Ola Macao!

Going to Macao from Hongkong via ferry is very straightforward and hassle-free. We requested our tour guide to purchase the ferry tickets for us in advance so we don’t have to queue up again at the Terminal. After clearing immigration, you can immediately look for your ferry gate number and board the fast craft. The ride is only about an hour and 15 minutes.

“Where are the people? The cars???” --- My first impression of Macao is unbelievably, about space and the lack of people. As we were billeted at The Venetian Macao, we had to go to Taipa Island. Knowing beforehand that this is supposed to be a very small group of interlinked islands, I was expecting to be greeted with a horde of local residents but it’s so amazing, only a few cars around, only a few people walking about. I mean, hello??? Am I in Macao?

After checking in and an early lunch (we had a rushed breakfast at our Hongkong hotel) at Taipa Village, we immediately hailed a cab to take us to the main town square. Another thing about the taxis here, hahaha kaloka talaga…..when the taxi pulled over near us, I was trying to open the door when it just automatically opened! The taxis here have automatic doors! Hahahaha I felt so Third World talaga!

Going into town, the duality of Macao is more pronounced. It is a city which has celebrated its two heritages --- Portuguese and Chinese --- simultaneously and progressively. It was the first European enclave in Asia and for hundreds of years until its handover in 1999, it was the oldest colony in the world. The city has really embraced its heritage, from its colonial architecture, to its churches and temples, everything seems to compliment the other.

I don’t know whether it is the smallness of the place but I immediately felt at ease strolling around the town square (although, I realized now where the entire town converges, it’s here at the Senado Square!), more comfortable than when I was in Hongkong. The Portuguese influence is everywhere, from the buildings, the street names which always starts with Avenida or Rua, the food, and the small alleyways with its traditional street lamps. I am in love….

Historical Centre of Macao

The central district of Macao has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. The city is a testament to East meets West exchanges of culture and traditions.

The life of the city revolves around the majestic Largo de Senado, the fountain is the focal point and the main attraction of the square and everyone just seems to converge in it. The square is flanked by huge colonial buildings, the imposing Leal Senado on the other side and the white façade of the Holy House of Mercy. Interspersed in these historical buildings are the retail shops and outlets of clot

hing brands like Bossini, Giordano, etc.

We went further into the tiny Rua de Sao Domingos and chanced upon the distinctive St. Dominic’s Church, with its green doors and windows and a full façade of yellow walls. The church was founded in 1587 by Dominican friars who were originally from Mexico. After a couple of lost turns, we just kept on walking and walking, following the street names with arrows is a nightmare! My advice --- don’t follow the directions given by the arrows or else you’ll get lost! Just look at your map and follow which way is the next street or building.

We went through alleys with small souvenir shops (this is definitely a tourist haven) and tempting smells of pork hams and sausages from the food stalls lining the streets. We just followed the mass of people walking towards Rua de Sao Paulo and finally (we lost almost 30minutes just walking around) we found the Ruins of St. Paul’s Church. The ruins is another image that you always associate with historical Macao together with that of the Largo de Senado. The church was built in 1602 by the Jesuits and after the fire in 1835 which engulfed the whole church and the nearby college, only the 4 colonnaded tiers were what remained of the old church.

Just behind the ruins is the Na Tcha Temple, small and easily overlooked if not for the fact that it is adjacent to the only remaining section of the Old City Walls, it was earlier built by the Portuguese as a defensive wall around the town settlement.

We ventured further down the alley, and discovered more well-preserved houses and clean cobblestoned pathways. Towards the end of Rua de San Antonio and across a small fountain is one of the oldest church in Macao, St. Anthony’s Church was built in 1560. It was made first with bamboo and wood and later on reconstructed in its present stone façade.

Across the street, past the park benches with lounging local residents, is the entrance to the Luis de Camoes Garden and the Casa Garden, built as a house by a wealthy Portuguese merchant in 1770. We did not really go further inside the complex anymore as we just wanted to catch a cab and go back to the hotel.

Our walk started and ended at the Largo de Senado....the place became even more alive and pulsing with life and color at night! I loved how the multi-colored buildings became more pronounced and more glowing once they were illuminated...

Too much walking can be too bad on the feet……these needs a foot spa! lol