#mall-hopping

[twatkcox]

[The Keihancarl Diaries: May 23, 2026]

Hi everyone, Keihancarl here. These past few weeks, the heat’s getting unbearable. It won’t be long before the rain cools everything down… well, maybe not.

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Anyway, this year’s POF event was postponed to September, meaning that there won’t be this year’s #TheFourWeekendPlan. Nevertheless, I feel like going on a mall-hopping trip today. Having visited some parts of the Gateway Mall 2 in Araneta City (the expansion to the original Gateway Mall) a few months back, I was raring to check out the rest of the mall, as well as the rest of Araneta City/Cubao area, so that will be my focus for this mall-hopping trip. If there’s still time left, I might also check Robinsons Magnolia or SM North EDSA/Trinoma, whichever is more accessible.

Outfit check: I decided on the newly bought Uniqlo boxy shirt and the beige Harry Potter shirt. I left the house at 2:30 PM, and it took me about an hour and a half to reach Cubao (I took the UV Express to Philcoa, and then took the jeep to Araneta City). Yeah, traffic is mostly light, except in North Fairview.

I reached Araneta City before 4:00 PM. As soon as I got off near Ali Mall, I decided to check the Cubao Expo first.

The place is a haven for collectors, as some shops have interesting vintage items, vinyl records, and memorabilia. It is also the creative hub for artists.

There are also cafes, bars, and restaurants in the complex, including the Italian restaurant Bellini’s.

I stopped by INT.Bar/EXT.Cafe and ordered the Pulp Fiction, an orange espresso drink. I chose the drink randomly.

Well, I was really into orange espresso drinks these days, especially after I had it a couple of times at Kaptan in Lagro. Anyway, the Pulp Fiction was great, and I really enjoyed it.

Next stop, Ali Mall. It’s been a long time since I last visited the mall, probably before the pandemic. I wasn’t able to check the mall during my recent stops, post-pandemic.

I only checked a few shops, particularly the ones at Ali X. There were old newspapers, posters, household items, typewriters, mostly relics from the past.

There was even a framed clipping of an ad featuring Nida Blanca and Nestor de Villa.

Tomoro Coffee collaborated with the fantasy anime series Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. They’re having a promo at the moment. I would love to try their drinks one of these days.

Next stop, SM Araneta City. I only checked the graphic tees at the second level. At the lower ground floor (supermarket level), there was an ongoing e-sports event at the Cyberzone area.

And I arrived at the Gateway Mall. Of course, I visited the expansion first, a.k.a. Gateway 2. I only checked a couple of shops (MN+LA and Top Ten), as well as Shopwise.

I then had a beef gyudon at Yoshinoya as I was starting to get hungry. I managed to finish the meal within 15 minutes, though I also took a moment to upload some pics to my Instagram account.

Wolfgang’s Steakhouse (which had a branch on the upper ground level of the mall) had a premier dine-in cinema experience (Wolfgang’s Premiere) on the cinema level (4th floor). Perfect for movie dates. Also, there's World Kitchens (also on the 4th floor), an upscale food hall with a luxurious atmosphere and full table service of a 5-star hotel/restaurant, featuring cuisines from around the world.

On my previous visits to the Gateway Mall expansion, I wasn’t able to check the upper floors due to time constraints. Well, I finally got to see the rooftop garden for the first time. I had a nice view of the Vertis North skyline from there.

The Sagrada Familia Church is also located in the rooftop garden.

Now, on to the original Gateway Mall. I visited a couple of shops, especially Fully Booked.

The mall’s interiors remained the same as they had on my first visit 14 years ago. The hanging butterfly decorations still amaze me, as does the oasis (the semi-enclosed garden inside the mall area) that also serves as a fine-dining area.

I passed by the multi-level National Book Store beside it. However, only the ground floor is open. The escalator to the upper floors was cordoned off. That NBS branch was probably downsizing.

And lastly, Farmer’s Plaza Mall. That mall really needs a major renovation. Even the doors (except the MRT-3/EDSA access) were antiquated, it feels squeaky and heavy to open.

I only checked the clothing shop closest to the MRT entrance (Milton). But I took a moment to check some parts of the mall before heading to the MRT station. Once I exited the mall, I took the train to North Avenue.

My original plan was to visit Robinsons Magnolia, but I decided to visit the two North Avenue malls, Trinoma and SM North EDSA, instead.

At Trinoma, I checked some of the shops, including Anko and IKEA (the smaller branch called the plan and order shop, which also has smaller items for purchase). After that, I visited the mall’s garden area. The mall’s original water features are gone, but the new ones are being built.

The garden area on the fourth floor (outside the cinema) now has a children's playground. Great idea, but not when it’s hot and sunny out there.

And on to the final stop, SM North EDSA. I only checked a couple of shops at the mall, particularly Muji. I didn’t even bother checking the Fully Booked x Kinokuniya branch at the fifth level (The Block) and the Booksale branch at the main building.

At this point, I was getting hungry again, so I had a bowl of ramen at the food court and a lemon tea drink at Tiger Sugar before finally heading home.

Traffic was incredibly smooth along the way. It took me about 30 minutes to reach SM Fairview, and an additional 15 minutes to get home.

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The trip felt kind of unusual (and kind of unplanned), but it gave me a chance to explore most of Araneta City (including the Cubao Expo) and the malls in the area, especially Gateway 2. And speaking of Cubao Expo, the area was more lively at night. A perfect reason for me to go back and experience it myself.

Had the POF event not been postponed to a later date (this September), #TheFourWeekendPlan would’ve gone on as planned, but I’d probably end up going to a different area for the mall-hopping trip, probably Ortigas or BGC. Well, everything happens for a reason, I suppose. I’ll probably focus on the Ortigas area for my next mall-hopping trip, and the BGC area for either October or November.

Well then, this mall-hopping trip certainly provided me with a change of scenery, and it was definitely for the better. Until next time, maybe I’ll finally get to revisit Ortigas next.

All pics are from my Instagram account, @kcox_105.

[twatkcox]

[The Keihancarl Diaries: February 21, 2026]

Gong Xi Fa Cai! It’s officially the Year Of The Fire Horse, and I’m raring to go out and visit Binondo and check out all the happenings there (and probably check some of the shops at the 999 and 168 malls). And yes, I’ll be revisiting the Rockwell Center and Circuit areas (both in Makati) for the first time since 2020. Hi everyone, Keihancarl here, and this is my second mall-hopping trip for 2026.

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It’s red and black this time, featuring the black Muji washed broadcloth short-sleeve shirt that I bought during my previous mall-hopping trip at the North Avenue malls. And of course, I also wear the red shirt that says 一網打尽 (ichimou dajin), literally "catching all the fish with one throw of the net" or something. Well, that’s actually one of the shirts Yu Nishinoya (Haikyuu!!) was seen wearing in some of the episodes. I sometimes have unusual outfit choices, but I don’t go too overboard like I used to.

Not wanting to waste my time getting stuck in traffic, I decided to leave the house as early as I could, even if I ended up getting hives trying to catch the UV Express or the train. I wonder if some of the contactless turnstiles at all MRT/LRT stations have already been updated. I mean, I was anxious about having to tap my GCash card just to get in.

Anyway, traffic was okay, a little heavy but moving at least. It took me less than an hour to reach Trinoma.

Arriving at the MRT North Avenue station, I checked my Beep card for remaining balance, which is enough for at least two rides. I then head inside the train, as it is about to leave the station. I got off at the MRT Guadalupe station, which is near my first stop, the Power Plant Mall in Rockwell.

Getting out of the station, I took a ten-minute walk to my first stop, the Rockwell Center. Reaching the Power Plant Mall, I was greeted by the red tree (with red envelopes) near the entrance.

I visited several shops, including Frankie General Store, Muji, and Fully Booked x Kinokuniya.

The Chinese New Year decorations are still up. Meanwhile, all of the mall’s right door entrances are automated.

I was hoping to buy the short-sleeved, washed broadcloth green shirt (like the one I’m wearing, but a different color) at Muji, but they only have a medium-sized one at the moment.

I visited the Fully Booked x Kinokuniya branch there. They have some awesome anime merch, but they’re pricey.

Outside, the sky was dim, with a chance of rain. I managed to take a short ride to Circuit Makati, my next destination.

There was an unusual carousel near the entrance. There was even a manananggal. Turns out, it was actually an art piece. Also, I don’t see any CNY decorations throughout the mall area.

At this point, I was getting hungry, so I decided to have lunch at Hayashi. I had a tonkatsu bento, with shredded cabbage and soup.

I check the rest of the Circuit, starting with the Circuit Walk. The open area adjacent to the Circuit Walk was closed to give way to the Contemporary Art Center. There’s another open space beside the mall area (A. Reyes side), but these open lots will soon give way to commercial buildings, probably high rises.

I then checked the mall area. There’s a martial arts competition happening at the activity center.

And finally, the rooftop park. There were benches placed on the artificial grass. This is actually one of my favorite spots.

You can see the Makati skyline from there. Though not in the picture, you can also see the tall buildings of Rockwell Center, featuring the Proscenium Towers. At the other side (facing the Circuit Walk), you can also see the Ortigas skyline.

And it’s time to head to Binondo, the highlight of this trip. I took a jeepney to the LRT Quirino station. I got off at the LRT Carriedo station.

I passed by the Escolta and Ongpin streets. The latter was crowded.

There were long lines at some shops, especially Eng Bee Tin and Polland. They’re famous for hopia and other Chinese delicacies.

And finally, Lucky Chinatown Mall. I decided to visit the Imperial Wing first. What used to be the tiangge stalls in that wing is now replaced by restaurants and some global brands. Nitori, KKV, Robinsons Supermarket, and a few restaurants are now open.

I checked Nitori first. I was quite amazed at some of the items, particularly the N-Cool items.

I decided to visit the 999 Mall. Last time, there weren’t many shoppers inside the mall. Must be the effect of online shopping, perhaps? Yup, the mall isn’t as crowded as it used to be.

I couldn’t find anything either, so I decided to go back to LCM and had a snack at the Chinatown Walk. I ordered some hakaw. Quite pricey, but it was great. The shrimp seems to be a little tough, though.

I took a break and had a raspberry choco bliss at Starbucks (it doesn't have coffee). I then uploaded some pics, especially the ones I’ve taken at the Escolta and Ongpin streets.

I checked the rest of the mall within 30 minutes (it's already past 7:00 PM). Of course, I took more pictures and selfies.

And it’s time to go home. I took a tricycle to the LRT-2 Recto station and immediately boarded the train to Araneta Center-Cubao. I hoped the stored value on my Beep card is enough, or it’ll be problematic. Well, there are four pesos left from my Beep card once I get off the concourse, and I add 101 pesos more. Should be more than enough for my next mall-hopping trip, provided I don’t take too many train rides in one day.

I passed by the Gateway Mall (1 and 2) and visited a couple of shops. I reached the transport terminal and took the mini bus to SM Fairview. Traffic is light throughout Commonwealth Avenue, so it should only take less than an hour to get there, and another 10-15 minutes to get home. I got home around 10:30 PM, which isn’t that bad.

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The mall-hopping trip went well without any problems. I must’ve spent a lot of time in some places, and I took my time walking the streets of Escolta and Ongpin. After all, I had a lot of fun. The 999 Mall, however, was the only disappointing part of this trip. Maybe I’ll skip that, along with 168 Mall, in my future Binondo trips.

Hey, that was a lot of fun. And since I passed by the Gateway Mall (along with the expansion), maybe I should visit that mall next, along with GH Mall and the two malls along the LRT-2 route. How does June sound?

Well, time to wrap this one. Until next time!

All pics (except the first and last pic) are from my Instagram account, @kcox_105.

[twatkcox]

[The Keihancarl Diaries: January 17, 2026]

Keihancarl here. All right, it’s time for the first mall-hopping trip for 2026!

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I decided on a mostly all-black outfit this time, and I’m off to the North Avenue malls… well, just because. Last time I went there, I had to deal with horrendous traffic along Commonwealth Avenue. Will it be the case this time? I hope not.

The weather appears to be fine, though. Yup. So I left home past 2:00 PM, believing that the traffic along Commonwealth Avenue isn’t really that bad (except in the Fairview area). Sure enough, travel time was faster than expected. So there’s more time for me to shop and explore the three malls on North Avenue.

I reached SM North EDSA around 3:30 PM. The mall’s entrances were decorated for the Lunar New Year. Not wanting to waste any time, I started visiting several shops inside the mall.

I checked the Pop Mart store at The Block atrium (they’ll open a shop on the third level). It looks like certain figures are all sold out, especially the Hirono collection.

I then head to North Towers. I passed by Flying Tiger at the bridgeway. I also checked Decathlon and saw a button-down shirt, not sure if it’s dark green or brown. I was thinking of buying it, but I was planning to buy something at Muji, so I passed on it.

And yes, I made it to Muji. There’s a button-down shirt I wanted to buy, but I never did get to buy it at the pop-up store in SM Fairview. I finally got to buy it, along with the knitted cardigan I first saw at the SM Mall Of Asia branch during MIBF last year. Too bad they don’t have the olive-green button-down shirt in stock, at least the short-sleeved ones. I ended up buying the black one instead.

I passed by the Biblio branch on the ground level and was thinking twice about getting a drink at Starbucks, but realized I’m still dealing with a sore throat, so I can’t have any ice-blended drinks in the meantime.

I headed back to The Block and visited a few more shops, including Uniqlo, Fully Booked (both the old store at the fourth level and the Fully Booked x Kinokuniya store at the fifth level), Bocu, and The Craft Central.

I saw a bunch of awesome items at The Craft Central. Too bad I decided not to buy it. And I didn’t spend too much time at the other shops.

I was thinking of having an early dinner at the Food Hall, but I held off and headed to City Central, the mall's main building.

I visited the Mi Store and Booksale on the second level. I’ll check the rest of the shops there later.

There’s a double-deck carousel somewhere in the City Center.

Hoshino Coffee has opened in one of the former cinema spaces. Meanwhile, I decided to skip the KKV nearby.

And I reached The Annex. I checked a couple of shops before I decided to have an early dinner at Popeyes on the third level. I had fried chicken with rice, fries, and drinks. And a mashed potato. Too bad I wasn’t able to take a pic as I was really hungry.

I then proceed with checking the rest of The Annex. There's a Book Nook near the glass spiral staircase. Bookworms will surely spend a lot of time there.

There’s an event at the 4th level featuring WRIVE (pronounced “RAYV”), a P-Pop group.

I also noticed a cleaning robot similar to the one I saw at S'Maison back in September. It's being recharged at the moment. Anyway, I visited a couple of stores at Cyberzone. It’s actually just the Power Mac Center and Samsung.

Heading back to the City Center, I only checked Surplus and Biblio (their second branch). There’s also a dome theater adventure, Sky Glide, located on the third level, offering immersive virtual flights on a giant dome screen. Meanwhile, the staircase near the cinemas (City Center's west wing) is closed off for some reason.

It’s already past 7:00 PM, and I still haven’t visited the other two malls yet. Since I’ll be skipping the Interior Zone due to time constraints, I'll be heading to Trinoma and Vertis North Mall. I visited the latter first.

By the way, Trinoma is currently being redeveloped (more of a massive renovation). There are some construction works on the North Avenue side. I never get to visit most parts of the mall, as I did with my previous visits, especially after Vertis North Mall opened back in 2017.

The additional towers (possibly office spaces and additional retail spaces) are nearing completion. That’s where the Vertis Tent (an events area) used to be.

I passed by the bazaar and bought a manga book at one of the stalls. There were a lot of awesome books, but I decided to hold off buying any more novels right now.

The mall’s entrance is decorated with so many lights. Also, I noticed that some holiday decorations haven’t been put out yet.

I only checked a handful of shops and visited Japan Town on the 4th level. Only a few Japanese restaurants and a takoyaki stall remained in the area. I believe the Japan Fudo Street is still open, though I didn’t bother checking the rest of Japan Town.

I decided to stop by Dean and Deluca for an iced Spanish latte, with vanilla syrup (as an add-on). Not too bitter, if you mix it properly. I really enjoyed it.

Heading back to Trinoma, I only visited the Fully Booked branch there. Besides that, I didn’t check the other shops. There's a Chagee branch by the activity area. And even though it’s a Saturday, the Landmark Department Store still closes at 9:00 PM.

And it’s time to go home. Traffic is incredibly light in most parts of Commonwealth Avenue. It’s always moderate to heavy in the Fairview area, as usual. I got home around 10:30 PM.

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Overall, the entire mall-hopping trip went well. I ended up spending a little more time at Muji (SM North EDSA North Towers) since I’m shopping for potential additions to my wardrobe, and maybe a few household items. Well, I only bought the buttoned shirt and the knitted cardigan.

Now, if Nitori could open a branch in either SMNE, Trinoma, or Vertis North… well, that would be nice. Too bad I skipped IKEA and Anko (both in Trinoma), and I never got to check the rest of Trinoma due to time constraints. Maybe once the MRT-7 is finished, I will probably get to visit these North Avenue malls more often.

I’m looking forward to another mall-hopping trip, this time to Binondo (and hopefully, the Rockwell and Circuit areas). And definitely not on the actual Lunar New Year celebration.

That’s all for now. Keihancarl out.

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Most of the pics are from my Instagram account, @kcox_105. The selfies are from my private Instagram account.

[twatkcox]

[The Keihancarl Diaries: September 13, 2025]

Keihancarl here. May this weekend be free from traffic, rain, and floods. I’ll be disappointed if I encounter at least one of these.

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I’m off to the Mall Of Asia Complex for this year’s Manila International Book Fair at the SMX Convention Center. While I’m at it, I might also visit the two malls in Aseana City (Parqal Mall and Ayala Malls Manila Bay).

My outfit choice is mostly black, but I decided to add a splash of color to it: the beige Jean-Michel Basquiat shirt from Uniqlo, as well as the yellow-white-black socks from Mumuso (from a few years back). I was planning to go experimental with my outfits, but I found some combinations unsatisfying. That's another reason why I’m planning to shop at SM Mall Of Asia after spending some time at the MIBF, hopefully to shop for some new clothes. And I’m planning to try out one of the cafes there, the ones that are not present in either SM Fairview or Fairview Terraces, the malls nearest to my place.

I decided to leave the house earlier than expected, considering the tremendous traffic on the northern portion of Commonwealth Avenue (I still ended up leaving the house at 9:30 AM, though). On my last mall-hopping trip, I was so pissed off by the heavy traffic in the area that I cursed several times inside the UV Express van until we finally got past the almost non-moving traffic in the area. I was hoping there wouldn’t be a repeat of this scenario.

It was bright and sunny when I left the house. I hope it stays that way until the afternoon. 

There was heavy traffic along Commonwealth Avenue, particularly along Litex. Yeah, there’s heavy traffic in the Fairview area as well, but it’s not as bad as last time. Traffic was light past the problem areas.

I reached Trinoma around 10:50 AM, about an hour and a half later. I passed by the mall first, and they’re having a vinyl collectors event there. Also, the mall itself is undergoing redevelopment/renovation. Anyway, I immediately head to MRT North Avenue Station, and I board the train just minutes before it leaves the station.

SM Megamall's got the ribbons. Meanwhile, past MRT Magallanes Station, the blue sky was turning gray. Could this be a sign of rain? I hope not.

I reached the MRT Taft Avenue Station more than 30 minutes later. The entire MRT trip was faster than expected. But I still need to ride the EDSA Bus Carousel to SM Mall Of Asia, which is a short distance from MRT Taft (I load up my Beep card first before taking the bus, in case I'm gonna take the MRT/LRT later). I reached SM Mall Of Asia just before noon.

I passed by MOA Square, where IKEA is. The mall itself is already dressed up for the holiday months.

Reaching the SMX Convention Center, I immediately bought a ticket and headed inside the venue. As usual, it didn’t take me long to get in.

I checked some of the booths. I started with Fully Booked, since there’s a specific manga book I want to find (The Summer Hikaru Died, but I’m not sure if it was actually available in the PH). While I couldn’t find the manga in question, I did buy three of the other titles, one of which was a Makoto Shinkai manga, 5 Centimeters Per Second (originally an anime film later adapted into manga). It sure was chaotic inside. I’m starting to feel dizzy. The line to the counter is incredibly long as well. It took me fifteen minutes to pay for the books. It almost cost me 3000 pesos just for the three manga books, but since all books in the booth are 20 percent off, I saved almost 600 pesos. Not bad. I also got a freebie.

I also checked the Komiket, Bookware, and Anvil Publishing booths, though I never bought anything. I decided to skip the National Bookstore booth after spending an hour inside the Fully Booked booth, knowing that it’s as chaotic as the latter, not to mention long lines at the counter.

At the second level, there are school supplies and a few more publisher booths. Ricky Lee, Instituto Cervantes Manila, and the Norwegian Embassy also had booths there, among others.

I bought another manga book at the Tankobonbon booth. Sadly, this will be their last appearance at the MIBF since the shop is closing down. All the manga books are discounted. These are actually the store’s final stock.

There’s a food concession offering snacks, drinks, and rice meals. However, I opted to eat elsewhere, as there were a lot of people. And there’s also a catering service.

And that’s all for the MIBF event. Anyway, time for mall-hopping and some shopping.

I decided to head to Ayala Malls Manila Bay next, passing by Parqal on the way there. Sadly, it rained just as I was about to leave SMX. Well, I decided to proceed despite the rain, since the books are protected in plastic. It got a little intense as I reached the intersection.

Reaching Parqal, I decided to check the mall from the second level. There are mostly restaurants, some cafes, a few fashion and specialty stores, and wellness shops.

I passed by the Kurata Steak House. My brother and sister-in-law had dined there a few months back.

And I reached Ayala Malls Manila Manila Bay. The Landmark Department Store is now open. It looks quite large.

I also checked the food court and supermarket area. I’m tempted to have a sizzling steak, but I decided to change my mind at the last minute and head back up.

There was a Go Negosyo event at the activity center, focusing on online selling (I think). Meanwhile, I decided to have a late lunch at Hawker Chan, where I had soy chicken and roast pork, with a sparkling peach for a drink.

I only visit a couple of shops. But it took me longer than expected to check the entire mall, as I was full and I’m still carrying the books from the MIBF, which are quite heavy. By the way, Anko is opening a branch there.

After more than two hours, it’s time to head back to the Mall Of Asia Complex. It was already dark by the time I got there. Not wasting any more time, I head to S’Maison first and check the Fully Booked branch there.

I spot a robotic floor sweeper within the mall.

And finally, SM Mall Of Asia. I immediately head to the MOA Sky for a little sightseeing and some pictures.

Looks like the seaside is gonna disappear as the reclamation is underway. No more SM By The Bay, then?

I get to see the football field up close. There was a group of football players practicing on the field.

Inside the mall area, I checked several shops, particularly Bocu, Fully Booked x Kinokuniya, Muji, niko and…, and Nitori. I didn’t bother checking Uniqlo at the moment.

I found an awesome cardigan at Muji, and at a great price. But I couldn’t find a size above XL. I also checked some of the items, mostly bedding and storage items.

At Nitori, I bought an N Cool pillow, and a large one too. I wonder how I'm going to carry that thing home?

I took a short break with a drink from ChaTraMue. I ordered a Thai Lemon Tea this time. But man, the amount of ice is too much.

I tried uploading some pics on my Instagram account, but the signal was incredibly weak in that area. I was getting frustrated. I decided to hold off uploading photos in the meantime and head to my last stop, IKEA.

As usual, there are some awesome displays at the showroom. I wasn’t able to buy anything, though.

Well, at least they're selling some water dippers, though they call it a bucket for whatever reason.

It’s already 8:30 PM, and it’s time to head home. This time, it was a real pain trying to figure out how to get home from there. I’m considering taking the train to North Avenue, but I ended up taking the carousel to the PITX, and then taking the carousel to Quezon Avenue (Centris area). I managed to get home past midnight, and my left shoulder and both legs were sore from the entire trip. Despite the hassles of taking a transport from the Mall Of Asia Complex, travel was quite fast considering it was already late at night.

And here's my haul from the MIBF. They're just as heavy as the last set of books I bought last year. And I actually bought a manga adaptation of the Makoto Shinkai masterpiece.

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I suppose I could’ve planned this trip better, considering that I ended up going home later than expected due to some inconveniences. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the MIBF + mall-hopping trip just the same.

My book haul consists of all 4 manga books (three from Fully Booked and one from Tankobonbon). Along with the other expenses and items, I ended up spending more than 5,000 pesos on this entire trip, the most expensive so far.

I’m planning another mall-hopping trip on my upcoming birthday, which is a month away. I’m aiming for either Ortigas/Estancia or Eastwood/Frontera Verde/Bridgetowne areas, with a side trip to Greenhills. This will be the first time I’ll get to visit these areas post-pandemic. I’m more excited for my first visit to the Opus Mall (Robinsons) and seeing its amazing interiors in person.

For now, it’s time to conclude this one. Until next time!

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Most of the pics are from my Instagram account, @kcox_105. The selfie pics are uploaded to my private Instagram account, @kcox105. The MIBF book haul pic was originally uploaded to this site.

[twatkcox]

[The Keihancarl Diaries: July 12, 2025]

Keihancarl here. Rain or shine, I’m heading north… I mean, North Avenue. Man, going there will soon be a whole lot easier if the MRT-7 is already built. What’s taking them so long to finish that line?

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I’m going all-black on this trip, because I feel like it. Off to the north I go… I mean, North Avenue.

I left the house later than expected, and I’ll definitely expect traffic along the way too. Also, it was still sunny when I left, but I’ll expect some rainfall too, as the sky was turning gray along the way as well.

Yeah, traffic was incredibly worse in the Fairview area. Like, it took me about 30 minutes just to get past, but it gets smoother after that. It took me almost two hours to get to North Avenue (from my house), and I’m obviously not happy with it.

Reaching SM North, I immediately checked some of the shops. At the North Towers, I visited Flying Tiger, Muji, Decathlon, and Biblio.

At Flying Tiger, I noticed this calculator shaped like a gaming pad. Interesting.

The first of the two Biblio branches in SM North. That was actually one of North Towers entrances, but they utilized it as a retail space.

Moving on to The Block, there was an event by Chagee (a Chinese milk tea brand) at the atrium.

The glass railings were covered in red for SM Supermalls’ 40th year. SM North EDSA will celebrate its 40th year in November.

I visited a few more shops at The Block, including Uniqlo and Bocu.

Fully Booked remains operational at the fourth level, despite the opening of a larger branch (Fully Booked x Books Kinokuniya) at the fifth level. Meanwhile, The Craft Central returned, located beside Filbar's Multiverse.

I then checked the fifth level, where Fully Booked x Kinokuniya is located. There are lots of Japanese books there, as well as some Shonen Jump merch.

Besides Fully Booked x Books Kinokuniya, the fifth floor of The Block also has Gashapon Bandai, The Collectible Store, Timezone, Space&Time Cube, LazerQuest, and a couple of restaurants. Sambokojin, which was supposed to open at the fifth level, did not push through. Before the redevelopment, that area consisted primarily of beauty and wellness tenants, as well as Fitness First (which had permanently closed a few years ago) and Healthway Clinic.

At the City Center, I had an early dinner at Hawker Chan, a roast pork and Hainanese chicken with rice, and a sparkling honey citron. I was told that my order would be ready in about 25 minutes, though it arrived earlier than expected. Before this, I was considering Yoshinoya (I didn’t feel like having gyudon at the moment) or Pepper Lunch (a bit too pricey), but I ended up at Hawker Chan instead.

I also visited a few shops at the City Center. I scored an amazing find at Booksale, and it’s a manga book. Behold, I’m Standing On A Million Lives!

I visited Biblio’s second branch on the third level. Lots of books, bigger space than the one at the North Tower. Still haven’t bought anything from both branches, though.

Reaching The Annex, I only visited a few shops, mostly the ones at the Cyberzone. The escalators near the entrance were undergoing a makeover.

I then traversed the entire Sky Garden towards the other end of the SM North EDSA complex. I didn’t manage to check the access to the EDSA Busway, but I did get to see the upcoming Grand Central Station from the Sky Garden.

The footbridge to Trinoma was already dismantled. In addition, the entrance near the new Landmark was also closed as well, prompting me to walk a lengthy distance towards the mall’s main entrance.

I didn’t immediately head inside the mall, as I decided to visit Vertis North first.

Could that be a possible expansion for Vertis North Mall? Anyway, I only checked a few shops, including Uniqlo and The Craft Central.

I also had a drink at Serenitea, a Hokkaido milk tea with panna cotta. I haven't had a Serenitea drink in a very long time.

The K-Town is no more. It’s mostly occupied by Alveo Land and Mandaue Foam Home Store.

The Vertis Ginza (formerly Japantown) was noticeably quiet, except when there was a live performance.

Heading to Trinoma, I only checked the newly opened Anko. They carry mostly home and lifestyle products.

And then I head home. It was near closing time, so I was really desperate to get home as soon as possible. But I ended up waiting for the UV Express van to arrive.

As it’s already 10:00 PM, I expect the traffic to be extremely light along the way. Yeah, there’s traffic in the Fairview area (duh), but definitely not as bad as earlier.

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I’m pretty much exhausted from the stress caused by the heavy traffic that afternoon. But I did get to check and visit a lot of shops in these three malls. If MRT-7 had been finished earlier, then I wouldn't have to deal with this horrendous traffic, and I could get there faster than expected. I could've visited these malls regularly, too.

Anyway, I’m planning another mall-hopping trip, probably before this year’s MIBF. Still undecided where to go next, though. I just hope I won’t encounter another horrendous traffic jam like this again.

Regarding the weather, yes, it did rain, but not at the North Avenue malls (though it could've rained in that area later that evening). Could be somewhere in the Fairview area? Maybe, but I think it’s not much.

Until next time. Keihancarl out.

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Most of the pics are from my Instagram account, @kcox_105. The selfie pics are exclusively uploaded to my private Instagram account, @kcox105.

[twatkcox]

[The Keihancarl Diaries: May 17, 2025]

Welcome to the third part of #TheFourWeekendPlan! It’s me, Keihancarl, and it’s time for a mall-hopping trip after attending two otaku events (on the same weekend) two weeks ago. And yes, this is the first mall-hopping trip for 2025, with the last being the MIBF/Mall Of Asia/Ayala Malls Manila Bay from September last year.

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So I’m wearing red and black for this trip. For a while, I’ve been debating between Manila (Binondo + Ermita, plus Monumento in Caloocan and Cloverleaf in Quezon City), BGC (with a short stop at One Ayala Mall later in the evening, where FanFes 2025 is being held), or Makati (Rockwell + Circuit, and possibly, a Binondo side trip). I’ve already revisited the first two in 2023 (except Cloverleaf) and 2024, respectively. Should I decide with the latter instead?

After a period of indecisiveness, I decided on the first one. Well, Manila, it is. Having visited BGC just last year, I think I’m already satisfied with what I’ve seen there… for now, at least. The Rockwell and Circuit areas can wait a little longer. And so are the places I’ve yet to visit (and re-visit) since the pandemic, including Ortigas, Greenhills, and Alabang.

Anyway, I left the house at exactly 10:00 AM. Traffic is surprisingly light on the way to Novaliches. From there, I took the UV Express to Monumento. Initially, I wanted to get off at LRT Balintawak, only to be told that the van would not pass by the area. I was completely baffled at first, but seeing that the UV Express van was passing by the North Luzon Expressway (via Mindanao Avenue), I finally understood. Traffic was terrible along Quirino Highway and Mindanao Avenue (going to North Avenue), anyway. The fare had increased a bit, from 35 (in 2019) to 50 pesos (in 2025). As a result, I decided to skip Cloverleaf (again), knowing that there isn’t anything worth visiting as both Uniqlo and Biblio had already closed. But the trip was faster than expected, and I arrived at Monumento around 11:30 AM.

And I reached my first stop, SM City Grand Central. The UV Express dropped me at the LRT Station, where their new terminal (UV Express) is.

I only checked a few shops, mainly bookstores. As expected, I visited all three bookstores in the mall. The National Book Store branch on the lower ground level really surprised me. On my last visit, the store space appeared to be small. Well, they must be working on the enclosed space at the time. It looks quite larger than I expected.

Biblio was transferred to the fourth level (can't recall where it was previously located) beside the SM Store entrance. And guess what I just saw, there are some small hardbound books that were similar to Harry Potter’s. Yup, an unauthorized parody novel called Barry Trotter by Michael Gerber.

At Fully Booked, an entire shelf was dedicated to collectible toys, including Hirono. There were fewer manga books on the shelves, either.

An e-sports event was held on the fifth floor (SM Skylight Park). I'm still amazed at the mall's biophilic design, just like the other SM mall in Caloocan (but not the nearby SM Sangandaan).

I also took a moment to check the Caloocan City skyline and the LRT [Yamaha] Monumento Station from the food court's window.

Some of the shops from my last visit have closed (including the milk tea shop FRNK) and have been replaced with new ones. So far, the mall is actually doing well, given its prime location and its close proximity to EDSA and the LRT.

The overpass to the other side of the LRT Monumento is the same as last time, still unfinished. So I’m forced to go back to where I crossed (at the other end of the mall, unfortunately), and it’s a little far from the station entrance. But I managed to load up my Beep card before turning back, at least.

And I took the LRT to Tayuman Station. The directional signs now read Dr. A. Santos Station (in Parañaque), a few stops from the previous southern terminus, Baclaran Station. The first phase of the LRT Line 1 Extension to Cavite was finally opened in November 2024. It’ll be a lot easier to go to PITX that way, and I can finally visit the rest of the major malls in Parañaque for the first time. That can wait, though.

Anyway, I finally got to ride the new generation trains, the red ones. It was cooler inside. And it runs a little fast, too. I reached my next stop in about ten minutes, with four stops in between.

On to my next stop, SM City San Lazaro. There was a 3-day mall sale. Fiesta streamers (colored flags) decorated the mall's atrium area. Outside, it rained just a little bit. I decided to check a few shops, including Booksale. I bought a couple of second-hand manga there.

Around this time, I was starting to get hungry so I decided to have a lasagna and garlic sticks at Greenwich. It didn’t take me long to finish all of it too.

The SM Store signage was updated. It feels kind of inconsistent on the atrium entrances, though.

The cinemas on the east side are being renovated. I'm not sure about the ones on the other side, though. They're probably going to convert it into additional tenant spaces, but who knows?

Proceeding to the next stop, I decided to take a jeep to Recto and a modern tricycle to 999 Mall. I took a quick moment to check the shop where I bought my anime shirts, and this time, I couldn’t find anything interesting.

I then proceeded to the Lucky Chinatown Mall and headed immediately to the cinema area. There were a lot of available seats, so I sat down on the one beside the escalator and worked on this post. By the way, the first and second floors of the LCM Annex (Imperial Wing) were closed, but the third level remains open. It seems like KKV is opening a branch on that wing, hence the ongoing works?

After a twenty-minute rest, it was time for me to explore the Binondo malls. I decided to visit 168 Mall first (heading back to City Place). I find it difficult to navigate the area due to the crowd of shoppers. The mall feels kind of cramped, too. But I did manage to reach the top floors for the first time, the ones where the food court and the formal wear shops are.

Going back to Lucky Chinatown Mall, I decided to have a lemon tea drink at Cha Yi. I didn’t get to check much of the mall, but I did have some selfies at the cinema area. And I get to see one of the mascots, a mime dressed in a small, red dragon-like costume.

I took a modern tricycle to Manila City Hall. Along the way, I managed to take some pics of the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge and the Binondo Church, among others. I passed by the underground pedestrian pass, and I noticed that the second-hand bookstore, Books From The Underground, is closed.

Next stop, SM City Manila. I only visit a few shops there, including Booksale (I bought another manga book as well) and Uniqlo (just a quick check at the UT section). Flying Tiger opened a branch at the mall, but I didn’t bother to check it out. There’s also a 3-day mall sale. There were also fiesta streamers in the atrium area like the ones in SM City San Lazaro.

I then took the LRT to the United Nations station and visited Rizal Park. The stairsteps at the Central Station were covered with Naruto characters, advertising their collaboration with Mobile Legends. Getting off at UN Avenue, I decided to check the area near the National Museum. There were some improvements in the park between the two museums, and it looked really good. It's currently closed to the public, but once it opens, I won't have to pass by T. M. Kalaw Avenue just to get to Rizal Park.

Moving on, I passed by Rizal Park, and the guards (dressed as Guardia Civils) will inspect your bags before going inside. I stopped for a few minutes, watched the dancing fountains, and worked on this post. I decided to skip the Baywalk area, which is now called the Dolomite Beach, due to time constraints.

At the final stop, Robinsons Manila, I only had dinner at Chowking. I didn’t check any of the shops there. The mall is undergoing a major redevelopment. Well, the tiles in some parts of the mall were like an abstract painting. Maybe they’ll fix that soon.

And it’s time to go home. I decided to take the UV Express to SM Fairview, like always. Travel was quite fast (except in some parts of Commonwealth Avenue, particularly the Manggahan and North Fairview areas), considering it’s a weekend. I got home a little past 10:00 PM.

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It was a satisfying mall-hopping trip, despite skipping the Cloverleaf area for various reasons. Also, I managed to enjoy the entire trip, just the way I wanted, though I almost fell asleep at the LCM cinema lobby during a little break from exploring. Still, I managed to make it throughout the day without any problems.

Well then, I might do another mall-hopping trip, probably in a couple of months. This time, I'm aiming for the three SM malls in the Parañaque area, one of which is near the LRT Dr. Santos Station. Or maybe I’ll finally get to check the Opus Mall (Robinsons Bridgetowne) and the GH Mall (Greenhills) soon.

But for now, this concludes the third part of #TheFourWeekendPlan. I'm looking forward to another cafe weekend in Lagro to conclude this year’s T4WP, and I'll probably explore the area while I'm at it.

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Most of the pics are from my Instagram account, @kcox_105. The selfie pics are exclusively uploaded to my private Instagram account, @.kcox105.

[twatkcox]

[The Keihancarl Diaries: September 14, 2024]

Keihancarl here. The weather feels kind of unpredictable, as there’s the possibility of rainfall during the weekend. Well then, I’m heading to the SMX Convention Center for this year’s Manila International Book Fair, the sixth MIBF event I’ve attended since 2017. And of course, if the weather cooperates, there’s a chance I’ll get to visit Ayala Malls Manila Bay for the second time, as well as the Parqal Mall, both located in the nearby Aseana City.

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I’m going all-black for this weekend. Not that unusual, right? Well, I have to make sure to make the most out of this day so I really have to leave the house early. I'll probably have to deal with traffic along the way, but I guess it's pretty normal nowadays. Anyway, it was still sunny when I left, and (luckily) traffic was light along Commonwealth Avenue, well, except for North Fairview. I managed to reach North Avenue about an hour later.

On the way to North Avenue, I was having a hard time deciding between riding the MRT-3 to Taft (with a short jeepney/bus ride to SM Mall Of Asia) or taking the EDSA Bus Carousel all the way there (and save me the trouble of switching transport later). I ended up taking the MRT anyway.

I load up my Beep card and head inside the train. Looks like there's rain in the Ortigas area, but only for a bit. Well, the weather report says that there’ll be a chance of scattered rainfall throughout the day. I was hoping it wouldn’t rain in the Pasay and Parañaque areas, since I’m planning to visit a couple of malls at the Aseana City after the MIBF.

Reaching MRT Taft Station, I took a short bus ride (EDSA Carousel) to the Mall Of Asia Complex. Oh, and I happened to see the LRT-1 Gen 4 trains while passing by the overpass to the EDSA Bus Carousel. Would love to ride these new trains soon, well, probably on my 34th birthday.

I reached SMX about 10 minutes past twelve. As soon as I got inside, I decided to have a hotdog (on a stick) at one of the stands. Although I’m starting to get hungry, I don’t feel like having lunch just yet… well maybe later. 

I decided to check some of the booths on the first floor, including Fully Booked, National Book Store, and the Precious Pages Group (including Black Ink Comics). I bought a copy of The Restaurant Of Many Orders (at 20 percent off) at the Fully Booked booth, and three bargain-priced manga books at the NBS booth.

Heading to the second level, I passed by a couple of booths, Komiket and Tankobonbon. I bought a couple of books at the Komiket booth.

This is the first time since 2019 that the MIBF occupied two floors of the SMX Convention Center, excluding Function Rooms 4 and 5 (which are closed). And yes, this is the first time that I actually had a large haul of books from the event.

National Book Store finally made a comeback to the MIBF for the first time since 2019. Tuttle Publishing, however, was not among the list of exhibitors. The latter is one of the exhibitors I always visited at most of the previous MIBF events. But at least I bought one of the publisher’s books (the manga version of The Restaurant Of Many Orders) at the Fully Booked booth.

It was already 2:00 in the afternoon, but there was a lot of time left so I decided to leave the event (and the Mall Of Asia Complex) to visit Ayala Malls Manila Bay. It’s been more than 4 years since I last visited that mall (exactly a month before the COVID lockdown), but I knew that it was doing well since then. Might as well visit Parqal Mall while I’m there.

It only took me 10 minutes to walk to Parqal Mall, which is actually a strip mall with a large roof above it. The area was breezy when I got there, not to mention that it is close to the bay. Since I didn't have anything to drink since leaving the house, I stopped by The Marketplace Supermarket to buy something to drink (it's just a bottle of C2) and consumed it along the way.

From the Parqal Mall, it took me less than 5 minutes to reach Ayala Malls Manila Bay. I visited several shops inside the mall, including Flying Tiger Copenhagen (probably the Danish version of the Japanese brand Daiso) and Biblio. There was an event by Foot Locker at the mall’s atrium.

I was getting hungry, considering that I didn’t have anything but a hotdog for lunch. I suppose it’s time for Pepper Lunch (after noticing it from the other side of the balcony). Besides, it’s already 3:00 PM and I’m only at the mall’s second level.

I decided on beef pepper rice, which is so far the only item I ordered at Pepper Lunch (I initially thought of trying their salmon pepper rice). I took a moment to write this post while waiting for the food to cool down a bit. The weight of the books I bought at the book fair adds up to the slight feeling of exhaustion, along with the crowd of people at the venue. It was also quite stuffy inside since the air conditioning unit was under maintenance, hence the portable air coolers.

I then continued checking the rest of the upper floors, as well as some of the shops. The Sun Garden on the fifth floor is already open, the last time I was there it was still closed. So far, I believe only Zus Coffee is open.

After checking the rest of the mall, I headed back to the Mall Of Asia Complex and passed by the Neo Chinatown area. It only took me less than fifteen minutes before I reached the SMX Convention Center, though I didn't bother checking the MIBF again. Anyway, it's time to visit the two malls in the complex, starting with the S’Maison Mall. I got inside the mall via the bridgeway from SMX.

I only checked the Fully Booked branch there, which had already relocated to the ground floor from the second floor. Nothing much, considering that I’ve already bought what I wanted at the MIBF. And yes, all of the books are 20 percent off. Also, I didn't bother checking the rest of the shops inside the mall.

I made my way to SM Mall Of Asia using the other bridgeway at the other end of S'Maison. Once I got there, I checked Decathlon first. After that, I immediately head to the esplanade.

Looks like a reclamation project has commenced near the MOA Eye. Some parts of the esplanade were cordoned off as well. Also, I’m not sure when these lamp posts were installed, but they sure brightened up the area.

From the esplanade, I made my way to the other side of the mall, the part near The Galeon. I then checked some of the shops inside.

Feeling parched, I decided to have a drink from ChaTraMue, at the MOA Food Hall. I ordered a plum red tea, with konjac jelly. The drink was kind of sour and salty at the same time, like kiamoy (dried sour plums/prunes covered by some orange powder). Is that how the drink is supposed to taste like?

I took a moment to check some of the shops. Nitori is opening soon, as well as a gashapon shop.

I then checked the Sky Park for a while, and Aperitif (cafe/restaurant) is now open. I decided to skip the Fully Booked x Kinokuniya branch at the mall due to time constraints.

Later on, I dropped by IKEA at the MOA Square. I was taking pics of some amazing displays, but the gamer’s room was the most awesome. And the kitchen.

And it’s time to go home. Unfortunately, there were no more UV Express vans to SM Fairview so I’ll have to find another way to get home. I could’ve probably taken the MRT-3 or the EDSA Bus Carousel to North Avenue, but getting a UV Express ride from Trinoma or SM North is quite a hassle, especially if I’ll have to line up for about 15 to 30 minutes. Instead, I took a jeep to the Taft Avenue-Buendia intersection and took the UV Express van from there. Traffic is mostly light, with slight traffic in North Fairview.

I got home before 11:00 PM. That was the first time I’d been out on a mall-hopping trip for more than 13 hours, and my hips and my left shoulder hurt so much from walking too much and my bag’s weight respectively. Despite this, I had a lot of fun at the event, and I’m quite pleased with this trip, even with some minor problems.

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It sure was a fun weekend, even though I ended up feeling worn out. My all-black outfit sure was kind of ordinary, but it was complimented well with my usual accessories (particularly the black fingerless gloves).

I’m planning another trip for my 34th birthday (it’s less than a month away). When or where it will happen will depend on the situation, but I’m really pushing for it to happen. Manila might be the obvious choice, but I’m considering Ortigas/Greenhills or Alabang as well (the latter two I’ve yet to revisit). Of course, I’m gonna wear all-black on that trip as well.

I suppose this is where I’ll end this post. Until next time! Ciao!

All pics are uploaded to my Instagram account, @kcox_105, and shared to my Threads account.

[twatkcox]

[The Keihancarl Diaries: May 18, 2024]

Hi everyone, Keihancarl here. Lovely weather we’re having, huh?

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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.

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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!

All pics are uploaded to my Instagram account, @kcox_105.