|
MACAU TRAVEL GUIDE
Known as the Las Vegas of the East, this one-time Portuguese colony has emerged as a modern-day Mecca of gambling, tourism and commerce. Super casino resorts dot the horizon mixed in with the ancient churches and fortresses of old Macau. With a population of 480,000 people, mostly Chinese, this area is steadily growing to support the recent economic boom.
* * * * * * * *
MACAU WEATHER - When To Go
Macau has an average temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. It is considered a sub-tropical climate with the worst of the humidity in June. Torrential rainstorms continue from June through September and can be quite unpleasant. Plan on visiting October through December when the temperatures drop and the humidity decreases. Winter (January-March) can be quite chilly with low temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius but the days are usually sunny. The humidity begins to grow at the beginning of April and does not decline again until the end of September.
* * * * * * * *
MACAU ATTRACTIONS - Things to See & Do
Begin a tour of Macau by strolling through the centre of the city. Here can be found the A-Ma Temple in the south-western portion of the city. It overlooks Barra Square and the sea. Just around the corner are the Moorish Barracks. Walk up the hill to Lilau Square, home to the first Portuguese settlers and take a look at Mandarin’s House.
You should plan on exploring Prata Street to become immersed in the Portuguese religion. Along this street you can find Saint Lawrence’s Church and Saint Joseph’s Seminary. Continue up to Saint Augustine’s square to find Saint Augustine’s Church, the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library and the Dom Pedro V Theatre. Enjoy a bit of shopping along Almeida Ribeiro Avenue and stop at Senado Square for a rest and a bite to eat. Follow the cobblestones of Palha Street to the colossal Ruins of Saint Paul and Mount Fortress. Do not forget to stop by the Na Tcha Temple.
A more modern view of the city can be found at Fisherman’s Wharf. This is a theme park with sections representing Amsterdam, the Italian Riviera, and Cape Town. There is a facsimile of an active volcano and a fine example of a Roman amphitheatre. There are also plenty of tea parlors in the Dynasty Wharf section of this park.
For a breathtaking view of Macau you can stop by the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre. Take the glass elevator to the top of the tower to see this view of the sea and city. There are many rides to enjoy here for kids of all ages as well as a restaurant that slowly revolves 360 degrees.
If you plan on going to the races while in Macau stop by the Four-Faced Buddha Shrine. The shrine is to the northeast of the racetrack’s main entrance and is guarded by four stone elephants. Before betting on the races it is popular to stop by this shrine for a quick prayer and offering for a successful night on the racecourse.
To get away from the glitz and gaudiness of the casinos you can head to the Lou Lim Loc Gardens. Considered the best gardens in Macau, the huge shade trees, bamboo groves and a bridge with nine turns to protect the stroller from evil spirits, all seek to soothe the fevered brow and relax the troubled soul. This is a great place to watch the locals play their traditional Chinese music and practice t’ai chi. For those fascinated with the history of tea in China stop in at the Macao Tea Culture House for an outstanding exhibit of teapots.
For the art lover there is the Macau Museum of Art located in the Macau Cultural Centre. The museum consists of five stories of Chinese art and paintings done by Western artists that moved to Macau to practice their art. The Ox Warehouse is home to modern art. Avant-garde artists practice their trade here displaying everything from painting to performance art. There is a beautiful and serene courtyard to relax and take a break from the crowded city. Located near the Canidrome, this museum and exhibition hall is also known as the Old Ladies’ Art Space.
To spend a day with nature head to Seac Pai Van Park at the end of Cotai. This park is quite large consisting of 20-hectares. There are gardens with trees and plants from around the globe as well as a lake with numerous water birds. Children will love the children’s zoo and an aviary that guests can walk through. This is a great place to bring a picnic lunch. Admission is free and there are exhibitions of farming equipment and displays of Macau’s flora and fauna.
To get an idea of how the Portuguese elite used to live visit Taipa House Museum. There are five villas that were built in 1921 as summer cottages for the wealthy residents. Two of these houses are used for special exhibition and events. Casa das Regioes de Portugal is a museum that showcases the dress and living in Portugal. Casa das Ilhas examines Taipa and Coloane history especially fishing and fireworks Casa Macanese is decorated as a traditional residence and it is set up to look like the residents have just stepped out for a moment. It provides an excellent view into the homes of the early 20th century.
* * * * * * * *
MACAU - Eating Out & Nightlife
Of course gambling is a way of life in Macau and night-time is for visiting the casinos and trying to win a pound or two. The casinos are also home to mega-resorts with nightclubs and first class dining.
There is plenty to do for the non-gambler too. There is an amazing laser show at the Cybernetic Fountain on the waterfront. Accompanied by popular music it has some of the tallest water jets reaching up to 80 meters. There are also cabarets, bars, discos and plenty of beaches to take a romantic night-time stroll.
* * * * * * * *
MACAU - Getting Around & Local Transport
Taxis are the main mode of transportation in Macao. Look for the black and cream coloured roofs or the taxis in yellow as these are licensed.
The trishaw is a fun way to travel. It is a tricycle with seating for two people. They are especially fun to hire for a tour along the waterfront.
Macau does have a network of public buses that run from 7:00am to 11:00pm. They are very cheap and best to avoid during rush hour, as they can be extremely crowded. These buses require exact fare for boarding.
* * * * * * * *
MACAU FLIGHTS - FLYING THERE FROM THE UK
There are no direct flights between the UK and Macau. However, there several flight options to get to Hong Kong, which is only one hour away from Macau by hydrofoil ferry. Most people use this method to visit Macau.
You can search for flights to Hong Kong (using airlines such as BA or Cathay Pacific) via big online flight-booking websites such as Expedia.co.uk or ebookers.
|
