I forgot to blog about this two weeks ago, but I finally got to step into SM Mall of Asia three Saturdays ago. This is funny because I always pass by SMMoA whenever I go to and from work but I only got to visit it a few months after it opened. (The same thing happened with Ayala’s Market! Market!—I pass by it every working day but I only got in several months after it opened.)

Anyway, yeah it’s huge—38.6 hectares of prime commercial space! But having only 16% larger floor area than SM Megamall and being only 10% larger than the expanded SM City North EDSA, I think the proper adjective is sprawling. The main mall buildings of SMMoA only have two floors (any more, and the mall would probably sink into the reclaimed Manila Bay land) and so, that much retail space will necessarily occupy a much larger footprint, hence the behemothian feel of the mall.

Interestingly, SMMoA borrowed from the architecture of SM City Baguio in that it has open-air halls and retail stores. I haven’t seen it but I can just imagine how wet some parts of the mall will be during a severe typhoon. And aside from the huge feel of SMMoA, I like how it doesn’t scream “rigid SM” at you unlike Megamall, North EDSA, and Southmall. (That’s also what I liked about SM City Baguio.)

Too bad I only went there at night. I must be nice strolling along the west side of the mall during sunset; I think it will be one spectacular sight.