A few weeks ago, I visited the newly-opened UNIQLO store at Megamall. I believe this is their biggest one in the country yet, with 3 floors. I was looking for nice casual/corporate attire until I came across an entire section with piles and racks of winter clothes. Really? Winter? In a country with only two seasons (“hotter and hottest”, according to Carlos Celdran), I just found it preposterous that any store here would have an entire floor dedicated to winter clothes. I got a kick out of browsing through piles of thermal wear and coats and was imagining how outrageous it would be for me to buy one and wear it in Baguio. Or Tagaytay. Or at the office with subzero temperature.
A week later, I was back in the same store, browsing the same racks, shopping for the warmest coats I can find in preparation for a winter trip this December. Haha. I couldn’t be thankful enough that UNIQLO was selling complete winter clothes, and is the only store I know selling them here. One of the sales persons was very helpful and assisted me the entire time. He even provided a seat for my mom, who accompanied me and was complaining why the store didn’t have a seating area for senior citizens. LOL. I was planning to buy only one down coat, as suggested by my sister, but the sales person directed me to thermal wear, sweaters, scarves, pants, and socks which I didn’t even think of buying before. I didn’t buy everything he suggested but I bought a pair of “heattech” jeans that I can also wear in Manila on a casual day.
Late last month, I decided to book a trip to my brother’s place in Maryland, USA for the holidays. I remember being there in Spring Break 2012 and falling in love with the neighborhood where my brother’s family’s house stood. I loved living near the forests, communing with the squirrels and the deer (not really haha)
I booked through Expedia.com and found a really cheap rate with Saudia with an 8-hour layover in Saudi Arabia. My sister was actually against the idea, but quoting from her 11 year old daughter, I replied, “YOLO”. Haha. I’ve read about a lot of horrible reviews on the internet about Saudi Airlines. But then again I’ve lived my entire life going through the world’s worst airport, enduring flight delays from Cebupacific/Airphil Express, etc. I think I can live with anything thrown at me now.
Thing is, I don’t do well in extremely cold weather. Haha. I’m essentially a tropical person, being born in the summer and raised my whole life in warm climate. Early this month, I got sick, and I blame it on the change in weather. And the temperature only shifted a few degrees lower. The other day, my mom just directed the electric fan towards my direction and I sneezed continuously. When I was in Maryland last year, I was literally trembling from the cold, and I developed an ugly skin rash because of the weather. And it was spring. I remember experiencing snow way back when I was in grade school, and I was bundled up that time. I couldn’t imagine waking up to it every day for 12 days, experiencing snow storm, and seeing Santa and his reindeer within a few meters. Hehe.
This video probably sums up how I feel about the “cold” weather in Manila. Haha:
I’m pretty excited about this trip though 🙂 This is the first time I’m spending the holidays in the U.S., and it’s a great way to cap off a crappy year and begin a year of adventure.
