Ready to be surprised in Macau

Categories abroad, Places
Foggy night upon our arrival in Macau, the Venetian is all but a blur as we passed it from the airport.

I was invited by the Macau Government Tourism Office-Philippines (MGTO) together with other travel writers and bloggers for a familiarization tour to this interesting place last May and it was a beautiful experience with its cuisine, glitz and old world charm. I wasn’t really prepared. I know nothing about Macau except for a few things or what I think I knew of this place:

  • first and foremost, it is one big gambling den where high rollers win and lose big stakes. Money, it seems is free flowing
  • It was a Portuguese colony for a few centuries until it was returned to China in 1999, and thus there is a catholic community there
  • The ruins of St. Paul Cathedral is one of the top destinations

Other than that, none. Zero. I think this is a good thing. With only these things in mind, I am open to what Macau has to offer, good or bad. I am always receptive to something new: food, places, structures and probably culture and people.

Welcome fruit at the Sofitel Ponte 16
Big room with extra comfy bed. CLICK TO ENLARGE

From a late evening flight from Manila, we arrived at the small international airport in Macau. Kind of tired and hungry that we are ready to munch whatever is placed before us. Outside the van that transported the group, the lights were already aglow. The night was foggy and kind of cold.

It was all a blur. The Venetian loomed over us at the left, bright and massive. It was kind of detached and gloomy. Maybe it was the hunger or the tiredness that influenced the overall atmosphere. Macau unfolded as we went from the airport to having dinner and finally reaching our hotel, the Sofitel Ponte 16.

I am ready to be surprised in Macau.

I'm a Travel and Architecture photographer, blogger and writer based in Cebu, the Philippines.

A true blue Cebuano, I make stunning images and meaningful stories. My work has been published in various coffee table books as well as local and international publications including Geo (Germany), Sunday Times Magazine (London), done photo assignments for Mabuhay and written posts in Smile.

My personal Photography work has been exhibited around Asia and Europe including Paris in France, Germany, The Netherlands, South Korea, China and around the ASEAN regional capitals.

I am a peripatetic traveler and have been to all 81 Philippine provinces and abroad.

Check out my portfolio site at StanCabigas.

15 thoughts on “Ready to be surprised in Macau”

  1. Macauuuu~~~ I miss Macau! Sana makabalik next year!

  2. dami promo fares nina 🙂

  3. Macau intrigued me when I was in China in 2008. I had a friend who I was traveling with who went there after we parted ways and raved about it. Definitely on my list. I look forward to hearing more about your time there 🙂

  4. wow! interesting photos! looking forward for your next post!

  5. @chris, its one of the places that should be visited and there are many interesting things to discover there beyond the gambling tables

  7. Is there a direct flight to Macau from Manila now?
    Just love that photo of the fruits!

  8. @nomadic pinoy, there are direct flights.

  10. HA! Babalik ako sa January! 😀

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  14. hope to be there..so soon.. 🙂

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