Continued from Hong Kong visit
During my brief stay in Hong Kong, a day was dedicated for Macau. Instead of having the Do It Yourself arrangement, we joined a day tour for efficiency. From Tsim Sha Tsui, the travel agency’s shuttle picked us up and did board us to HK Terminal. It only takes a 30 to 40-minute Turbo Jet ride from there to Macau.
Inside the tourist bus, the guide gave us pamphlets and orientation about the places we would be visiting. In between, she would ask questions that will merit you a fake casino chip. I got one when I hit the response for “Who are the second largest residents in Macau?” I wildly guessed Filipinos. Of course, we are everywhere, aren’t we? We are trying to dominate the world. 🙂
Macau is popular for its casinos that it’s otherwise known as the Las Vegas of Asia. It only has 29 square kilometers, and there are 29 casinos also. Fair equation. How did I know this? From our tour guide. That was her first trivia question, I was so lazy to think that there are 29 casinos per square kilometer clue.
It’s odd how something not really attractive can be very interesting. Just like in one of the parks we visited, there’s this tulip monument being Macau’s national flower. I don’t imagine that Philippines will ever have a Sampaguita monument.
Due to Chinese and Portuguese influences, this statue of Kun Iam is said to be a blend of Chinese goddess Guan Yin and Catholics’ Virgin Mary. Our tour guide actually asked us to make a wish as we visited this spot. But she also strongly reminded us not to make the sign of the cross or else our wishes will not ever come true.
We weren’t able to get really close to the statue because there was an ongoing walkathon that day. During our visit, Macau was having a weeklong celebration of its 10th year of independence from Portugal under China’s umbrella. For the unfamiliar, Macau and Hong Kong are Special Administrative Regions of China.
We also went to A-Ma Temple which was built for the goddess Tin Hau.
(View from the top of the temple)
It was a lucky day indeed, as the walkathon culminated near the temple. Imagine almost all locals were there. I enjoyed comparing the profiles of the participants in the parade. We also had the chance to have our photos taken with them as well as the members of drum and lyre bands and dragon dancers.
Ruins of Saint Paul is said to be the greatest monument to Christianity in Asia. Hence, this is the most famous sight in Macau. Built in 17th century and was destroyed by fire in 1835. The facade and stairway are all that remain.
(The amount of visitors is overwhelming)
As I was taking snaps, a younger visitor approached me to have her photo with me. Her mother became our photographer. It is one of the unusual and random interactions one could have.
Continued to Museu De Macau visit
0 thoughts on “Postage made of wits and bits of Macau”
luna miranda
wow, 29 square meters and 29 casinos! what happens in Macau, stays in Macau? 😀 great shots…i particularly like the rock with Chinese characters, and of course, the ruins of Saint Paul. the gold tulip looks weird.
luna mirandas last blog post..Ruby Tuesday: wild berries
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kg
nice pics! the ruins of St. Paul is interesting. thanks for sharing your experiences. at least when we get to go there, we know where to go or whom to ask.
side kwento…when gel and I were in Europe, there were many strangers who came up to me and asked me to take their picture. but no one has ever asked me to have a picture with them. must be an interesting experience for you. 🙂
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Daphne
She wanted her photo to be taken with you in it? That’s strange. hehehe Sometimes I try to find the right moment to snap a picture without anybody lurking in the background. But it is difficult especially in tourist spots.
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jeanny
Nice Photos Wits. You captured it very nicely, so nicely that I am amaze with macau’s beauty. Loving it talaga 🙂
Now with that girl…she thought your a celeb…naks! 🙂
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kayni
I was laughing at the idea of a giant Sampaguita monument =). If the statue of Kun Iam is a combination of a Chinese Goddess and the Virgin Mary, why won’t a wish be granted if you make the sign of the cross. Interesting theory.
kaynis last blog post..Where Does Sleep Go?
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kreez
wow that’s a great place to visit, i never had Macau in my list of places to visit but after reading this, i’m intrigued.
Your famous in Macau! someone asked to have your picture taken with them. hehe
kreezs last blog post..Tulips and Spring
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onyxx
hmmm… maybe i’ll find a way to visit macau one of these days
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sheng
Jo, you’re making me inggit again, akala ko tapos na, heheh, but this sure is lovely. So the time na I will visit, ikaw na naman ang tatanungin ko, hehehe. Ikaw yung pinagtanungan ko regarding our Bora trip eh, so be my tour guide ulit ha…
shengs last blog post..Introducing…
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upto6only
wow wish i could visit that place too. pero siguro philippines muna hehehe ove your country.
ok yung girl na magpapicture sau. did you ask her name?
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dong ho
wow! i think joining a day tour is a good choice. you get to some of the best places a country offers then just another day to discover some of the unknown yet worth seeing sites.
beautiful macau.
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katcarneo
How beautiful Macau is! And I love your collage.
It must be weird to have a stranger ask to get her picture taken with you. You’re like a celebrity.
I’d like to get my picture taken next to that tulip monument—I have this certain liking for tulips, especially purple ones.
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odette
you are very pretty!
lovely tour! i’ve never been to macao, but i’ve seen it on cnn business report how it has bore the brunt of the recession. so sad really, but with the hard times, who wants to gamble in the casinos? very impressive architecture though.
odettes last blog post..the modern wife
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dyanie
Hi Jo! at last medyo close up na pic mo hehe 😉 the girl thought you’re a celeb kaya sya nagpa picture sayo. 😛
how’s the ferry from HK to Macau? do you have a picture of how the ferry looks like? I want to visit Macau too and sidetrip HK but i’m so afraid of ferry or bangka eh. and how much does it cost? sorry jo dami ko questions.
waaah i wanna visit macau too! btw, have u tried their portuguese tarts! yummmmy! 🙂
dyanies last blog post..Revisiting Cebu
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Angeli
hi wits. i love reading your blog, particularly that of your posts about Pampanga, Hong Kong, Intramuros and now, Macau. it’s like reading a travel magazine- with the great photos and the detailed description.
Angelis last blog post..Bangkok Chronicles Three: Lumphini Park
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Rico
Naku talaga! On our next visit to HK, we plan to visit Macau.
Ricos last blog post..dvd o dibidi
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angeli
hi wits. my friends and i are planning to go to macau in december. how’s the weather during that time kaya? thanks. 🙂
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witsandnuts
We visited Macau in a December and I loved the weather then. 🙂 It was cold. A lot colder than Manila’s and Hong Kong’s December.
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