Manila Day 6 - Trapeze School & Sushi

This was the other day that tied for my favorite day in Manila...

We caught a cab for a 45-min. ride over to the very modern, international Bonifacio Global City (Financial District) for Rich and Ryan's private trapeze lesson. I couldn't believe the massive difference between BGC and Manila- BGC looked like we were in Singapore, or Dubai. Wide, open clean streets (totally tricycle/jeepney free) and soaring, sleek buildings occupied by American & European chain stores/restaurants. It felt like a completely different country. I could've eaten at TGIF and then shopped at Banana Republic, if I so desired (I did not). My guess is that a large percentage of wealthy expats live there (which I admit, would also be my top pick if only because there were so many wide, open and quiet spaces).

Not the Macarena. But close. It's Trapeze Basics 101.Their entire intro lesson was about 5 min. before Ry was climbing the ladder for his first jump!

He got to do two 'regular' swings first.

Once the first two regular swings/jumps were done, the boys each practiced learning how to swing upside down on the ground for a minute or two each.

Then we were each given a few tries to hang upside down. From then on, it was a dozen upside down swings practicing timing for the 'big trick' at the end of class.

By the end of the class, he was able to swing backward/upside down, and transfer/connect with another artist! The timing, the bravery, the repetition it took to get to this place made us so proud of him. There is absolutely NO doubt I wouldn't have been able to do it without puking. 

The lovely crew who worked so hard with Ryan! Rich scarily overheated mid-class and never quite got to the level Ryan did. I thought he was going to have to go to to hospital because he was sweating so much...but he survived and said he was still glad he tried.

After a couple of hours at the trapeze school, we headed over to a surprise restaurant for Ryan that I'd found online. It wasn't the food or the restaurant we were going for, but the service. And because it was (luckily enough), walking distance, we were able to get there without having to hail a cab.

Bonifacio Global City has trendy artwork all over the city

I taught Ryan how senior's mall walk the day prior, and had him do it with me (he was always dying of embarrassment) in BGC!

You placed your order via a touch screen...

...then a Shinkansen train swiftly and quietly delivered your order once it's ready! 

It was pretty fun to see, and I'll admit to being as fascinated by it than Ryan was. ;-)

Our final stop of the day, after returning home to shower out of sopping wet attire (trapeze school was blazing hot in the direct sun), was to a meal at Soi, a Thai restaurant near the hotel that we'd been to previously. Oh, and a little more virtual reality of course!

At this point, the staff are greeting him with hugs and high fives.

I love, love, looove me some Thai food, and this place was awesome! Pahd thiew, pahd thai, veggie wraps, fried rice and mango sticky rice!!!

Yum, yum and yum.