Our Hong Kong Trip will not be made complete if not for a quick getaway to Macau.We agreed to leave early so we can make it in time for The Peak. That was the original plan or so we thought. Our first stop was the The Clock Tower. The one hour set for this spot was extended to a couple more hours leading us to reach the China Ferry by 09:30 am. Was about to go the counter when I realized that I left my passport at the hotel. Such a bummer.
After a series of delays, we finally reached the charming and vibrant city of Macau. We didn't have a planned itinerary so when a guy came up and introduced himself as a Filipino and a tour guide, we thought about it then agreed to his offer.
Kuya Delfin was indeed a blessing to us as we would have not been able to explore different parts of Macau (touristy and non-touristy spots ). He knows the ins and outs and schedule of free shuttles, best and cheap places to eat and perfect spots to take your snaps.
Note : Kuya Delfin works in a hotel and uses his spare time as a tour guide. Truly an inspiration for OFW like me. Should you happen to be in Macau, look for him and I can assure you that he delivers excellent customer service.
I was here in December 2013 and most of the hotels were still in construction. It's always good to go back to places that bring fond memories.I was surprised to see that a lot has changed since then.
First stop was the grand and majestic Wynn Hotel (these 2 adjectives would come in handy to describe all the hotels in Macau). A crowd gathered under the intricate ceiling. Waiting. Kuya Delfin went mum about the whole fiasco and we waited patiently for whatever was about to transpire. The ceiling opened and the last thing we knew was we're gasping in awe at everything before our eyes. It was incredible and truly a piece of art. Ceilings opening to trees rooting up from the ground down to the leaves changing from green to gold. Everything seemed magical. And for a good 5 minutes or so, we stood there, eyes opened, mind blown and mesmerised.
We made a pit stop to the Emperor Palace making goofy faces at the guards. They seriously didn't even blink an eye. Gold is one thing to describe the lobby of this grand hotel. Why you would ask?The lobby floors are literally adorned with gold bars enclosed in glass. Only in Macau yeah?
We've been aching or at least our tummy for some good, authentic Macau cuisine. And Kuya Delfin didn't fail us. We went to New Yaohan food court. For 315 HKD, we had to fight for space in our bellies to fit everything in. They were so good and I'd recommend anyone to stop by. Good food at certainly reasonable price.
Macau Heritage site is a beauty to behold. Standing at Senado square surrounded by old buildings and landmarks written in Portuguese is like being in an entirely different country and era. The site has colorful history written all over it.
Senado Square is paved with black and white cobbles surrounded by heritage buildings. It was past 4pm and everyone was trying to take a panoramic shot of the touristy spot. We, on the other hand decided to film a short music video stint featuring Tay's Welcome to New York. We didn't mind that we looked foolish amongst the tourists, we're in a different country and doing something random and spontaneous is a must.
Seeing Ruins of St Paul for the second time brings so much memories. It was almost the exact season when I came here in 2013. Nothing has changed really except for the crowd of course and the memory created with the people I was with.
Macau Tower wasn't part of our itinerary so we told Kuya Delfin that we can manage to go wander around on our own. Besides, it's late and he has already extended the tour hours. We went straight to 61st floor and soaked up to the beauty of Macau up above. It's like being on top of the world. We didn't have much time to spare and we knew that we'll never make it back to Hong Kong to see The Peak. But right there, time stood still and we let our jaws drop as we marvel at everything our eyes set on. I felt a sense of calm and part of me wished I have all my loved ones beside with me. ( insert cheesy line ).
We saved the best for last and head off to Venetian for our last stop. Everything about this hotel is so dramatic and certainly screams luxury. It's so picturesque that floors, walls and ceilings are all Instragram worthy. It's european interiors and mock up of Venice are just on point.
Macau in a day was absolutely exhausting yet a rewarding experience for us. It is such a beautiful place even for non-casino lover. I'm glad we were able to squeeze in this trip to our tight itinerary and spent this day with the best people I know. Cheers to our next adventure.
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