Our overseas trip in Hongkong wouldn't be complete if we did not visit Macau. Macau is one hour ferry ride to Hongkong. Ferry tickets to Macau can be purchased in China Travel Services (same with our HK Disneyland tickets). We boarded via Tsim Sha Tsui ferry dock and went there around before 7:00 AM to maximize our visit. Our challenge in our Macau trip is to do sight seeing in one whole day since our time is limited.
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| Disembarkation to Macau |
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| Upon Arriving to Macau |
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| Free shuttle services courtesy of Hotels and Casinos in Macau |
Upon arriving at Macau and have our passports signed by immigration, we went to Macau Tourism office to avail free maps and tourist information. After deciding on where to go, we availed free transportation found outside the Macau ferry dock. Since Macau's economy is highly known for its tourism and casinos, most hotels and casinos offers free shuttle services to their tourists and visitors. Also, be wary of tourist guides offering their services since you can save on transportation and it is easy to do a DIY tour on Macau.
Our first stop is the famous Venetian Macau. Its opulent interiors and the design which reminds you of the grandeur of European architecture and Venice, Italy. Aside from hotel and casinos, it houses well-known boutiques and high-end stores which also adds up to the elegance of the hotel. After our quick tour to Venetian, we rode the shuttle to Galaxy hotel. Another opulent hotel with casino and beautiful lobby. Inside the Galaxy hotel lobby, there are lucky crystals that provides good luck which you can touch for free. We also stroll through their casino and been able to score a free milk tea and water. After we finished strolling Galaxy, we went to St. Paul Ruins and Centro Macau. Government halls, Roman Catholic Church and different restaurants and souvenir shops lined up Centro Macau. Prior to going to St. Paul ruins facade, you will encounter different tourists, samples of delicacies and vendors lining up the street. St. Paul ruins is the iconic image of Macau and it never runs out of tourists taking pictures, locals using this facade for pre-nuptial pictorials and another hordes of tourists ready to take another set of pictures and memories. Portugese influence still has a strong presence in Macau. Old inscriptions in their library and city halls are written in Portugese. After our visit to St. Paul ruins we went on souvenir and delicacy shopping. The exchange rate in Macau are similar to Hongkong dollars and you can pay your purchases using your Hongkong dollars without going to money exchange centers.
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| Start of our stroll in Macau |
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| The Venetian |
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| Opulent boutiques inside the Hotel |
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| Lucky crystal in Galaxy |
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| Free shuttle in Galaxy Hotel |
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| Grand Lisboa |
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| Centro Macau |
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| Marker for St. Paul's Ruins |
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| Throngs of tourists in Macau's famous landmark |
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| Overlooking downtown Macau |
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| The landmark is also famous for pre-nuptial shots |
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| Tourist Activity Center |
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| Santa Casa Da Miserocordia |
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| Justice Hall |
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| A-Ma Temple |
After our tripping and goofing around in Centro Macau we also visited Grand Lisboa Hotel and Casino to catch another free trip to different places of interests in Macau. We also dropped by at newly opened City of Dreams Hotel and Casino and Hard Rock Hotel. After our stroll to different hotels, our last stop was in Doca Dos Pescadores or famously known as the Fisherman's Wharf. It is located nearby the port of Macau and there are Sands Hotel and Casino nearby. There are also few hotels located here and the long strip can be compared to Manila Bay's seawall which lined up restaurants and boutiques. We spent our few hours here taking pictures with miniature models of Roman architecture such as The Coliseum and ancient structures.
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| On our way to City of Dreams |
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| City of Dreams Hotel and Casino |
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| Fisherman's Wharf overlooking Macau Port |
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| Miniature Roman Coliseum |
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| Another pre-nup taken at Fisherman's Wharf |
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| City of Dreams Hotel and Casino |
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| Endless Casinos across Macau |
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| Lights across Macau |
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| Casino Lisboa |
Overall, our one whole day Macau trip feels like you were Amazing Race contestant but we did get to enjoy all sights and places of interest in Macau. My best suggestion is at least stay in Macau for an overnight. Just like Hongkong, Macau has places of interest in culture and history. Do not forget to try their specialties such as beef jerky and their arrowroot cookies. You can sample various kinds of their specialties just right across St. Paul's ruins.
