Macau as seen from the Science Center
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. There are so many things in Macau that for the uninitiated, will be surprised by the variety this small territory has to offer. It’s not at all a sin city that is governed by the roll of a dice, the flash of cards, or the turn of the roulette at the casino. Macau is one interesting enclave that is a blend of the old and the new, the exotic and the familiar.
At St. Augustine Square. CLICK TO ENLARGE
The old is represented by the UNESCO World Heritage site under Historic Centre of Macau. There’s the Largo do Senado, the famous Mater Dei and the Fortaleza da Guia which are from the Portuguese colonial period, thus the occident. The Casa do Mandarim, at Lilau Square where there are interesting Portuguese style homes and A-ma Temple respresents the oriental.
There are also interesting old places. Even a walk around the streets of old Macau is already a treat. Or a saunter at the Camoes Garden. Near the A-ma Temple grounds, one might chance on a Chinese opera performance.
Chef Antonio is known for his Michelin recommended restaurant offering authentic Portuguese cuisine. CLICK TO ENLARGE
The new is sometimes overwhelming. There are casinos like the Venetian and Sofitel Ponte 16 where the uber rich are pampered. If the gametables are not your forte, then there are also dazzling free shows. If not, just shop, tour and marvel what Macau has to offer from architecture, museums, and many other things. Even for sex.
But one of the most memorable things to do in Macau is just to eat. There’s lots of good food from the ubiquitous egg tart, to streetside pastelerias. It has interesting cuisine like Chinese which is predominantly southern, Portuguese and Macanese cooking as well as international fare. This is really a gourmand’s haven.
That’s it! Macau in a nutshell. And there’s still more to explore and discover.
now im waiting for your macau PDF. i hope that DOT officials would do something like this, this i think is the cheapest way to have an online presence in promoting the Philippines.
as usual, nice nice nice series. idol!
great info. this post would surely come in handy when i start planning for a macau itinerary. thanks for sharing, estan 🙂
@senyor lakwatsero, thanx. Wait for the Macau issue of Langyaw, the emag 🙂
Thanks for the pics and tips. We plan to discover Macau as well this December after Hong Kong. Your series surely created ideas and itineraries on how to deal Macau. Thanks
i love this one Estan, useful for me. I will follow through this when I get my ticket na. Thanks for sharing this one bro. God bless