The contents of this post were from my last trip to HK-Macau (December 21-29, 2019) before COVID took over *and the rest is history*. I am finally motivated and happy to share these memories with you. Every trip to Hong Kong would never be complete without visiting the "Las Vegas of Asia." That's also the reason why most travel itineraries are titled HK-Macau. After an hour of cross-boundary travel, underwater tunnels, and issues (lol!), we're finally here in this vibrant destination!
Coming from Hong Kong via bus, we arrived at the Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai Bridge Port (somewhere in Macau's central district). We had an easy and fast arrival at their facility. The thing is, we didn't have Macanese Pataca (MOP) on hand yet, except for a 10 MOP banknote I kept from my last travel as a souvenir which was not enough. While Macau accepts HKD (Hong Kong dollar) as payment, it would be a waste to use HKD 100 for bus fare going downtown (because buses don't issue change). Nevertheless, situations like these show the beauty of being Filipino abroad. We met Filipino workers cleaning the tourist information. We had our HKD exchanged for MOP in loose change for the bus. Thank God for sending those people, despite not having a currency exchange booth at the port. From Central Macau, we took the bus going to Cotai Strip because we'll stay there for the next three days. Macau consists of areas: Macau Peninsula (the downtown area and northernmost region connected to mainland China), Taipa, Cotai, and Coloane. Cotai Strip is the reclaimed area between Coloane and Taipa, hence the name "CoTai." The thing about staying and touring around Hong Kong and Macau is that you have to choose your hotel wisely. While hotel location is essential, you have to consider getting a hotel with a complimentary shuttle service. In that way, you save money and effort on your transportation and going around the city. Usually, it's the big hotels that offer these benefits. In Macau, you don't exactly need to stay in a hotel for you to enjoy the free shuttle around Cotai Strip and to the other areas (like Macau Peninsula). You can still hop on the free bus rides, but wouldn't it be nice if your hotel is offering it? Getting to know the following shuttle schedule is just a phone call away from your room, or you can ask the front desk to give you the schedule, and best, the loading areas are only a few meters walk from your accommodation. Staying in one of the hotels in Cotai has benefits like you are closer to most attractions (via free shuttle or just walking around), a variety of restaurants to dine in, or even just the airport's proximity. While rates are pricier, you still have the benefits of feeling safe and avoiding getting lost in translation. Anyway, it's an opportunity of a lifetime to travel to such a place, right? Depending on your budget & priority, it is up to you on what areas to splurge during your vacation (like food, accommodation, or shopping).
[Some shops & brands to visit in Macau] Giordano - We all know this brand and its superb quality. Giordano isn't exactly cheap in the Philippines, but it's something you want to look forward to in Macau. They offer great deals and discounts in-store. We're a fan of this brand when in Macau (even from our first trip). They have stores in Senado Square and Venetian Macau (we shopped in these locations). The Shoppes at Venetian Macau - You wouldn't want to miss this place! It has a canal (replicating Venice Canal) along with "brand-name stores, restaurants, and food court." When we visited last December, most stores were offering sales and discounts. Irvins Salted Egg - This brand of chips from Singapore is my favorite, but I treat this more of a delicacy rather than a snack because it's pricey. It's cheaper to buy it in Macau than in the Philippines. They have a location in Venetian Macau. (Note: Whenever buying items that are also available in your country, don't forget to consider the current exchange rate because it might cost you more.) Lord Stow's Bakery - Don't you think Macanese egg tarts are the best when bought in Macau? Lord Stow's has several locations around Macau, but we typically buy it from their store in Venetian (it's very accessible for us). Don't get discouraged by the long queues because they serve the orders real quick. Like, you have to prepare your order while queuing, then dictate it right away when it's your turn because it will happen so fast. We've been to other malls in Macau, too (especially in the Cotai area like the City of Dreams, Shoppes at Parisian, Galaxy Macau, and more). However, there were too many to recall, especially that the malls and hotels were connected seamlessly. While writing this blog post, I've noticed that most of my photos were taken using my phone. It just shows that I was too busy living in the moment that I didn't care about documenting everything in HD using the DSLR. Still, it was also an opportunity to appreciate the advancement of technology that we still get quality photos even with smartphones. I'm ending my "travel" blog series on Hong Kong & Macau here (but please watch out for more posts on food as I've been preparing to post on good food and notable restaurants I've tried during our travels.) I am looking forward to going back to these places in the future. These two places hold a special memory for me as being my first destination abroad. Going to these places taught me a lot of things that contribute to being a savvy traveler. It also helped me realize what a blessing it is to be living at such a time and in a beautiful world. (Check out: Food) It may take some time for me to travel to another destination abroad, especially with today's circumstances. I wish and pray for a better and brighter future for all of us to see more of these beautiful destinations again soon. What are the things you like about Macau? What's your next travel destination after this pandemic? Let me know! Note: This post is undergoing minor edits from time-to-time. Please bear with us. Thank you. <3
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