Exploring Macau @ US$9.68*

 

With fare as low as US$9.68 one way, how can you possibly resist not flying to Macau? It's too good to refuse - way appealing to me and my pocket! Clark-Macau route is one of the cheapest flight deals from Tiger Airways. Thanks to Tiger, I always get more than I bargained for (oh, they didn’t pay me for this ad, lol!). So, I forked out as little as that (plus taxes) and headed to Macau on the nose!

 

I'm feeling much comfortable traveling alone by now since it's my second time around. Same deal, I’ll be staying at a hostel - Auguster’s Lodge - the former Sweet House of Macau.

 

It is located at 24, Rua Do Dr.

Pedro Jose Lobo, Floor 3J, Block 4, Edf. Kamloi. I booked for a bed via Internet and paid HK$60 per night in their dormitory room. Good enough!

 

This time though, I’m planning to see three places at one go - Macau, Hong Kong and mainland China. From Macau, I’ll be crossing borders by ferry (TurboJet) to reach Hong Kong and then take the train from Hong Kong to enter mainland China.

 

Then, Cebu Pacific Air (for the first time) will take me back home from the Hong Kong International Airport. To wrap up, that’s 2 days in Macau, 2 days in Hong Kong and a day in mainland China (Shenzhen). But I reckon that even the best plans change on the fly…

 

DAY 1 - I arrived in Macau International Airport at 03:10 PM (2-hour trip from Clark). Macau is booming, albeit land area is relatively small.

 

At a glance, you’ll observe that the islands are undergoing extensive land reclamation projects. Even the surrounding seas have taken the color of the earth as a proof.

 

The airport is in Taipa island linked (along with Cologne island) to Macau peninsula through causeways and bridges. The hostel is located at the heart of the Macau peninsula so I have to take the bus (MT1 or MT2) to cross the bridge.

 

First impressions - roads are narrow but traffic is efficient. What’s good thing about Macau (in my case) is that Filipinos have become such a common sight - I can spot one or two almost every corner.

In fact, one place in Macau is touted as the favorite hang out for Filipinos - Leal De Senado Square (also known as San Malo).

 

Well, I met a bunch just right from the bus. “Pinoy ka ba?” which means “Are you a Filipino?” They just keep on asking what the hell am I doing there all alone. Well, what can I say? I came all the way to Macau just for the mere pleasure of traveling!

 

Nothing personal, but I find it hard to communicate with the locals, especially the old folks. Either they speak Cantonese (or Macanese) when I ask something in English, or just make signs as a signal for me to just leave. <sigh> It’s nice to know though that I can trust my grubby map for directions - as always.

 

Apart from the MT1 bus that took me to the hostel from the airport, I managed to explore Macau by just walking - an unparalleled experience.

I first went to see the famous Ruins of St. Paul and then strolled down to Senado Square. I’m very much fascinated with their pavements boasting with its distinctive tiled patterns. The streets are paved with cobblestones in traditional Portuguese pattern and surrounded by colonial style buildings. It's indeed evident that this small place in Asia was once colonized by the Portuguese.

 

 

 

Later that night, I checked in at Auguster’s Lodge. The hostel is owned by the very friendly Richard (an Indian man) and his Filipino wife Precy. It’s already late that time so I phoned Richard to assist me on how to locate the hostel. I was surprised that he decided to just fetch me from my current location (it’s near the hostel anyway) and then accompanied me all the way to my room - what a service!

 

I just couldn’t sleep that night so I went to the service area and started a short conversation with the Indian man. I told him about my first backpacking experiences and all that while I’m enjoying a cup of noodles. I also mentioned about my plans crossing borders. According to him, Macau is really cheap but once you get to Hong Kong or China, it would be all too expensive.

 

Oh by the way, I got 50% discount for a night at the hostel. I paid in full but Richard handed me a markdown later that night. Why? I’m not really sure about the clincher rather than being friendly - sort of like bugging him a lot of questions about the place. hehe Or, has he been amazed with my travel stories? Well, he gave me back the money off and said, “Here you go lad, you might want to buy yourself extra noodles when you get to Hong Kong!” J

 

After that, I finally went back to my room. One of my roommates is an Aussie. He is four years younger than me but whoa - he’s got a lot to say about traveling. He’s taken me aback when he said that he spends one whole year in Australia working and then spends half a year out in the world traveling! Kewl - just for the love of traveling… I really learned a lot from this fellow.

 

DAY 2 - Early morning, I took a walk around the peninsula to see the fortresses, churches, temples, some of the famous landmarks, fishermen’s wharf, and the famed Tower. Later in the afternoon, I head to Taipa Island to see the Venetian Macao - the largest single structure hotel building in Asia!

 

 

For me, Venetian Macao is by far the best spot in Macau.

Its European-style architecture along with the accompaniment of Italian opera singing creates a different mood around the place. The grand entrance, the lights, the ceiling of blue skies, the shops, the replica of the Grand Canal in Venice, St. Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge and the Gondola rides, the casino - it’s simply a breathtaking experience you don’t want to miss!

 

Later that evening is laidback. Well, I just went out to see the Las Vegas of the East - Macau at night with the glitz of the world class casinos. This is something in Macau that’s unique from other Asian countries. There’s Grand Casino Lisboa, Wynn Macau, Sands Casino, Babylon Casino, MGM, Crown Macau and Emperor Palace to name a few. One of the Filipinos I met there told me that you can try your lady luck and have the special privilege to play in the casinos for free. Yes, you can try the slot machines which will cost you zilch. How? The casinos offer free membership and you just have to show your passport and sign up - exclusively for tourists.

 

Umm… Grand Casino Lisboa is my best pick among the rest. I’m not into gambling though so I just reveled with the fantastic Las Vegas-type show at the upper deck of the casino. Marvelous show! Clap! Clap! Clap! Oh, two-thumbs up for the dancing girls!

 

DAY 3 - Time to cross borders from Macau to Hong Kong by ferry - another backpacking experience…