The SM Mall of Asia

The SM Mall of Asia is very popular not just because it is the 10^th largest shopping mall in the world (as of 2013) but also because of its perfect location. It is situated in Bay City, Pasay, Philippines and it is near Manila Bay which makes it very accessible to tourists.

Aside from its vast selection of brand shops and boutiques, there are a lot of things to do while you are in the area. Here are some suggestions that you might want to try:

RESTAURANT HOPPING

This may sound a bit expensive, but Mall of Asia (MOA) is consists of restaurants which caters your favorite cuisines from different countries and recently, there has been a great demand for buffets in Manila.  For any foodie, it will be like having a taste of each country’s special delicacy.

a.) Buffet 101

Buffet 101 offers the world’s finest dishes with a 5-star luxury feel. It has lots of food choices that will surely overwhelm your taste buds. A hefty variety of meal starters are available from freshly-made starters to a wide array of main courses.

b.) Banzai: The Great Teppanyaki Theater 

If you’re craving for sushi and sashimi, then Banzai is the place to be. They mainly offer Japanese specialties from ramen, gyoza (Japanese dumplings), Yakitori, to different sashimi and sushi, and teppanyaki.

  

RIDE THE MOA'S EYE

The MOA Eye is one of the famous attractions at the Mall of Asia for it is unbelievably the tallest Ferris wheel in the Philippines standing for 55 meters and having 36 air-conditioned gondolas. It will give you a beautiful view of the wide MOA area and as well as the Manila Bay. For couples, I recommend riding at night for it would be more romantic to see night-lights emerging from buildings, as well as from the ships in the bay.

STROLL ALONG MANILA BAY 

MOA is just in its perfect location for you to stroll along Manila Bay. The bay area gives you a relaxing atmosphere because of the cool breeze from the sea touching your face and skin. You can just sit on the benches, read a book, plug your earphones and play your favorite playlist. For a short moment, you’ll forget all your problems and  just daydream.

(We're early for the sunset)

ZIPLINE

MOA offers a one way zipline stretching from MOA Eye to the end part of the park. I recommend this for thrill-seekers. The zipline gives you a better view of bay and of MOA’s park.

(A photo of me and my boyfriend riding the zipline)

WATCH SUNSET

Sunset reminds us that another day ended, and all works had been paid off. It’s time to sit back and relax, slowdown, and think of nothing but happy thoughts. Manila bay gives you an amazing view of the sun as it sets on the bay. And to end the day…

CRUISE BY THE BAY

The cruise opens at 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM. For those who want a romantic view of the sunset, I highly recommend to pick the 5:30PM cruise schedule. The cruise circles around Manila Bay and plays some mellow music which gives you a cozy and relaxing atmosphere. Nothing’s more relaxing than just sitting in yacht, listening to some old songs, the beautiful view of the bay, and the cool breeze of the sea.

(Here’s a photo of us during our cruise by bay. I was not able to capture everything because I was in awe the whole cruise.)

(We’re lucky to be seated in front of the yacht so I was able to capture these eye-catching lights of Solaire)

It is best to visit SM Mall of Asia during afternoon where the cool breeze from the bay surrounds its area. And I highly recommend to not leave MOA without catching the sunset and taking a stroll along the bay area.