Tour-Walking Manila for Fitness

On my wife's birthday this July, we decided to have her licenses (she's a licensed med tech, nurse, and teacher) renewed, and after that, to take a long brisk walk. So we headed for the PRC in Morayta in Manila and then proceeded to North EDSA in a UV Express air-conditioned van for P25 each, for tour-walking Manila for fitness.

We dropped by Trinoma and then started walking around. Initially, we walked leisurely around and then gradually increased speed, especially taking staircases. Anyway, we comforted ourselves with that thought that when we hit SM North, we'd enjoy cool air-conditioning system and good lunch. So, we started walking fast, overtaking other people on the footbridge connecting Trinoma with SM The Block.

The covered footbridge is a long one, stretching from Trinoma to SM Annex--probably almost a kilometer long. You pass by North Avenue, The Block, and then small posh food shops along the sides of the skywalk (pathway above the parking lot on the ground floor), plus patches of gardens and small water fountains. There's even a small pond.

I was especially fascinated by the food shops alongside and even had to go several steps back to take pictures of them. I asked my wife to pose in one. It was a special day, anyway, and I and my wife were in a jovial mood to enjoy SM North anew--though we and our kids have been to it a lot of times already. The place was nothing special, but the occasion was. It gave everything a touch of newness.

I've seen lots of folks jog or brisk walk around this mall. Some do it inside the mall, some outside. You can walk the long stretch from SM Annex to SM Main building to The Block. You can even cross the footbridge and continue your brisk walk to Trinoma and roam around the many pathways and floor levels there, and then back to SM. You enjoy the outdoors and indoors, the natural air and sunlight and the air-conditioning systems. You can also window shop and visit stores to look around while you're brisk walking. I say you brisk walk and jog.

You also enjoy the security personnel scattered around, so you can brisk walk late in the afternoon or early evening. If you're adventurous enough, try taking the path from the SM footbridge to The Block then walk across Trinoma and take the footbridge stairs going down. Then walk all the way to Word of Hope church and take the footbridge there to get to SM Annex and then back to SM main. That's a longer one.

Back to my wife's birthday, after a short brisk walk, we scouted around SM Annex for a quiet spot to take lunch. We chose Kenny Rogers--quiet, romantic, and posh--and we ordered a plateful each--roasted chicken, fruits, and muffin. After lunch, we proceeded to Red Ribbon for a nice, big chocolate cake we brought home for the kids. Well, even if you're a fitness buff, it isn't bad to reward yourself now and then with sweet calories. Just make sure you regularly take Vital-C non-acidic Vitamin C like we do.

If you're looking for a safe place to do your jog or brisk walk in the city, try the malls--and especially try SM-Trinoma North Avenue. The spot is among ideal places for tour-walking Manila for fitness.