Unravel the Secret Luxuries of Macau
A country abound with history, complemented by a variety of picturesque architecture and stunning views, Macau was a completely mind-blowing experience for me. Despite the limitations of a four days trip, I still manage to embrace the beauty of the city in several stolen moments.
The first personal impression of Macau was luxury. My room at the two-month old Hotel Harbourview, fashioned after the 18th century Art Noveau architecture of Prague, offered scenic sights of the waterfront and lavishly furnished.
The four-star hotel is part of the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf theme park development and within a short distance of the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre. The project contains restaurants; entertainment and recreational outlets while duty-free stores and top of the market boutiques are dotted across the site.
Caption: Harbourview Hotel
Old and New Charms
Senado Square and Macau Tower, two of the peninsula’s major attractions, are within 2km of the hotel. Senado Square recalls Portugal’s administration of Macau between mid-16 th century and 1999, and its refurbished cobbled stone pavements and water fountain are magnets for flocks of snap-happy tourists.
The General Post Office, which borders the square, is as well preserved as the other edifices. This includes the Baroque-styled St. Domingo’s Church, one of the 22 buildings and public spaces under the UNESCO World Heritage list, which boasts almost 300 pieces of religious artworks and related collections.
Another must-see attraction is the Taipa Houses Museum. The Taipa Praia was the chosen residential area of high-ranking local administrators and other families of Portuguese and Chinese (Macanese) stock during the 20 th century.
The area features a row of five green-and-white residences that have been converted into mini museums that conserve items of historical and cultural value such as furniture, costumes and music instruments. Maps, period pictures of people and other memorabilia from Taipa and Coloane – the two islands that make up Macau – are also displayed.
Caption: Taipa Houses museum
The 338 metre Macau Tower entices us to experience the world’s highest SkyJump – which is an astounding 41 metres higher than the only other SkyJump, the Sky Tower Auckland – all within 20 seconds from the outer rim of the tower.
Caption: Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre
If such high-adrenalin adventure is not your idea of fun, the tower’s observation deck provides magnificent panoramic views all of Macau and there is 360-degree revolving restaurant in which we could be seated and view Macau in a slow motion.
Caption: View from Observation Deck at the Macau Tower
Food, glorious food!
Macau is famous for their array of food, comprising not only Chinese dishes but also of the Portuguese, Chinese and Indian and Malay variety. It also came to my understanding that food plays a major role in Macau society, as it reflects of the community’s long multicultural roots.
It is quite unique for a city could present such a large concentration of restaurants. The Escada Portuguese restaurant, as the name implies and just around the corner of Senado Square, specializes in authentic Portuguese food that is complete and delicious.
There are very few neighbourhoods in Macau where you wont find shops selling traditional Chinese delicacies such as dried meat, dried mushrooms, shrimps, abalone and scallops. They are found in the most popular shopping areas like Avenida Almeida Ribeiro and Avenida Horta e Costa.
Almond cookies, one of the favourite and most famous traditional cookies, can be found in most traditional Chinese shops. There is one famous shop known as Koi Kei in Taipa, where tourists could purchase lard-free cookies and the handmade version, which is pricier.
Food, which are prepared according to halal standards, are available in selected eateries. One of the highlights of the trip was the full course meal at the Golden Peacock at The Venetian Macao.
Traditional northern and southern Indian cuisine is prepared by a team of 17 chefs. Chef Justin Paul, a native of Kerala who heads the establishment that received a one star rating in the Michelin Guide for both Hong Kong and Macau in the 2014 and 2015, explained that everything from the ingredients to the clay serving pots are imported from India. Almost everything that is served at the Golden Peacock is prepared from scratch and in house.
Grand Coloane Resort provides a wide spread of authentic Chinese specialties, Asian and international cuisines in both casual and fine-dining ambiences. A comfortable lounge and bar provide near-perfect settings for afternoon and evening drinks and all venues here have been designed to take in the soothing ocean and landscaped garden views.
Caption: A wide selection of specialties at the Grand Coloane
Resort
Caption: The famous Koi Kei shop.
Shopping
You can almost shop for everything here and at a much lower price, due to Macau’s free port status. Inexpensive goods of all types can be found in the one of the newest municipal markets along Avenida Almeida Ribeiro.
Clothing is biggest item in Macau and the garment manufacturing sector accounts for about three quarters of export earnings. It is no surprise then that you will find vendors hawking locally manufactured items from adult garments and accessories to sports wear and baby outfits at every nook and corner of the shopping districts.
Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Macao is an ideal destination for the luxury boutique experience. The one-million square foot space offering more than 300 stores which tempt you with top-end brands from New York, Paris, London and Milan.
As part of Sands Shoppes, it connects with Shoppes at Four seasons and Shoppes at Cotai Central to offer a staggering 600 stores- the most in any one single location in all of Macau. Post-shopping, your tired limbs and senses will be lifted by the singing gondoliers as they wind their way through the canals of Shoppes at Venetian.
The stores on the Rua S. Domingos street appeals to youngsters while you should head for the shops on Rua Pedro Nolasco da Silva for fashionable clothes, bags and accessories. Rua da Palha, a small street just before Pedro Nolasco da Silva, is the place for glassware and porcelain water lily (Macau’s municipal flower) ornaments.
Please click here to view the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrHPYbSDuOo
A country abound with history, complemented by a variety of picturesque architecture and stunning views, Macau was a completely mind-blowing experience for me. Despite the limitations of a four days trip, I still manage to embrace the beauty of the city in several stolen moments.
The first personal impression of Macau was luxury. My room at the two-month old Hotel Harbourview, fashioned after the 18th century Art Noveau architecture of Prague, offered scenic sights of the waterfront and lavishly furnished.
The four-star hotel is part of the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf theme park development and within a short distance of the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre. The project contains restaurants; entertainment and recreational outlets while duty-free stores and top of the market boutiques are dotted across the site.
Caption: Harbourview Hotel
Old and New Charms
Senado Square and Macau Tower, two of the peninsula’s major attractions, are within 2km of the hotel. Senado Square recalls Portugal’s administration of Macau between mid-16 th century and 1999, and its refurbished cobbled stone pavements and water fountain are magnets for flocks of snap-happy tourists.
The General Post Office, which borders the square, is as well preserved as the other edifices. This includes the Baroque-styled St. Domingo’s Church, one of the 22 buildings and public spaces under the UNESCO World Heritage list, which boasts almost 300 pieces of religious artworks and related collections.
Another must-see attraction is the Taipa Houses Museum. The Taipa Praia was the chosen residential area of high-ranking local administrators and other families of Portuguese and Chinese (Macanese) stock during the 20 th century.
The area features a row of five green-and-white residences that have been converted into mini museums that conserve items of historical and cultural value such as furniture, costumes and music instruments. Maps, period pictures of people and other memorabilia from Taipa and Coloane – the two islands that make up Macau – are also displayed.
Caption: Taipa Houses museum
The 338 metre Macau Tower entices us to experience the world’s highest SkyJump – which is an astounding 41 metres higher than the only other SkyJump, the Sky Tower Auckland – all within 20 seconds from the outer rim of the tower.
Caption: Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre
If such high-adrenalin adventure is not your idea of fun, the tower’s observation deck provides magnificent panoramic views all of Macau and there is 360-degree revolving restaurant in which we could be seated and view Macau in a slow motion.
Caption: View from Observation Deck at the Macau Tower
Food, glorious food!
Macau is famous for their array of food, comprising not only Chinese dishes but also of the Portuguese, Chinese and Indian and Malay variety. It also came to my understanding that food plays a major role in Macau society, as it reflects of the community’s long multicultural roots.
It is quite unique for a city could present such a large concentration of restaurants. The Escada Portuguese restaurant, as the name implies and just around the corner of Senado Square, specializes in authentic Portuguese food that is complete and delicious.
There are very few neighbourhoods in Macau where you wont find shops selling traditional Chinese delicacies such as dried meat, dried mushrooms, shrimps, abalone and scallops. They are found in the most popular shopping areas like Avenida Almeida Ribeiro and Avenida Horta e Costa.
Almond cookies, one of the favourite and most famous traditional cookies, can be found in most traditional Chinese shops. There is one famous shop known as Koi Kei in Taipa, where tourists could purchase lard-free cookies and the handmade version, which is pricier.
Food, which are prepared according to halal standards, are available in selected eateries. One of the highlights of the trip was the full course meal at the Golden Peacock at The Venetian Macao.
Traditional northern and southern Indian cuisine is prepared by a team of 17 chefs. Chef Justin Paul, a native of Kerala who heads the establishment that received a one star rating in the Michelin Guide for both Hong Kong and Macau in the 2014 and 2015, explained that everything from the ingredients to the clay serving pots are imported from India. Almost everything that is served at the Golden Peacock is prepared from scratch and in house.
Grand Coloane Resort provides a wide spread of authentic Chinese specialties, Asian and international cuisines in both casual and fine-dining ambiences. A comfortable lounge and bar provide near-perfect settings for afternoon and evening drinks and all venues here have been designed to take in the soothing ocean and landscaped garden views.
Caption: A wide selection of specialties at the Grand Coloane
Resort
Caption: The famous Koi Kei shop.
Shopping
You can almost shop for everything here and at a much lower price, due to Macau’s free port status. Inexpensive goods of all types can be found in the one of the newest municipal markets along Avenida Almeida Ribeiro.
Clothing is biggest item in Macau and the garment manufacturing sector accounts for about three quarters of export earnings. It is no surprise then that you will find vendors hawking locally manufactured items from adult garments and accessories to sports wear and baby outfits at every nook and corner of the shopping districts.
Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Macao is an ideal destination for the luxury boutique experience. The one-million square foot space offering more than 300 stores which tempt you with top-end brands from New York, Paris, London and Milan.
As part of Sands Shoppes, it connects with Shoppes at Four seasons and Shoppes at Cotai Central to offer a staggering 600 stores- the most in any one single location in all of Macau. Post-shopping, your tired limbs and senses will be lifted by the singing gondoliers as they wind their way through the canals of Shoppes at Venetian.
The stores on the Rua S. Domingos street appeals to youngsters while you should head for the shops on Rua Pedro Nolasco da Silva for fashionable clothes, bags and accessories. Rua da Palha, a small street just before Pedro Nolasco da Silva, is the place for glassware and porcelain water lily (Macau’s municipal flower) ornaments.
Please click here to view the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrHPYbSDuOo
