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<p>On this once untainted island rose yet another corporate structure, a symbol of modern-day consumerism, capitalism, and bastardization of culture. I had traveled here years ago when these big shopping malls didn't exist yet, used to be a quiet fishing village, a scuba diving mecca, home to lovers of the wild and pristine beaches, and now a very touristy and capitalistic place, creating more waste that will greatly affect the nature and marine life. A lot has changed, the shopping malls from bigger cities have now reached this peaceful place. I believe that some things should have just stayed the way they were. Why do we have to ruin beautiful things?

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After having traveled for a while, and even visiting the other shopping malls in other countries, it is hard for me to stay inside the building. It is a reminder of my previous life. It is a paradox of life here, while the town's people are happily living with whatever they have, these corporate structures came here to tell them that they need more in life. And the rich locals and expats are more than happy enough to have access to everything they can afford.
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The shopping mall is where people from all social classes meet and interact - lower class, middle class, and the upper class. They all walk around oblivious to each other's presence. You can easily tell who belongs to which class. It turned out, the mall is more for the lower class, not because they are shopping, but because there are more jobs here for the minimum wage earners. And here they serve the higher class, bringing them the sizes of shoes they need, serving them good food and cleaning the floor to erase their footprints.

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So I came to check out this newly opened shopping mall in town overlooking the bay, and wow, it is huge. I was curious that perhaps, I would find here what I needed to buy. And they have everything actually, that I no longer need to fly to the city just to buy what I need. I even found a special shop that can print some business cards for me. It is indeed convenient to find things here, with several stores of different brands. A choice and information overload. It is so well-organized - brights lights, centralized air-conditioning and flashing advertisements, an ultimate shopping atmosphere. A consumerist's haven at its finest.
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<p>It's a whole world here too, you'll find yourself in different places at the same time that you no longer need to fly to another country. You can be in Seattle for a minimum of $4 a cup, and that's like half of the daily salary of the island's working class. Some people just come here to get some fancy frappucino, take a selfie and upload the photo on social media. The people themselves become the advertisements.
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If you need Italian condiments, American food, Asian spices, English tea, you no longer have to swim the ocean just to be able to prepare a meal you fancy. The supermarket aisles have everything you need from around the world. I just wish there would be more local shops around the town, like a local bazaar or something, there are just a few actually. The shopping mall although it provides jobs to many, it has also become the ultimate killer of local businesses.

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It is Japanese food for me today, only for today that I treat myself for all the trouble of coming here. As I was enjoying my <i>Yakisoba</i> and  <i>Takoyaki</i>, I was sitting at this bar-like area of the restaurant made for a single person who didn't need to occupy a big table. I was facing this transparent glass that divides me and the food crew.  Another paradox of life. I gave myself a chance to think, observe and write this piece in my mind. The repetitive task of flipping warm Takoyakis, the frying of tasty noodles, the glittering sweat on their foreheads and the forced smiles. And here I was, demanding for the bill that was taking too long to be given to me. I just felt the need to get out of this place. 
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I had been to a lot of different shopping malls in the world actually, as I was trying to easily look for what I needed, but it turned out that I didn't really need everything these places offer. The concept is the same everywhere. The mall symbolizes the modern-day consumption, and it does not really offer things that humans need for subsistence, mostly just products without any primary practical use. Each product presentation in the mall is designed to manipulate the behavior of consumers, to give this idea of happiness based on modern society's standards.
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I have a mixed feeling actually, I feel like it will make my life easier in terms of looking for those things that I couldn't find anywhere else in this town. But at the same time, it is quite sad how the once unspoiled island and innocent people are now the prey of this modern-day consumerism. Why do they think they are poor when they have everything they need here, a place rich with natural resources. The arrival of the shopping mall just gives them an idea that they need to work more and slave themselves to minimum wage so they could afford these things, to fit in and keep up with what everyone else has nowadays. The mall has become essential for the system to perpetuate, to maintain and justify inequality, and the victims are again, the working class people . This corporate structure masking as 'needs' has become just another vulgar display of artificial happiness.
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<blockquote>Are these things really better than the things I already have? Or am I just trained to be dissatisfied with what I have now? ― Chuck Palahniuk </blockquote>