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Macau: Wynn, Grand Lisboa, Hotel Lisboa
So, you arrived in Macau in the evening. It's literally your first day in Macau. Now what can you do?
If you took the same flight as I did [Cebu Pacific arrival into Macau from Manila -- arrival around 9:30PM, and after clearing immigrations, getting your bags, and taking a bus or a taxi to your hotel and checking in, and its now 10:30PM] then here's some tips on what you can do if you still have the energy to go out and make the most out of your trip.
Well, after a harrowing experience riding the AP1 bus -- where some Chinese people don't queue and just run ahead of you and taking a shuttle bus, walking to the hotel and checking in, checking out the rooms, my friend and I got restless. And so we took a short walk from Metropole Hotel to watch the fountain shows at Wynn and also the Tree of Prosperity & Dragon show. The fountain shows are until 12mn, with 15 minute intervals in the middle. I managed to watch "Colours of the Wind", which is the second to the last show, while the last fountain show is the best - slated for 12mn! The title is "Hero" and is complete with fire effects. Loved it!! The Tree of Prosperity & Dragon Show are alternating, and happens every 30 minutes near the casino.
And.. of course, after you've explored Wynn, you have to go have your photos taken in the streets at the other casinos! The Grand Lisboa is known for its pineapple-shaped building structure! You could see it from far away!
If you took the same flight as I did [Cebu Pacific arrival into Macau from Manila -- arrival around 9:30PM, and after clearing immigrations, getting your bags, and taking a bus or a taxi to your hotel and checking in, and its now 10:30PM] then here's some tips on what you can do if you still have the energy to go out and make the most out of your trip.
Well, after a harrowing experience riding the AP1 bus -- where some Chinese people don't queue and just run ahead of you and taking a shuttle bus, walking to the hotel and checking in, checking out the rooms, my friend and I got restless. And so we took a short walk from Metropole Hotel to watch the fountain shows at Wynn and also the Tree of Prosperity & Dragon show. The fountain shows are until 12mn, with 15 minute intervals in the middle. I managed to watch "Colours of the Wind", which is the second to the last show, while the last fountain show is the best - slated for 12mn! The title is "Hero" and is complete with fire effects. Loved it!! The Tree of Prosperity & Dragon Show are alternating, and happens every 30 minutes near the casino.
Once inside the Wynn area, before the tree of prosperity and dragon show do look up and check out the awesome animals that make up the Chinese New Year. There's the rat, the monkey, the horse, among others. It's absolutely breathtaking! Take lots of photos too! I loved the bottom part of the area which shows the earth, I think. Those two golden designs are trapdoors which open up during the shows!
If you can afford it, you could also try and look through some of the shops that line up inside the Wynn concourse. I myself took a peek at the Ferrari store in hopes of buying a stuffed toy, which turned out to be absolutely expensive! Never mind! I can't afford any of the stuff they have to offer =p
Can I just add that I love the carpeting of Wynn? It's so soft! I swear, when my feet were hurting because of all the walking, I just wanted to walk barefoot in the carpet, which of course, I didn't do. Do check out the chandelier at the Wynn! It's red! Cute! And take a peek at the gorgeous Wynn pool. If I were rich, I would've checked in this hotel in an instant!
And.. of course, after you've explored Wynn, you have to go have your photos taken in the streets at the other casinos! The Grand Lisboa is known for its pineapple-shaped building structure! You could see it from far away!
See? Even if you don't have enough money for gambling or can't take the risk, you can still enjoy the casinos of Macau! More on my trip on my next Macau blog =)
Macau: Sample Itineraries and Places to Go
Since I'm bored and my download + video conversion is taking forever, might as well continue with my Macau blogs :)
Here's some ideas on how to plan your trip and where to go to [grouped together accordingly for easier navigation -- which places are near to each other, etc etc]
HISTORIC A:
Mount Fortress [Opens at 8am]
Macau Museum [opens at 10am; entrance fee around 10MOP, i think?]
St Paul's Ruins [Open 24/7]
Musem of Sacred Art & Crypt [behind St. Paul's ruins] -- 10AM; Free of Charge!
Na Tcha Temple [8AM] --> teeny tiny temple located beside St. Paul's Ruins
Old City Walls --> Very near Na Tcha temple. Not entirely tourist-worthy but might as well drop by while you're near the area
**around 5-10 minutes walk from St Paul's Cathedral are**
St Anthony's Church [opens 730AM]
Protestant Cemetery [opens 9AM] --> teeny tiny cemetery, first I thought it would overwhelm me with the size but not quite :)
Camoes Square
Camoes Garden [930AM]
HISTORIC B:
Cathedral Square
Cathedral [730AM]
Lou Kau Mansion [9AM]
Holy House of Mercy [10AM; closed on Sundays]
Senado Square
St Dominic's Square
St Dominic's Church [10AM]
Museum of Sacred Arts [right beside St Dominic's Church. No entrance fee but feel free to give donations! It's four floors of Catholic relics]
Sam Kai Vun Temple -- old temple.
HISTORIC C:
Macau Tourism Office [Lol this isn't historic but worth dropping by there to get some maps & other flyers that you would need for the trip.]
General Post Office -- quaint building
Leal Senado [Open from 9AM onwards; closed on Mondays] -- worth taking photos in the garden & the staircase!
St. Augustine's Church
St. Augustine's Square
Dom Pedro V Theatre
Robert To Hung Library [open 10AM onwards]
St. Joseph's Seminary & Church
St. Lawrence's Church
HISTORIC D:
Mandarin House -- loved this place! It's huge!
Lilau Square [teeny tiny square]
Moorish Barracks [Open from 9Am-6PM]
A-Ma Temple [Open 9AM-6PM]
Macau Maritime Museum [Entrance fee: 10MOP]
Penha Church/Penha Hill [Love the views in Penha hill! Church is also gorgeous! You could see this church from the island and is a breath of fresh air compared to the other churches in Macau]
Macau Tower [entrance fee: 100 MOP --> engage in the sky jump, bungee jump or sky walk x if you dare.. and if you've got the funds, of course]
HISTORIC E:
Guia Hill Municipal Park [Ride the cable car!! So cheap, it's a short line but FUN!]
Guia Fortress --> lighthouse & the church are a must see!!
Lau Lim Leoc Garden
St. Michael's Cemetery
Orient Arch
St. Lazarus Church
Tourism Activities Centre [Grand Prix Museum & Wine Museum]
Vasco de Gama Garden
Tap Seac Gallery
CASINO 1:
Wynn [catch the fountain show, the Tree of Prosperity & the dragon show!!]
Casino Lisboa
Grand Lisboa -- love the pineapple shape of this casino and hotel!
Worth walking around the street and getting photos with the amazing lights of these casinos at night
CASINO/SIGHT SEE 2:
Sands
Fisherman's Wharf [great place, but I was surprised that this place is not teeming with tourists! Just across from the Sands casino]
Lotus Flower in Full Bloom
Jai Alai Casino
TOUR A: [Optional, if you guys have more time to spend in Macau]
Lin Ze Xu Museum
Mong Ha Fortress
Mong Ha Park
Red Market
Mantanha Russa Garden
Islamic Mosque & Cemetery
Kun Lam Temple
Communications Museum
TOUR B:
Barrier Gate
Sun Yat Sen Park
TOUR C:
Handover gifts museum of Macau
Macau Cultural Centre
Macau Art Museum
Macau Science Museum
COLOANE:
Hac Sa Park & Beach
Coloane Village: President A.R. Earnes Square, Church of St Francis Xavier, Tin Hau Temple, Tam kung Temple
Museum of Nature & Agriculture
Seac Pai Van Park
Arboretum
Coloane Park
Alto de Coloane Park
A-Ma Cultural Village
A-Ma Statue [GOLD!!]
TAIPA:
Kun Lam Rock
Four-Faced Buddha [seen a four-faced buddha in HK before, in Repulse Bay, but idk how big this Buddha is]
Macau Stadium & Olympic Centre
Taipa Village: Taipa Houses Museum
Ka Sin Tong Temple, Our Lady of Carmel Church, Municipal Garden, Tin Hau Temple & Pak Tai Temple
COTAI STRIP: [mostly casinos]
Venetian [do watch the shows and my post about the venetian! =) ]
Hard Rock Hotel [I'm loving the memorabilia in this hotel!]
City of Dreams
Four Seasons [there's a passageway from the Venetian to the Four Seasons]
And that's it! Any questions, let me know =)
Here's some ideas on how to plan your trip and where to go to [grouped together accordingly for easier navigation -- which places are near to each other, etc etc]
HISTORIC A:
Mount Fortress [Opens at 8am]
Macau Museum [opens at 10am; entrance fee around 10MOP, i think?]
St Paul's Ruins [Open 24/7]
Musem of Sacred Art & Crypt [behind St. Paul's ruins] -- 10AM; Free of Charge!
Na Tcha Temple [8AM] --> teeny tiny temple located beside St. Paul's Ruins
Old City Walls --> Very near Na Tcha temple. Not entirely tourist-worthy but might as well drop by while you're near the area
**around 5-10 minutes walk from St Paul's Cathedral are**
St Anthony's Church [opens 730AM]
Protestant Cemetery [opens 9AM] --> teeny tiny cemetery, first I thought it would overwhelm me with the size but not quite :)
Camoes Square
Camoes Garden [930AM]
HISTORIC B:
Cathedral Square
Cathedral [730AM]
Lou Kau Mansion [9AM]
Holy House of Mercy [10AM; closed on Sundays]
Senado Square
St Dominic's Square
St Dominic's Church [10AM]
Museum of Sacred Arts [right beside St Dominic's Church. No entrance fee but feel free to give donations! It's four floors of Catholic relics]
Sam Kai Vun Temple -- old temple.
HISTORIC C:
Macau Tourism Office [Lol this isn't historic but worth dropping by there to get some maps & other flyers that you would need for the trip.]
General Post Office -- quaint building
Leal Senado [Open from 9AM onwards; closed on Mondays] -- worth taking photos in the garden & the staircase!
St. Augustine's Church
St. Augustine's Square
Dom Pedro V Theatre
Robert To Hung Library [open 10AM onwards]
St. Joseph's Seminary & Church
St. Lawrence's Church
HISTORIC D:
Mandarin House -- loved this place! It's huge!
Lilau Square [teeny tiny square]
Moorish Barracks [Open from 9Am-6PM]
A-Ma Temple [Open 9AM-6PM]
Macau Maritime Museum [Entrance fee: 10MOP]
Penha Church/Penha Hill [Love the views in Penha hill! Church is also gorgeous! You could see this church from the island and is a breath of fresh air compared to the other churches in Macau]
Macau Tower [entrance fee: 100 MOP --> engage in the sky jump, bungee jump or sky walk x if you dare.. and if you've got the funds, of course]
HISTORIC E:
Guia Hill Municipal Park [Ride the cable car!! So cheap, it's a short line but FUN!]
Guia Fortress --> lighthouse & the church are a must see!!
Lau Lim Leoc Garden
St. Michael's Cemetery
Orient Arch
St. Lazarus Church
Tourism Activities Centre [Grand Prix Museum & Wine Museum]
Vasco de Gama Garden
Tap Seac Gallery
CASINO 1:
Wynn [catch the fountain show, the Tree of Prosperity & the dragon show!!]
Casino Lisboa
Grand Lisboa -- love the pineapple shape of this casino and hotel!
Worth walking around the street and getting photos with the amazing lights of these casinos at night
CASINO/SIGHT SEE 2:
Sands
Fisherman's Wharf [great place, but I was surprised that this place is not teeming with tourists! Just across from the Sands casino]
Lotus Flower in Full Bloom
Jai Alai Casino
TOUR A: [Optional, if you guys have more time to spend in Macau]
Lin Ze Xu Museum
Mong Ha Fortress
Mong Ha Park
Red Market
Mantanha Russa Garden
Islamic Mosque & Cemetery
Kun Lam Temple
Communications Museum
TOUR B:
Barrier Gate
Sun Yat Sen Park
TOUR C:
Handover gifts museum of Macau
Macau Cultural Centre
Macau Art Museum
Macau Science Museum
COLOANE:
Hac Sa Park & Beach
Coloane Village: President A.R. Earnes Square, Church of St Francis Xavier, Tin Hau Temple, Tam kung Temple
Museum of Nature & Agriculture
Seac Pai Van Park
Arboretum
Coloane Park
Alto de Coloane Park
A-Ma Cultural Village
A-Ma Statue [GOLD!!]
TAIPA:
Kun Lam Rock
Four-Faced Buddha [seen a four-faced buddha in HK before, in Repulse Bay, but idk how big this Buddha is]
Macau Stadium & Olympic Centre
Taipa Village: Taipa Houses Museum
Ka Sin Tong Temple, Our Lady of Carmel Church, Municipal Garden, Tin Hau Temple & Pak Tai Temple
COTAI STRIP: [mostly casinos]
Venetian [do watch the shows and my post about the venetian! =) ]
Hard Rock Hotel [I'm loving the memorabilia in this hotel!]
City of Dreams
Four Seasons [there's a passageway from the Venetian to the Four Seasons]
And that's it! Any questions, let me know =)
Macau: an Introduction
As promised to my friends, I would try and chronicle my travels. So, for 2010, I decided to go abroad and fly back to Hong Kong and make a side trip to Macau as well.
Introduction
Macau has three islands Macau Island, Taipa, and Coloane. However, recent developments in Macau meant that the Cotai strip - a manmade reclamation area that houses some of the biggest casinos in the area, joined the Taipa and Coloane islands. Why is this Special Administrative Area of China so unique and popular to tourists? Well, first off, its got a ton of casinos -- something that Hong Kong and even the mainland lack. Some locals go to Macau for the weekend so expect hotel rates to rise! Some parts of Macau are also World Heritage sites - well, I think that's enough for me to go, right? History, history, history! Its got old churches, and other places worth mentioning.
Planning Your Trip and Tips
When I booked my tickets, I just had some dates in mind. I decided to book immediately because a local airline [Cebu Pacific] was holding dirt cheap airfares! Anyway, I went there around July -- which is a boiling hot time to go, so not very ideal if you hate the hot weather! Try going there in the colder months, October-March!
How many days is ideal to stay in Macau? It totally depends on you! If you want to just check out the historic center, then a day is enough, but if you want to check out some of the casinos out there, then two days would be more than enough. In my case, I went to the historic areas in the morning, whilst going to the casinos at night. If you also want to check out the other islands, Coloane and Taipa, then three days at the most. I wouldn't recommend staying in Macau for more than three days because I got bored. If I were you, I'd want to plan a trip to Zhuhai [if you have a mainland China visa], or to Hong Kong too. Most visitors tend to go to Hong Kong as there are far more activities and tourist areas to go to!
Getting There
There's three ways to go to Macau: you could go by land, air, or sea. Macau is easily accessible from Hong Kong, and you have the option to enter through Hong Kong and take a ferry to Macau [which lasts only for an hour and the option that most people do], or to ride a helicopter from HKIA to Macau's airport or the heliport near the ferry terminal. Macau is also accessible from Mainland China - via Zhuhai. Just taking the bus from Guangzhou [Zhuhai] into Macau is a breeze. And the last option: by air. There are several airlines flying to Macau. I come from Manila so Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines land there. The airport is in Taipa, which is around 30 minutes to an hour away from the Macau Peninsula.
The airport - do note that the airport is very, very small! Once the plane lands, it taxis for around 10 minutes before it reaches the airport terminal. Once you alight from the plane, it's a short walk and there's customs! Normally there's loads of people around, which could take you around 30 minutes or more to clear. After customs, you can claim your baggage, and you're finally off!
Transportation
Unlikes the other tourist destinations, Macau has no MTR! To get around the city, you have to walk, take the bus, or hire a taxi. Or there's the open secret of using the free shuttle buses offered by the casinos and walking to the nearest sight! teehee. Thing is, you've got to plan your itinerary and where you're going very, very carefully to make the most out of your time and money! =)
Getting Around, Research, and Resources
When I arrived in Macau, there are no maps in the airport. So, how would you get to your hotels? There are three options: 1. Hotel pickup. I'm not sure if all hotels do this, but this is not the option we took as our hotel has no option for this. 2. Taxi - too bloody expensive for me but it is the most convenient and 3. Take the AP1 bus somewhere and transfer to another bus or just walk to your hotel. The latter is the one I chose, as its very, very cheap - 4.20 MOP from Taipa/airport to the Ferry Terminal in Macau Peninsula!
Anyway, I also survived by downloading and printing a map of Macau from the Macau Tourist Office.
You could download the maps here --> http://www.macautourism.gov.mo/en/download/map.php
Both the Macau and Taipa/Coloane maps are made of four pages each, and you have to assemble each of them like a jigsaw puzzle. You just need a bit of patience, a table, and some sticky tape and you're on your way! This way you could get a birds eye view of Macau and plan your trip accordingly.
On another blog, I'll try and group together all the activities you could do so you won't have a hard time to do so =)
Other information, you could download/get from the Macau tourism website --> http://www.macautourism.gov.mo/en/discovering/sightseeing.php
If you're bloody obsessive-compulsive like I am then it's also worth research, research and research!!