Saturday, March 7, 2009

Alison in Mall land

A little like Alice when she fell down the rabbit hole and it went down, and down and down, I found myself feeling a little disorientated as the malls here go on and on and on. I wondered where it would all end and whether there might be a potion somewhere that when you drank it made you a thousand times richer.
Seriously you go in the front,side or back door and then a long time later if you are very lucky and very good at navigation you will find the way out. I have never in my life walked into one shop of many shops and seen so much of everything. Everyhwere
It's like walking into Debenhams or John Lewis and the entire floor is all one thing, like bags, shoes. And no matter how long you walk for there seems to be no end of it all. The you walk out and there's another one. I didn't realise just how many brands of shoes there are, Kickers, Keds, Van, Converse, Hush, and on and on.
At first it seemed like shopper heaven but actually I find it all overwhelming. There's so much choice that I almost can't make a decision.
I just can't begin to imagine where all that stuff would fit in the world. It also made me stop and think about how much of the world's resources was being used to produce such an over abundance. I think that if all production stopped it would still be several years before all the goods were used up.
Still Manila is very large and busy and it is a wonderful opportunity to be here. I might just be better off leaving the purse behind.

14 comments:

Renee said...

I hope all the product isn't made in China but from the local economy -- or at least a good portion of it.
I dislike large malls and too much retail. It seems like overkill.

LizzieJane said...

It sounds like you are having a amazing time, I can't imagine a mall that big, not even here where I live.
Stay safe and enjoy yourself.
x

Mary said...

Oh my, that does sound a little overwhelming, and I like to shop! Enjoy yourself. What an experience.

Chocolate Cat said...

That sounds like shopper heaven but I know I'd be like you and find it a little overwhelming! Did you buy anything??

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

Glad it isna't all work and no play! Hope you find plenty of opportunity to explore.

Danette said...

It does sound overwhelming! But FUN too! Hope you truly are enjoying yourself and not feeling homesick.
I agree with you about the over abundance. Who really NEEDS so much?!

Willow said...

I truly dislike shopping for just those reasons--too many shops, too much merchandise.

I am however glad that you are enjoying your trip.

Unknown said...

I prefer inside malls to the awful strip malls they have in the US ... I find those utterly depressing.

t does wool said...

shopping itself has become too much...too much of everything...too much to see,too much to look at and too much money :)

Kitty said...

Wow - sounds like an amazing experience, but I totally relate to your feelings of a world with too much 'stuff'. x

Danette said...

Hi Alison~
In regards to the comment you left on my blog~ I knit continental. It's the only way I know how to knit. Therefore, it's what all my students learn also!
Hope you're having a good weekend and are able to resist all that good shopping!

Jane said...

Too many shops! but if there were one fabric/yarn/craft shop in the middle i'd be there like a shot!

raining sheep said...

I did have to chuckle a bit. I very rarely go to the mall except every now and then here downtown where the mall is extremely straight-forward and I work downtown so I know the mall really well. Most of the suburban malls make me crazy. I always get lost in them and never buy anything because there is too much of everything.

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

What an amazing opportunity to be there!

Your comment on all the choices reminds me of what our house guest (6 month visitor from Chile) said about the US. All the choices everywhere overwhelmed her.

Enjoy yourself - you deserve it!