Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China, has always been a fascinating destination for me. Aside from its proximity to Manila, its attractions are quite intriguing.
Where else can you find Catholic churches juxtaposed with Buddhist enclaves?
In fact, I know of some Macau-based Filipino OFWs who go to mass at a Catholic church, then proceed to the nearby Buddhist temple to light an incense. I asked them for an explanation, to which they replied with nonchalance, “It’s better to keep all bases covered.” How can I argue with that?
The city was a territory of Portugal until 1999 when it was handed back to China. Its evolution explains the very strong mix of European and Asian influence in everything about the city. It is now popular for its big and world-class casinos and shopping malls on the Cotai Strip, a parcel of land that connects the islands of Coloane and Taipa, thus the name. Because of these entertainment complexes, Macau is frequently referred to as the “Las Vegas of Asia.”
It is now very easy to travel to Macau from Manila, compared to how it was before when one had to take the 55-minute Turbojet ferry only from Kowloon. Now, visitors have a choice. They can also take the ferry directly from Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok airport, if they are in a hurry to go to Macau. Of course, the fastest way would be to take any of the direct flights from Manila. Early next year, the bridge between Hong Kong and Macau will be finished, making it even easier for Hong Kong residents and visitors to make a quick trip to the casino city.
So what is there to do and see in Macau? A thousand and one things make any trip to that city worth it. Of course, the food is always good, simply because the two cultures that comprise the city is manifested in the culinary fare’s ingredients. Unique dishes are traced to spice blends that wives of Portuguese sailors assigned to the former colony would use as a substitute for those they had easy access to when they were still in Europe.
The most popular Macanese dishes, which are also my personal favorites, are the Bacalhau (Portuguese salted cod fish), African Chicken, and the Pork Chop Bun, the equivalent to our Chinese Siopao. Of course, for dessert, one should never miss the iconic Lord Stowe’s Egg Tarts. The original bakery, which makes these still stands and continues to sell this world-famous calorie booster.
There is another dessert that I go crazy for, every time I am in Macau. Serradura, which actually means “sawdust” in Portuguese, is a layered dessert made of sweet biscuits that are crushed into extremely fine particles that resemble sawdust. Added to it are cream, condensed milk and vanilla, then kept frozen and served in that form. Just writing about it makes me crave for it!
The most famous tourist landmark in Macau is the Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral, which dates back to the 16th century. What makes it a favorite spot for photo mementos is its intricately carved façade, which is the only thing left of the church after it was razed by a fire during a typhoon in 1835. The Ruins sits on top of a small hill with 68 stone steps leading to it. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Another very popular attraction is the 338-meter Macau Tower, designed by Craig, Craig, & Moller, with an observation deck and a revolving restaurant at its summit. It is very popular among travellers who go for extreme excitement during their trip. The Tower offers Skywalk X ,which takes guests on a thrilling walking tour around the tower’s outer rim, as strong winds continuously blowing from all directions heighten one’s level of fear!
Those who opt for an even more adventurous game can do the Bungee Jump, developed by the world-famous AJ Hackett. There is also the Skyjump, a tamer version of the Bungee Jump because the person doesn’t go on a free-fall, as his cables control the fast descent to 233 meters below. Nevertheless, it still is the highest Skyjump in the world.
Since almost all travellers to Macau feature the Ruins and the Tower in their blogs or social media postings, I decided to highlight other less popular but very interesting destinations in the city. The Museum of Macau covers an area of 2,800 square meters and is located on the Fortaleza do Monte, a small hill which gives museum visitors a nice view of the city. The exhibits chronicle the history of this former Portuguese territory.
This was where I saw the most elaborately decorated Opium Bed, a necessary piece of furniture for the wealthy families of China. the owner of the house used he bed when he took a breather from his daily preoccupations (although the rich always had servants to do everything for then) and allowed the opiates in his smoking paraphernalia to take him, either to Fantasyland or Never-never land! The photo on this page will show how much importance was given to this piece of furniture, as shown in its rich embellishments.
I also went to the Macau Giant Panda Pavilion, just to have a closer look at those adorable animals. This fan-shaped facility, which covers an area of 3000 square meters, has indoor activity quarters where visitors can enjoy themselves through various diversions, an outdoor yard where the pandas are, and an indoor exhibition area. Only a glass wall separates the visitors from the pandas, making it very easy for anyone to take good, close-ups of these lovable creatures.
There are many other attractions that make Macau an interesting tourist destination, as the city caters to every visitor’s whim and fancy. As far as I’m concerned, Macau is unique, a class of its own, because it is where two very distinct cultures from opposite points in the globe have fused seamlessly. Portugal has blended smoothly with China, the reason why this city of a little more than half-a-million residents has attracted 30 million visitors last year. And, these figures are not “Lutong Macau” either!
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