The Wow Macau roundup!

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.

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.

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.