The Day Before Take-Off

I struggled getting up this morning. I only had about 5 hours of sleep after I finished packing up for our flight to Manila. Mariah's mother came with us to the airport to send us off. I wished my family were there too. I promised Mama I will give her a call once we get to Manila and also before leaving for the US.

We got checked in at the Mandarin Oriental and got upgrades in our room accommodations. We had a late lunch at their restaurant, the Paseo Uno, after which we decided to buy some souvenirs at the nearby mall, Glorietta. One thing I didn't like about shopping in the Philippines was the tendency of sales clerks to hover while you're browsing around. I appreciate the assistance but it could get really annoying and obtrusive for me who's not used to it anymore. It took away a lot of the enjoyment when I felt pressured and watched. Kenny felt the same way too. For some reason, sales people swarmed down on him when we were out shopping for shoes for him last weekend. Some really got embarrassingly pushy and downright rude. Whenever we were inside a store, he avoided them like plague.

I highly recommended the Oriental Spa at the Mandarin Oriental. It is located on top of the hotel. A short flight of stairs leads to an Oriental-style landscaped garden and relaxation area where the four private rooms are located. One of these rooms is specially designed for couples. There's also a relaxation lounge - perfect for drifting slowly back to the real world.

This was my main reason in rallying to stay here for the night. We all got a late night schedule for our massages so it was even better. Mariah and I got ours together in the couple's room while the guys got theirs in individual rooms. We were so lethargic after the treatments that we can hardly keep our eyes open on our way back to our rooms. The guys apparently experienced the same. When asked, they admitted that the Oriental Spa was a tad better than the one at Plantation Bay. The tranquil and healing experience will hopefully prepare us for the long journey ahead.

Comments

[andy]

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