I could live at the mall here-not because I am such a huge shopper (though many times I do wonder, is there one of ___________ coming on the container or did that get sent to storage?) but because of how malls and shopping are here. I don't know if it is because of the heat, the rain, the culture or what but malls are huge and there are lots of them and if you keep looking you can find most anything there (except goldfish crackers, Chick Fil A, lemon cake mix, canned biscuits (which Ryan dearly loves and Golden Grahams cereal).
Today Ashley and I went to the mall-Festival that is closer to Greg's office-they open at 10. Town Center which is closer to our house doesn't open until 11. We were looking for a few things and just getting out since Ashley doesn't go to preschool on Thursdays. We started at ShopWise-one of the 2 grocery store/dept stores that is at one end of this mall. We looked through there and then started our trek down the mall. I am still learning my way around but am getting better. This is the mall with the double decker carousel in the middle-I'll have to post a picture of that sometime. There are numerous places to eat-2 McDonalds, a Wendys, Sbarro, Pizza Hut, KFC in addition to LOTS of local places. There is a fabric store-which I was very excited to find. There is a movie theater attached, 2 places where churches meet-one in the theater and the other one-where we have been going has auditorium space. Furniture stores, kids stores, electronics stores, cell phone related stores, computer stores, office supply stores, digital picture places, the Pixie Forest-arcade games and rides, the other arcade where the indoor roller coaster and bumper cars are, the train that goes through the mall, and the little cars that the boys have ridden. I discovered today looking at a mall map that there are 4 preschools located inside the mall! I've never heard of that before. There are several hair salons, nail salons and any other beauty service you could want. There is even an ultrasound studio in the mall. Our friend who had a baby here-the one born in the van on the way to the hospital had an ultrasound at the mall.
Ashley and I just did a fair amount of walking, some shopping, rode the train, did a little more shopping and walking and ate lunch at Wendy's. Then we went to the Pixie Forest and rode their miniature log ride-similar but MUCH smaller than the one at Six Flags. She is very funny-when she rode this with the boys she cried and the ride operator let her get out after one trip around the loop. Each ticket gives you 2 loops around. I thought that she had gotten upset when the log boat that she and Ryan were in bumped into the log that was in front of them. Today she went back and forth between laughing and crying during our ride. I thought that she would be happy riding it with me but it is a rather jerky/rough ride. Then she complained about her wet clothes. We left after the ride, came home, finished reading Pinkalicious-those of you with girls need this book if you don't have it yet. Then she took a nap from about 1:00 until nearly 5:00. I think the walking tired her out. Due to this move, Ashley has spent way too much time in malls. Neither of the boys could get on and off an escalator by themselves at the age of 3.
Besides the 2 malls closest to us, I have been to Pavilion Mall near the school, Market/Market, Eastwood and there are seemingly countless others to continue exploring. If you come to visit Manila I will be happy to take you shopping and even to ride something-most are only about $1 per ride.
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