Macau

The last time that I was in Macau was in 1984. So much would have changed in those 27 years, that I was really looking forward to my visit Macau again. It's very convenient now, there is a ferry terminal in Kowloon and another on Hong Kong island. The turbojet ferry takes about 1 hour from Kowloon to Macau.

Arriving at the Macau Ferry Terminal, do remember that as a foreign visitor, you need to fill up the immigration card. Near the terminal you will find Fisherman's Wharf. However, there is not much to see as it looks more like a white elephant, only few shops and eateries are open.

What excited me more was the hotel that we were staying in. I read about it in a Travel magazine and visited the hotel in 1984 to have tea on the terrace and watch the sun set. It had left a very memorable impression and it is the same this time. The Pousada de Sao Tiago, located at the end of Avenida da Republica near Barra Square, was originally a fortress built by the Portuguese in the early 17th century to defend Macau against hostile European nations and local pirates. Now it has been transformed into a charming hotel.

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Just look at the room, it is almost like a junior suite, with adjoining sitting area. They even have a jacuzzi and steam shower in the large bathroom. If we had more time, I would have just stayed in the room and refused to go out.

And you can watch the beautiful sunset from the terrace while enjoying a warm cup of tea. Simply unbeatable.  Living the "high" life!

From the hotel, following the Macau World Heritage trail and a short walk away is the A-ma Temple. It is an old temple that existed even before the city of Macau came into being.

After the temple, we visited the Mandarin's House, which was built before 1869. This is a traditional Chinese residence of prominent Chinese literary figure Zheng Guanying. The house is huge, consisting of several courtyards and many rooms.

St. Lawrence Church, built by the Jesuits in the mid-16th century, is one of the oldest churches in Macau.

The Dom Pedro V Theatre, built in 1860, was the first western-style theatre in China. Today, it remains a venue for important public events and celebrations. However, when were we there, it was closed for renovations.

In the same area, you can find the St. Augustine's Church and the St. Joseph's Seminary.

One place you will not miss is the Senado Square in downtown Macau. It is almost like the urban centre of Macau for centuries. Surrounded by pastel-coloured neo-classical buildings, it gives the impression of a Mediterranean atmosphere.

Walking up the hill from Senado Square, a pretty steep climb indeed, you will arrive at the old Mount Fortress. This was the city's principal military defense structure. It is quite a beautiful view from the top of the fortress. You can almost see the whole of Macau from here.

Walking down the hill on the other side, you will arrive at the most famous landmark of Macau, the ruins of St. Paul's, or rather the façade of what was originally the Church of Mater Dei built between 1602 and 1640.

Eventually, walking down the Rua de S Paulo, you will arrive back at the Senado Square.

If you are like me and are interested fresh produce, you can visit the Red Market at Avenida de Horta e Costa. It has 3 levels of what you can find in a wet market, ranging from vegetables to meats to seafood. From there a short walk will bring you to Rotunda de Carlos da Maia (Three Lamps District) which has a open street market. I simply love that place.

Crossing the Macau-Taipa Bridge into Taipa and Coloane, you will find more modern buildings. This is where all the big, new casino hotels are situated at. The City of Dreams, Grand Hyatt Macau, Hard Rock Hotel, Four Seasons Hotel and the Venetian Macau are all found here.

Inside the Venetian Macau, you will be mesmerized by all the gold. Everything looks golden from the ceiling to the pillars to the various structures. Truly beautiful. And the 2nd level shopping mall is huge, with all kinds of shops and eateries. And just like Venice, there is a canal running through the entire floor with gondolas rides.

And since we were already in Coloane, we went to the Coloane Village at the South-western tip of the island. There, along the Avenida Cinco De Outubro, you will see a narrow straits, across at which is China's Zhuhai City.

It was a wonderful 2 days in Macau, although I wished I had more time. In my next post, I will tell you all about the fantastic food that I found in this former Portuguese Colony.