Known for its vibrant casinos and stunning architecture, Macau is also home to a unique blend of Portuguese and Chinese influences that can be seen in its cuisine, traditions, and landmarks.

In November 2017, Macau was finally crossed out on my bucket list. I’ve been eyeing this lovely place since I watched Princess Hour, one of the classics and the best Korean dramas. Dubbed the East meets the West, Macau is a melting pot of culture because of its rich historical background. The Gambling Capital of Asia is part of China’s Special Administrative Region (SAR).

On the second day of our Hong Kong trip, we got up early, left our guesthouse, and took the MTR to Sheung Wan Station (Island Line). We headed off to the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal to have our tickets validated and cleared the Hong Kong Immigration.

Found ourselves on the ferry heading to Macau. I watched TV to entertain myself because the ferry ride was rough and my stomach started to act as if I was going to throw up. The good thing was that I took medicines before the trip. This sickness is what I have always hated the most.

By the way, we reached Cotai Water Jet Taipa Terminal in Macau after an hour. After clearing Macau Immigration, we went outside and looked for a free bus to ride to the city center. We boarded the Parisian Hotel and Casino free bus. This world-class hotel has packages and offers guests and tourists luxurious accommodations, dining, and a shopping experience. We never left the Parisian Hotel without visiting the iconic Eiffel Tower replica.

Famous for its gorgeous painting on the ceiling and grand canal with a gondola, the Venetian Hotel and Casino is one of Macau’s world-class and luxurious hotels. We strolled the place looking for some shops (most were Western-branded shops). And when we were tired and hungry, we settled at Lord Stow’s Bakery for lemonade and egg tarts for MOP38. We knew ahead that in Macau, HK$ is accepted.

I felt it was a weird day at that time for me. First, a guard stopped me while I was about to take the escalator and asked for my passport. I don’t know why. However, he never asks my companion to present hers.

After seeing my passport he nodded at me. Second, when we were at the escalator, someone asked me if I was Malaysian and if I wanted to buy an iPhone. What?

It was a strange experience, but I brushed it off and continued exploring. Just at lunchtime, we missed the bus going to Senado Square (Largo Do Senado), one of the major tourist spots in Macau. This place is the melting pot of cultures, races, languages, accents, and skin tones.

We took a taxi (MOP89) to the Ruins of Saint Paul (Ruinas de Sao Paulo). We explored different shops and stores at Senado Square. We passed this alley full of sidewalk stores selling pork or beef jerky. These jerkies are usually cut into strips. There were snacks like cookies and bread and different Macau street foods. We have enjoyed the unlimited free tasting. On the other hand, Koi Kei Bakery (Pastelaria Koi Kei) is one of the famous bakeries in Macau.

I was so impressed to know how the Portuguese made an impressive contribution to what Macau has today. Numerous Catholic churches, old buildings, and establishments are so awesome. The well-preserved cobblestoned streets and the famous Portuguese egg tarts are the shreds of evidence of the strong Portuguese influence. No wonder there are at least 29 UNESCO-listed sites here. Visiting Macau is like stepping into a time machine that takes you back to its rich colonial history. The blend of Portuguese and Chinese cultures is evident in every corner of the city, making it a truly unique destination for travelers.

One of the famous churches standing in Senado Square is Saint Dominic’s Church (Igreja de Sao Domingos), a century-old Baroque-style church established by the Spanish Dominican priests in 1587. It left a great impression on me. The Historic Center of Macau (Centro Historico de Macau) includes this church as one of its heritage sites.

Since we were on a day tour only, we rushed to Grand Lisboa (one of the oldest existing casinos in Macau). We waited at the main entrance for the free bus heading off to the Cotai Water Jet Taipa Terminal. The journey toward the water jet terminal back to Hong Kong made me feel sad. The bus came, and we settled in. After Macau immigration clearance, we boarded the Cotai Water Jet back to Hong Kong. The journey back was smooth and relaxing, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the time spent in Macau.

Macau is a place with mixed cultures, rich in historical background and colorful traditions. It seems like I was transported literally to a different side of the world, as Macau gave me a friendly, relaxed, and approachable vibe I never expected it to be. It is a place that is simply humble and unique. I appreciate how the modern and world-class hotels and casinos full of glitz and glamour and the century-old edifice come together.

I promised to go back to Macau soon. I want to stay there a bit. There are so many things that I wanted to try in Macau. Aside from traveling alone, I also wanted to explore the Taipa and Coloane villages, visit the historic centers, commute via public transportation, eat Macau foods and egg tarts, see the world’s largest water-based show, and a lot more.

We reached Hong Kong safely. Next on our itinerary is visiting Sky 100 Hong Kong Observation Deck. It is located at 100/F, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon. It is a must-visit when in Hong Kong. It offers a panoramic view of the city in a 360° way. From Sheung Wan MTR Station (Island Line), we took the subway going to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station (Tung Chung Line). Sky 100 gave us a panoramic view of Hong Kong in a 360-degree way.

*** In November 2017, I went to Macau with friends. It was a beautiful experience exploring the historic sites and trying out the local cuisine. This is a migrated/reposted blog. ****