Macao Tourism

The Venetian….Culinary, Picnic and Gambling.

3 January 202023 December 2019travelingpersecond

Gambling and Casino are two things which are very identical with Macao. So if you go to Macao and don’t see their casino, it won’t leave an impression..

It’s easy.…

Do you want to gamble? Who knows, you will return from Macao then become wealthy.

Or….

Just want to see how is gambling at casino?…Yup, no one forbids.

One thing when you travel to Macao….Decide immediately! Which casino will you visit. Because there are many casinos there.

For me, because I was just curious about real casino, I decided to visit The Venetian.

Why does The Venetian?

Yes, I will close my exploration by having dinner there, then see gondola to feel Venice sensation and finally I will close my exploration by seeing gambling at casino….The Venetian can fulfill all three. So I chose it.

—-****—-

This time I easily got bus, just turned left from Macao Tower front yard then I got a bus stop (Torre Stop / Tunel Rodoviarios) and I waited for city bus no. MT4.

By paying bus fare for about USD 0.5, I arrived at The Venetian in 15 minutes.

I saw a blue bus passing by in front of The Venetian’s lobby. I understood that I would ride it later after exploring The Venetian. Yes, it’s The Venetian’s free bus to take tourists from Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal.

Admiring classic style of The Venetian’s building when I started stepping into building. Hunger which had attacked since leaving Macao Tower made me immediately move to 5th floor when I entered The Venetian.

Surrounding food court, I tried to find the cheapest menu for my dinner. Made sure with surrounding twice before I spent USD 6.8 for a portion of fried rice and USD 1.5 for a half liter of mineral water….So expensive.

Not finished eating it because a portion is so large, then I looked for existence of gondolas in Venice’s gondolas style to ending my curiosity which appeared since watching them on a television show several months before my departure to Macao.

This is an artificial river at The Venetian for gondola tours.

You only need to spend USD 16.6 to enjoy this tour.

I was so absorbed in enjoying beauty of The Venetian, passing around every corridor which provided branded products.

A step later I was right in front of casino entrance. My main target destination that I finally visited in my tour closing session in Macao.

Entering casino at The Venetian is quite easy, just need to show your passport to security officer at front gate so you will easily enter.

Like being in an old Hong Kong movie, I searched every side of casino to see how did people gamble at casino. At each table, there was always a dealer who always offered me to gamble. Of course, I would never do it. I just smiled to respond their request to gamble.

Very special ending. Finally I could directly see casino in Macao. The darkening of day was required me to leave The Venetian.

As I stated above, I wouldn’t miss another session i.e riding free shuttle bus which was provided by major hotels in Macao. This time I boarded The Venetian’s free blue shuttle bus. I headed to Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal using this shuttle bus.

From Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal, I continued on my way back to hotel using bus no 10A like I did when I first arrived in Macao. With a tariff of USD 0.4, I arrived back at Villa Ka Meng Hotel to rest and continued my trip tomorrow to Shenzhen using fast ferry.

Bye The Venetian….Bye Macao.

Macao Tower….Not Just Bungee Jumping.

23 December 201923 December 2019travelingpersecond

It isn’t easy to reading Macao public transportation map. Because of that reason, I never found what was bus number and where was bus stop which could move me from Ruins St. Paul to Macao Tower, Its distance was around 3.5 km

Walked through narrow streets around Ruins of St. Paul to looked for a bus stop.

Every bus stop which I met, I always looked for existence of bus 9A route but I never found….I didn’t lose….Just a little disoriented.

I sat for a long time at a bus stop….what is the road name?, I forget…. Sitting down and trying to understand my wide bus map. Everyone who came to bus stop noticed my face, which was different in skin color from them.

Looked like I began to understand its route after long time detaily learning the map.

Guided by my little compass, I began to head to south….I didn’t try to turn from Largo de Santo Agostinho road which I knew that It would direct me to a bus stop which bus no 9A would pass it.

I accidentally passed Dom Pedro V Theater at Largo de Santo Agostinho street.

It was appearance of Grand Lisboa Hotel which very famous in Macao.

I had to find and immediately get on bus no 9A before I was caught in the dark when returning from The Venetian on afternoon. I turned right to go through Avenue Da Praia Grande road and then crossed to Avenue Dr. Stanley Ho which I assumed as location of bus stop which I was looking for.

I was very glad, when I find bus stop which I mean at that road. That bus stop name is Praca Jorge Alvares bus stop. 10 minutes later, I was in bus no. 9A which leads to Macao Tower.

Entering bus with full of sweat after walking under sunlight for 15 minutes in Macoa’s hot streets.

In 7 minutes, I got off in a large courtyard in front of Macao Tower.

That tower was too high to fit in my handphone photo frame. Many times trying and still failing, the tower couldn’t completely captured. I had to capture it from another point.

Heat of the sun forced me to momentarily enter a building which have function as a toilet around Macao Tower courtyard.

That fan helped to cooling my body from hot weather.

Towards Macao Tower backyard, I tried to find lush trees to more freely enjoy beauty of tower.

Found a tree and casually sat underneath.

I deliberately waited for the sun which prepare to glide at dusk. And excitement came. More the sun sank, so more Macao resident came in courtyard where I sat in it.

From many local people who were active in backyard, I was more stunned by a beautiful young athlete who was accompanied by her trainer who was wearing a stopwatch. Push-ups, sit-ups and sprints are her lessons which must be devoured every second.

Finally, temperature had decreased. I hurriedly left my seat which located next to water pool in tower’s backyard.

Move to frontyard and directly saw bungee jumping activity, which participants were thrown from top of tower. You need to know that this 338 meter high tower, besides being used for observation and entertainment, is also used for telecommunications and broadcasting.

As far as I know, bungee jumping at Macao Tower costs tens of USD.

At exactly 15:30, I began to leave the tower and waiting for arrival of bus no MT4 at Torre/Tunel Rodoviarios bus stop at left side of Macao Tower front yard.

I headed for my last destination in Macao….The Venetian.

Catching a Pig at Ruins St. Paul.

21 December 2019travelingpersecond

Not satisfied yet in enjoying classic charm of Senado Square, I slowly moved away. It wasn’t difficult to find direction to ruins of church and college which located about 600 meters north of the square.

Green direction sgins will help you to find it.

My steps continued through several souvenir shops, majority of them sold variety of food. While sun was highy rising, my stomach was getting hungry. But I didn’t rush to look for lunch, instead I did another madness.

Do you want to know?….

You need to know, each stores provides food samples which offered by their employees who stand in front of store area. If there are more than 30 stores there, then do you know what I mean?… let’s don’t think too long.

Look at their totality when sold foods. Their costumes were cool.

Yes, you should know. My madness was taking and tasting almost all types of food samples which offered to tourists for trying the taste.

30 small pieces of cake are certainly more than a portion of lunch for me. So….Free lunch….That’s the point.

And my luck arrived. In the midst of busy chewing a kind of cake, suddenly, I could taste extraordinary savory taste. I continued to chew it until my eyes sharply glared and forced me to turned back to sales promotion girl who offered me the cake.

Me : “What is it?”.

She : “Cake, Sir”.

Me : “No no no, the ingredient?”. Beef or chicken?“

She: “No, It’s pork, Sir”.

Me: “Oh nice taste, Ms”. With fast movement, I vomited the cake in a trash can.

She: “Are you OK, Sir?“

Me: “Yeaaa, I’m Okay, thanks Ms….But, sorry. I can’t eat pork. I’m moslem”.

That was first time, I tasted a nice pork even though it was only a few chews in my mouth.

Ruins of churches and colleges which better known as Ruins of St. Paul was finally right in my eyelids and only separated by a few dozens of stair which I was ready to climb.

Many tourists made everyone were very difficult to captures themselves in front of Ruins of St. Paul gate without any interference from someone behind them.

Oh God, gate of Ruins of St. Paul which I always saw in the world weather forecasts on a cable TV channel, was finally in front of me and I could see it with my naked eyes ….

But…Guys,

This is a ruined site of a church and college….

As a good explorer, you shouldn’t be complacent just by taking a photo of front gate. You must enter to back of gate to imagine how big the church and college were in its heyday.

Let’s entering it!….

Entering the gate, you will see that the wall behind the gate is supported by a very large and thick iron plate. Yes, of course this is to prevent collapse of the gate of Ruins of St. Paul.

Next you will find holes which are covered by a thick layer of glass. So I can only peek it. Then what is that hole?

Estimated as former main pillar (column) of St. Paul church.

Can you imagine how big original pillars of St. Paul church?.

Original form of St. Paul church in cross shape. Cool.

In addition to these square holes, you will also find a subset of space which has been conserved. This is Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt.

So….that’s gaes, the shape of Ruins of St. Paul.

Let’s Visit !….Senado Square

9 December 201928 March 2020travelingpersecond

My trip by city bus No. 10A ended when passing Kam Pex Community Center Bus Stop Avenue de Almeida Riberio. Luckily, bus driver allowed me to get off at a T-junction which nice view of Ponte Cais 16 Hotel in its center.

That receptionist seemed to be son of hotel owner. Every question which I threw to him, He always answered easily, “Wait sir, I firtly ask to my mom”. Gosh, very luckily kid who will get a legacy a hotel later….Hahaha

Checking-in finished after I gave USD 16 to get Villa Ka Meng Hotel’s room key.

As easy as clicking my fingers, suddenly my eyes saw big “halal” logo in front of a restaurant. And the surprise was, a Chinese was the owner of restaurant. Loulan Islam is that restaurant name.

With a big smile, he asked what did I want to eat and offered a menu with such effort. His index finger danced around to writing various Chinese alpabhets in the air. My irresistible laughing made whole restaurant visitor happily laugh. Burying my sleepiness which affect me since early morning.

I paid a little more than standard street food prices which I ussually hunt. At least, I got a Halal dish reference in Macao.

Passing at left side of the road….I headed to Senado Square which was very near. But before actually achieving it, I stopped at a money changer to exchange my US Dollars for Macao Dollars.

Exchange only a little of USD Dollars !….Don’t forget to little preparing in Shenzhen !.

Finally I set foot in Senado Square, second destination in Macao that I visited.

The uniqueness of Senado Square is its floor motif which seems to be bumpy and identical to white and black color. The square which was full of tourists really showed that this place is a UNESCO historical heritage. It wasn’t a big surprise about its visitors who very crowd.

Classic buildings which adorn every sides of square were be easy targets for tourist’s camera.

Historical museum which ever functioned as an orphanage and health clinic.

Main Square’s wide limited my ability to explore all of it. And then, I sat at its side to hide from sun which very hot.

Chinese tourists: “Malaysian?” A middle-aged man greeted me under a tree which effectively reduced heat of the sun.

Me : “Me?….Oh, I’m Indonesian”.

Chinese Tourist: “Waaa…Indonesian. Nice country”.

Me : “Ever go to Indonesia?”.

Chinese Tourist: “Yes….Bali, Medan and Batam”.

Me : “Great….How about Indonesia?”.

Chinese Tourist: “I Like….I eat Nasi Padang there. Nice”.

Me : “Hahaha….Ya ya ya. The most delicious food in the world”.

Chinese Tourist: “Ever go to China?“

Me : “Absolutely….I will go to Shenzen after my journey in Macao”.

Chinese Tourist: “Ohhoo….Good good. Welcome to my country”.

Me : “Thanks Sir”

Our conversation ended when a woman who I suspected as his wife approached and invited him to continue their seightseeing at Senado Square.

Some spots at Senado Square:

So….If you go there when in Macau….Just enjoy it.

5 Macao’s Tourist Attractions in 24 hours

5 December 201928 March 2020travelingpersecond

Macao is 10th country that I visited. Starting from getting for Cebu Pacific Airlines’ promo ticket worth USD 38 which accidentally drove me to Manila. And instead of buying return ticket from Manila which was very expensive, it was better to go home from Shenzhen (China) because Tiger Air offered cheaper return ticket.

In Manila to Shenzhen trip, I was stranded in Hong Kong and Macau. Fortunately didn’t for long time….Only 48 hours in Hong Kong and 24 hours in Macau.

After writing 48 hours story in Hong Kong. So now, I will tell about what did I visited for 24 hours in Macao.

1. Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal

That moment arrived when I chose to use TurboJet Ferry to leaving Hong Kong. On exactly 8:55 hours and in distance about 70 km from Hong Kong, I arrived at ferry terminal located in east of Macao island.

At outside building, this port has a name in Portuguese, namely Terminal Maritimo de Passageiros do Porto Exterior. Portuguese scripts are very commonly seen throughout Macao. This was happen because for 4 centuries, China rented Macao to Portuguese to be used as a trading port.

If on Google maps, there are terms i.e Macao Maritime Ferry Terminal, Macao Ferry Terminal or Hong Kong Macao Ferry Pier then thar are different names for a same place, i.e Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal.

So if you are docked at this ferry terminal then just enjoy being there.

2. Senado Square

I deliberately chose a dormitory near Ruins of St. Paul complex. Because in this complex, there are two leading tourist destinations namely Ruins of St. Paul and Senado Square. So that, I could freely explore both of them by walking.

Immediately putting my backpack in Villa Ka Meng Hotel after getting down bus on Avenue de Almeida Ribeiro street closed to Ponte Cais No. 16. And after enjoying breakfast at Loulan Islam restaurant, I rushed to Senado Square

Senado Square itself is a square which was built since 1918. It is shopping tourism for branded goods hunters to street food ones. Being one of UNESCO’s heritage, Senado Square offers great views of classic buildings which were built from Chinese and Portuguese culture aculturation along its sides.

3. Ruins St. Paul

Leaving Senado Square, the next closest destination which I visited was ruins of a cathedral called Ruins of St Paul. If you go to Macao and haven’t take a picture in front of Ruins St. Paul, then your trip would feel like it isn’t “legal”. Therefore this place was the busiest destination which visited by tourists during my journey to Macao.

Ruis St. Paul was originally a Portuguese cathedral which built in 16th century. It is also a UNESCO’s world heritage site when it became a historical conservation after a great fire in 1959. The iconic part which is often be a photo object by tourists is remaining front gate of cathedral.

4. Macao Tower

Ruis St. Paul to Macao Tower was a route which made me stucked for some time in Avenue Da Praia Grande street. Focus and fast understanding of complex and massive Macao bus route, I finally found a bus stop which passed by city bus no. 9A towards Macao Tower.

“A 338 meters in high” tower offers observation deck tours, restaurants, theaters, malls and bungee jumping activities. While in tower park, there is a plaza and a pool for sport activities or just for spending time in afternoon for Macao residents.

5. The Venetian

Perception of The Venetian’s grandeur made my visitation in Macao Tower wasn’t focus. I seemed to be in a hurry to immediately enjoy The Venetian. Curiosity to entering the biggest casino in Macao and even one of the biggest in the world, made me to want to immediately go there. Besides casino, one thing which I always remembered about The Venetian is gondola rides which would take us to the tourism nuances in Venice, Italy.

It is an integration of two functions, namely luxury hotel and casino. This 39-storey building is located on reclaimed island of Cotai and is affiliated with The Venetian Las Vegas.

And then….I completely visited those five destinations within 14 hours of exploration in Macao. I spent remaining time to took a rest and sleeping in a hotel to recover my body condition after a few days before exploring Manila and Hong Kong.

It is very crazy….

Hi, Macao!….Welcome to Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal!

28 November 201928 November 2019travelingpersecond

Finally I set foot also in “City of Asian Sin”….Yes, so known indeed. Considering Macau is a gambling paradise in Asia. Casinos are everywhere and even for easy access, these casinos are integrated with shopping centers and hotels …. Are you curious?

That morning, 8:55 a.m., TurboJet ferry which I was traveling on slowed down when it passed under a giant bridge which was an inter-island access in Macao, i.e Macao-Taipa Bridge.

I watched closely rows of car which passed Macao-Taipa Bridge.

Within minutes, that “red fast ferry” was anchored. Impatient to set foot in Macao, I rushed out of the ferry towards immigration counter immediately.

First time know that bottom of ferry is hollow.

Approaching immigration counter, I closely watched immigration officers, majority of them used white gloves. It was similar when I was entering Hong Kong, very fast and easy. They only gave me a piece of immigration paper to entering Macau. So I never got a collection of immigration stamps from the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The coldness of ferry cabin which I rode for 55 minutes made my bladder was unable to compromise. Slightly held back a piss until toilet became a only thing in my mind as soon as I passed immigration counter.

Urinoir at Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal.

Carrying a Indonesian passport made me be easily observed by tourist hunters….Yess, I was targeted by a salesman of transportation service provider for tourists.

He: “Hi Sir, are you from Indonesia? (speak in Indonesian language)”. Beuh, he could speak Indonesian language….He kept sticking to my left side.

Me: (it is usual scale question for offering something), “Yes sir“.

He: “Upss….your accent is javanese english….Which java are you come from sir? (speaking in Javanese language)”

After that, we was both speaking in Javanese language. This is our conversation.

Me: (Wow, Macao is cool, there is Javanese language here), “I am from Sragen (a small city in Central Java), Sir“.

He: “Oh Central Java, Sir. Where are you going, Sir?….Do you want rent a car? “.

Me: (Damn it, I could smile when I heard Javanese language in Macao), “Wow, sir, I am backpacker….My money isn’t enough….I will use bus…. I’m sorry sir“.

He: “Oooh….Where do you stay in Macao?”

Me: “Villa Ka Meng Hotel, sir. Which bus can I use? Where must I stop?“

He: “Are you sure, you don’t want rent my car, sir?”.

Me: “Yes, sure“

He: “Oh, okay….You can use bus number 10A….Stop in Ponte Cais No. 16“. (Ponte 16 is a casino at Rua do Visconde Paco D’Arcos Street)

Me: “Oh, thank you, sir. Have you stay in Java, Sir?. Your Javanese language is fluent“.

He: “Oh, Never sir….But, many of my friend are from Java“.

He was looking for other prospective customers because he couldn’t catch me.

To make my exploration easier then as usual, I hunted for brochures and other Macao tourism information.

Hunting for tourism information via digital platforms at ferry terminal.

The easiest way is approaching tourist information centre which is usually awaited by beautiful staffs.

I grasped a map of Macao city bus. Make me more confident when leaving ferry terminal.

A few steps when leaving main building of Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal.

Another part of Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal.

Macao makes its visitor to get easy journey. This can be seen from existence of free minibuses which provided by several leading hotels in Macao.

Backpackers don’t need to worry because that bus can also carry you even if you don’t stay at hotel which is a bus owner. You just need to tell the driver that you will play gambling in its hotel. Surely you will be given a seat on bus. Arriving at hotel, you just need to enter in casino for a while and then go out again and then looking for a dormitory which is you have booked. So if you go to Macao, booked a dormitory near famous hotels !…Hahaha.

I better use an city bus by paying USD 0.40 because my hotel is near Senado Square which is quite far from hotel that have that free buses.

Kesan pertama ketika tiba di Macau….Hebat lah Macau.

Ferry from Hong Kong to Macao

24 November 2019travelingpersecond

My 48 hours adventure in Hong Kong must end.

Early morning, I packed my things. After filling my drinking bottle in hotel’s water dispenser, I had to fight with fully effort to wake the receptionist up who was snoring behind room curtain. Don’t you imagine how luxury of its reception desk….Because a hotel reception is only a small room with a hole interaction between guests and hotel receptionist with 1 square meter in size.

And his snoring was swallowed when he woke up because of the bell disturbance from me. I didn’t know if he was angrily muttering or maybe he was just shocked because of his Chinese idiom which I didn’t understand. While muttering, he tried to find an envelope filled with money in desk drawer to returning a room deposit money to me. Not bad, 100 Hong Kong Dollars.

Exiting Chungking Mansions in a still dark street, I walked fast enough to immediately enter Tsim Sha Tsui underground station which is located 100 meters from Chungking Mansions exit.

With Tsuen Wan Line MTR, I headed for Central Station then continued with Island Line MTR and stopped at Sheung Wan Station which is integrated with Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal.

Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal is a regular ferry port with route from Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal in Hong Kong to Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal in Macao.

Within 16 minutes and a fare about USD 0.75, I arrived at Sheung Wan Station. I immediately headed to ticket counter to withdraw my Octopus Card deposit for about USD 6.50 stored in it. “The Octopus” duty to accompany me was completed because I was at ferry gate to leave Hong Kong.

After buying a ferry ticket to Macao, the price was about USD 21.30, I immediately approached a money changer to exchange Hong Kong Dollar for Macao Dollar.

Not a long waiting, on exactly 08:00 hours, I began boarding to red speed boat. And a moment later, TurboJet ferry sailed towards Macao.

Sailing in middle of a light drizzle and continuing to swing across waves made me amazed watching waters of South China Sea. There wasn’t compliment of any food in this short cruise for 55 minutes. I just kept facing window to see amazing view outside ferry.

Giant pillars which supporting Macau-Taipa Bridge are a sign that ferry is moving closer to Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal. Macao has a very famous road upper the sea. And I could enjoy its beauty from other side. Even though in the end, I would pass that street later when I went to a famous Macao hotel and casino, The Venetian.

Anchoring at Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal, Macao.

Let’s find your ferry tickets on 12Go at the following link: https://12go.asia/?z=3283832

Macao and Shenzen Story

21 October 20181 July 2019travelingpersecond

Oversleep….

“The Boss” hadn’t yet came from upstairs, even though we made appointment at 8 am to checked out and met at Villa Ka Meng lobby.

Huft… … evidently he didn’t wake up yet, my message didn’t read by him. I realized it because I bring him to enjoy Macao by walk all day a day before.

That means … my exploration time in Shenzhen would be reduced. I think Okay… how come later.
Too far….

I should focus on running text on dashboard. I was hesitant to pressed a button on bus pole as a signal for the driver to stopped the bus at Taipa Ferry Terminal.

I thought bus would stop at every shelter…. but it wasn’t. So…. I got off at the next stop and continued by walk to ferry terminal.
Scolded….

There wasn’t sign along avenue….I was sorry Sir & gentlemen, I stepped on new sidewalk that you made … it wasn’t ready to be stepped on.

Because of it….I understood when you shouted hard while lifting a shovel.

I just tried to apologized on my way … after leaving the area about 100 meters, I looked back … Curious if my steps before would make problem on pedestrian walk way.

Grateful, they seemed normal as a sign that it hadn’t significant problem.

I arrived at ferry terminal around 9:10 and this was the situation:

Macao Sekhou 1

Took a queue immediately and observed surrounding activities. It wasn’t busy yet as I imagined. Queuing behind Korean families who were busy their gadgets, I finally got a ferry ticket 19 minutes later.

Macao Sekhou 3

Queued for 20 minutes to got into ferry through that blue door. The officer gave me a name tag at that blue door and another officer would take back at the ferry entrance.

Macao Sekhou 2

During sail, a beautiful crew walked around to give a cup of mineral water. I tried to be patient to anchor in Shenzhen … Curious how is Shenzen ?

My attention was focused on three young women on front left. During sailing, they were busy to polished their face with cosmetics. And indeed after arrived, they liked artist who be cynosure.

Arriving at She Kou Ferry Terminal, I filled an arrival form in an open corridor between ferry and immigration counter.

9 degrees Celsius weather was pierced my bones … Ocean waves made me difficult to filled a form while sailing.

“Helooo … Do you have a visa?” a slim officer called me.

Oops … Just me who haven’t entered yet to immigration counter… the counter has empty…..better I ran to counter and complete a form in front of her.

Macao Sekhou 4

Finished … She was kind and helpfull… smiling when he asked to me.
Dying for a pee….

Looked around for a toilet at Immigration office. Finally I saw it at the corner.

A while after I entered in toilet … It has been changed to HORROR. “A little cursing in the heart” when I found faeces didn’t flush in the closet …. I thought it didn’t hard for just push the button.

So I canceled to pie there….

I left the room and looked for Shenzhen Metro station. Because I actually confused to found it. So I approached young officer. I spoke English and he just stared at me. Yess … He finally failed to understand.

For effective communicate with him… I opened my handphone … show their train picture. Finally, his hand immediately pointed to an underground gate at the end of She Kou Ferry Terminal courtyard.

Okay, Let’s went to Hotel, bro….Oh I was sorry, my mind was hostel.

Were we finding the hostel later?

NO NO NO … the Shenzen Fomo Hostel that I booked was already closed…
How was I looking for an impromptu cheap hostel? … I will tell it later … hihihi