresco area as well. I even get to see a glimpse of Mitsukoshi BGC from there.

On to the next destination, I noticed a passageway heading to a residential building across the road (but it also says more shops, if I recall correctly). I decided to take the passageway until I reached the basement level of One Uptown Residence, where several wellness and service shops are located. I got out via the basement level access towards 36th Street and took a short walk to Mitsukoshi BGC.

The first Japanese-inspired mall in the Philippines, it features a mix of local and global brands (including renowned Japanese brands), designer labels, cafes, and restaurants. There’s a food hall (Itadaki Food Court), a supermarket (Mitsukoshi Fresh), a bookstore (Fully Booked x Books Kinokuniya), and a furniture and home furnishing shop (Nitori). There were gacha capsule machines too.

I checked some shops, including Fully Booked x Kinokuniya, and later headed to the third level to check Nitori.

I was amazed at some of the items in that store. I then checked the bedding section and the home office section. I didn’t get to check some parts of the shop, though.

It was already 6:00 PM and I was getting hungry so I decided to check out the basement level where the food court and the supermarket are. It took me a while to decide where to eat. I initially considered MOS Burger but after checking some of the other food stalls, I decided to have katsu curry at Nadai Fujisoba instead.

But first, just like earlier, I bought my drinks at Mitsukoshi Fresh (the supermarket). I decided on a bottled water and a grape-flavored vitamin boost drink. The latter was definitely not gentle on the throat, but I chose it anyway since it says anti-stress boost, something that I really need at the moment since I was incredibly stressed during some parts of the trip. I could’ve bought a box of UCC iced creamy coffee mix, the pineapple caramel one, but I hold off for now. Anyway, the katsu curry is great, though there’s a bit too much curry sauce which is more than enough to cover the rice.

Heading out, it was already dark but I managed to enjoy walking back to Bonifacio High Street. Along the way, I saw a full moon in the sky, some interesting shops, a standalone Uniqlo store, and from a good distance, Landmark BGC (I don’t know if it’s only a supermarket or it also includes the department store).

I reached the BHS Central Square within fifteen minutes and immediately checked the Muji branch there. At the cinema level, the Lawson convenience store has taken over the space of FamilyMart. I also get to see one of the 3D billboards from the large window, where I used to take numerous selfies on my previous visits.

I visited the nearby One Bonifacio High Street, but I didn’t check any of the shops.

And finally, Burgos Circle. I managed to take some pictures of the sculpture against an illuminated background and that was that. The area along Forbestown Road looks better at night.

It was quarter to 8:00, and I was debating whether I should visit One Ayala Makati or not. Anyway, I managed to take the BGC Bus to McKinley Exchange and got to the MRT Ayala Station faster than expected. I decided to check the Fully Booked branch at One Ayala Makati and take a short trip to the restroom. I also happened to run across a couple of cosplayers, as FanFes was taking place at The Spaces at One Ayala, at the fifth level, which I thought to be the cinema level on my previous visit a few months ago. I didn’t bother checking the upper floors since I really needed to get home as soon as possible.

I took the MRT and initially planned to get off at either Cubao or Quezon Avenue stations, but I ended up getting off at North Avenue station instead for some reason. I was so busy uploading the photos to my Instagram accounts during the entire MRT ride that I never paid attention to where I was supposed to get off. Man, that turned out to be the worst decision I made, since I had to wait for about 20 minutes before I got to ride the UV Express to SM Fairview from Trinoma. Traffic isn’t that bad along Commonwealth Avenue so I got there in about 30 to 40 minutes. It was already 10:20 PM when I got home from that exhausting trip.

xxxxxxxxxx

Sure, the trip was kind of fun, but the traffic along North Avenue and McKinley Parkway (near SM Aura/Market Market) nearly ruined my day (and my mood). Well, at least it didn’t rain throughout the entire mall-hopping trip, but the incredibly hot weather made me feel extremely exhausted and cranky throughout the trip. And yeah, I’m quite terrible with time management these days, just like the previous mall-hopping trip to CAMANAVA (Karuhatan, Valenzuela and Monumento, Caloocan) and Manila (Binondo and Ermita) areas. I wished it wouldn’t end up the same on my subsequent mall-hopping trips.

I might consider the Ortigas and Greenhills areas next. But when this will happen will be completely up to me. Well, I’m either targeting July or August for this trip.

Anyway, that’s all for the third week of #TheFourWeekendPlan. I can’t wait to return to my favorite hangout place for the final week of TFWP and enjoy my frappuccino. And I’m looking forward to my first ever trip to Baguio (as part of the company outing) by the end of the month (it’s only a week away). Until then, sayonara!