Macau and Hong Kong (Part 1 - Macau)

Went with Joseph on a 6-day trip to celebrate our fourth year together.


Macau

April 28 to April 30, 2007


Day 1

Arrived in the airport and took a cab to the Metropole Hotel (at first, thought it was too small, but it had good functionality and towards the end we had the feeling that "it was spacious enough")

Airport in Macau

Taxi Sign - Macau Airport

Inside a taxi - Macau

Went to Largo do Senado for a short urban walk. Amazing. There were lots of people and shops here and there but the great walkway and cobblestones gave the experience much wonder. Lighting of the structures was perfect.

Largo do Senado in the evening

Day 2

A-Ma Temple - there was a bit of a crowd, not as "sacred" as I thought it would be as tourists were entering the temples still with their shoes on (eventually found out this was a "modern way of doing things" and same is true with other temples we visited in Hong Kong)

Inside A-Ma Temple

We walked along the area and went on to visit Largo do Lilau - it seemed very serene when we got there. We got to the Penha Cathedral as we further walked uphill. It offered us a great view of the Macau Tower.

Largo do Lilau

Largo do Lilau

Strolling along the casino district - great architecture! Grand Lisboa - looks like a giant golden onion (with the top part still under construction). Hotel Lisboa (with lights all over it, "caging" the whole building). Galaxy Starworld, like putting two rectangular objects on top of each other (not aligned!). Wynn Hotel, building is a huge curve laid on ground.

Grand Lisboa

Grand Lisboa

Wynn Hotel

Hotel Lisboa (to your left), Galaxy Starworld (right)

Taipa, the island directly south of Macau Peninsula. We went to Rua do Cunha for dinner, with several eating shops in the vicinity. Could have been more picturesque if we visited the place during daytime. The places here were not as modernized and forward as those in Macau Peninsula.

In Taipa

Small street in Taipa

Day 3

Coloane, the southernmost tip in the Macau territory. Very rural setting, with houses in Portuguese style (in pastel-like color, squarish), but with Chinese people as residents.

We went on to see the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier and Tin Hau Temple, map in hand but with no itinerary in mind. It was like being in a huge gameboard, with no idea where to go but getting happy in the end.

Before catching the next bus to Macau Peninsula, we ate at Lord Stow's Bakery (with highly recommended egg tarts - but we regret leaving no room in our stomachs for this as we had servings of very refreshing Spicy Chicken Salad and hearty Baked Potato with Tuna).

Small street in Coloane

Tin Hau Temple (larger version - there is a "mini version" of this temple, also in Coloane)

Chapel of St. Francis Xavier

Lord Stowe's Bakery

Too bad, we didn't get to see Praia Hac Sa, a resort with naturally black sand.

Went back to Senado Square for a cup of raspberry tea with ice shavings, with Joseph exploring more of Macau Peninsula. He went to see The Ruins of St. Paul, St. Augustine's Church, and other town squares. After which, we then went to the Maritime Terminal in the late afternoon to go to Hong Kong via ferry.

Ruins of St. Paul

St. Augustine's Square

Other highlights:

Architecture is fantastic. Buildings, bridges (there are three different bridges connecting Macau Peninsula and Taipa), and roads are in themselves "tourist attractions".

Macau Tower and Sai Van Bridge

Buses are the main mode of transportation - very convenient to get around Macau (and Taipa, and Coloane), but be sure to get a booklet of bus schedule, route, and fare from the Tourist Center in Senado Square.

Bus in Macau

To explore further (on another trip) - Fortresses (Guia, etc.), Cathedrals (The Ruins of St. Paul, etc.), Praia Hac Sa in Coloane, and everything else!


Now I'm thinking of planning two more trips to Macau with Joseph - one on a summer-y month (some time April to June next year?), and the other during cool season (probably December). Can't wait!

:)