MRT3-Shaw Boulevard: A Pleasant Misadventure
Blen Angot / March 19, 2011 / 0 comment | = Click on the star if it's the place you want to see or recommend
20 Days and Counting... even new train terminals all set to bring you in...
View full-size photo here.
“Shaw Boulevard station…Shaw Boulevard station…”
It was an announcement of our exact location. Although the voice was broken and hardly audible, I knew what he really meant—I missed my station.
I set aside that day to do some serious window-shopping, as this is definitely “the stop” for shopping. With SM Megamall, St. Francis Square, Starmall, The Shangri-La Mall, Robinsons Galleria, and EDSA Central, all within a few meters radius from the MRT station, I have the option to shop from all the price points depending on my shopping budget.
From the MRT station, I took the elevated walkway to exit the station, and after one escalator ride up, I found myself in Shangri-La. Literally. As I push the glass doors into the cool air of the air-conditioned mall I give a sigh of relief. This is one of my favorite MRT stops because of the convenience of having the stations connected to malls to avoid the sun and the heat of the asphalt streets of the city. So into Shangri-La I go.
“The Shang” as it is fondly called, is an upscale mall and the only retail arm of the Kuok Group of Companies, owner of the worldwide chain of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. It is home to global brand shops and boutiques like Armani Exchange, Burberry, Dolce and Gabbana, Escada, Liz Claiborne, Nine West, and many more. It also has a Technohub in the lower ground level, which houses computer and mobile phone shops. For state of the art movie theaters, they built The Shang Cineplex located on levels six and seven. This is also where they show foreign film festivals.
I have been to The Shang a number of times but usually they’re quick and in transit to another destination. I wanted to explore the place some more so I didn’t waste any time. From the 5th level, I took the escalator to the 6th floor and found myself in front a Greek-inspired restaurant called Cyma. The divine smell of the Greek food emanating from their kitchen made me feel famished. Since it was almost noon, I decided to have my lunch there. From the detailed menu, I ordered Taramosalata, a salted fish roe dip served with pita bread as an appetizer (Php 185 or USD 3.70). It was very tasty and surprisingly, didn’t have an overwhelming fish taste. I also got myself a solo order of Solomos Angel Hair, a pasta dish coated in tomato and basil cream sauce, topped with generous amounts of feta and Romano cheeses (Php 440 or USD 8.80). Cyma’s Ultimate Iced Tea (Php 75 or USD 1.50) was the perfect complement to my delicious meal.
Get Ready for Some Serious Shopping
After a hearty lunch, I checked out more stores on the third floor. There’s this one corner store which caught my attention. It’s a store women would love to walk into as it sells the most beautiful pearls I’ve ever seen. Jewelmer opened its doors to the Philippine market and the world in 1979. It sells finely designed and handcrafted jewelry pieces made of export-quality South Sea pearls from Palawan, the biggest province in the Philippines, surrounded by rich marine life. Jewelmer South Sea pearls are best known for their “Orient” quality meaning the pearls exhibit the best optical effect when light penetrates on them. The pearls were really a sight to behold! I would like to own something beautiful like that. But for now, I can only admire.
My last stop before calling it a day was Crossings Department Store. It’s a modern boutique department store for the middle to upper-middle class clientele. Inside I found “The Ramp,” a shopping street of stylish clothes and accessories from local and global brands. I was able to buy a Boho mix choker necklace for Php 250 (USD 5) and a pair of green peep-toe sling-back flats for Php 499 (USD 10). Another section of the store is the “Crossings Home” that sells modern furniture and accessories sourced from around Asia. For a mere Php 305.75 (USD 6), I got an elegant wooden candle holder for my room. Sweet! I failed to try “Everyday Gourmet,” which is a small international deli that uses global food ingredients. Well, maybe next time.
Getting home from the Shaw station is easy. Being the “central terminal” of the MRT-3 Blue Line, Shaw had become a major transfer point for commuters taking other forms of transportation such as buses, taxis, Mega-taxis and jeepneys. Mega-taxis or FXs are public utility vehicles, usually Toyota Tamaraw FX models, used to transport people just like ordinary cabs. The only difference from a real cab is that an FX can take as much as 10 passengers in a single trip, it follows a designated route, and the fare is cheaper usually starts at Php 15 (USD 0.30) and up.
-
0 comment
High 5: The Best Bed and Breakfasts
"Romantic getaways for Valentine's Day "
Written by: Ana Santos
Photo by: Johan Guillaume
1. Sonya’s Bed and Breakfast
2. Sitio Remedios
3. Ibulao, Ibulao
4. Abe's Farm
5. The Boutique
Masbate: The Wild, Wild West
The trail to Masbate starts with a cowboy hat. Yes, for those who want to maximize and indulge their stay here must—and should—participate in one of this province’s trail blazed festivities; if not as a rider then as a specta ...
Featured Contributor
Blen Angot
"Blen works as a content specialist and moonlights as a freelance writer. Early in her life, she discovered that she has less trouble fitting words than calculating numbers, so she studied broadcast communication and management from a state-funded university. Her ideal time to write is in the evening when everything's peaceful. When she's not in the city, she's somewhere far and secluded. Her travel essentials include a detailed itinerary, a dependable map, a first aid kit, a reliable camera, and a comfy pair of slippers. Her motto, "Life is best enjoyed when time periods are evenly divided between work, sleep, and recreation.""
Email Us
