A must-do in Macao includes having your photo taken at the Ruins of St Paul, writes Aniza Zainudin
MISSION: Impossible. That’s the very words to describe our attempt to take our photos with the majestic Ruins of St Paul, Macao’s most popular site, as the background, without anyone else in the frame.
Everyone visiting Macao, China’s autonomous territory, will visit this landmark. And like the rest of the tourists, I look for the best spot and wait for the right moment before clicking my camera away.
Every step on the famous stairs in front of the facade of the ruined 17th century Portuguese church is packed with people wanting to take a shot of the ruins. It proves easier said than done to have only us standing in front of the ruins in the photos.
For the Macanese, the Ruins of St. Paul which is located just a short walk from Senado Square, is a landmark of the good old days. But for the visitors,the must-visit destination is overcrowded and noisy, with everyone jostling for a place for photos.
Though it can be quite frustrating, a visit to this Unesco World Heritage Site completes a visit to Macao. Built between 1602—1640, the church was one of the largest Catholic churches in Asia at that
time. Its facade features intricate carvings by Japanese Christians in exile from their homeland as well as local craftsmen under the direction of Italian Jesuit Carlo Spinola.
When Hong Kong eventually replaced Macao as the main trading port for the British’s East India Company, the building started to declined before it was destroyed
in a fire during a typhoon in 1835.
TRADING PORT
This is my maiden trip to Macao, a tiny colony with a population of 700,000 that is located betweenHongKongintheeast and China’s Zhuhai in the north. With so many people living in an area of about 31sqkm, it is one of themost densely-polulated region in the world. It gets even more dense with roughly 30 million visitors in a year.
Also known as Ou Mun in Cantonese, which roughly translates as trading port, the former Portuguese colony is an autonomous territory. Like Hong Kong, Macao practices autonomy which means it is governed by the “one country, two system” constitutional principle formulated by the late Chinese leader, Deng Xiaoping.
What this means is that althoughMacao is part of China (the colony was returned to Chinese sovereignty in December 1999), it
still retains its own administration, executive, judiciary, military and its own currency.
On a Media Familiarisation trip organised by Macao GovernmentTourism Office, I find excitement everywhere I go. The fast-changing city has something to offer
to everyone, from its luxurious stays to Portuguese-inspired food and architecture and quaint fishing village.
Personally, I think Macao has so much more to offer. The unique and historicall yrich destination at times feels untouched by modernisation. Everywhere we go, the remains of the once-Portuguese held port can still be seen and felt in the city.
Apart from the Ruins of St Paul,there are other historical spots like Senado Square,
Mount Fortress, the Macao Museum and Love’s Lane — which are all located within walking distance.
K-drama fans might recognise the sight of Coloane. The quiet fishing village becomes the main feature in the popular drama Princess Hour. However, the charming setting is not the only thing that draws in tourists. Its the hidden treasure is the hot and fluffy Portuguese egg tarts by Lord
Stow.
From a quiet fishing village that was quickly transformed into one of the important trading hubs in the east, the former Portuguese colony has seen many changes. The city is also home to several well-
known properties like the Parisian Macao and Studio City in the Cotai strip.
HOTEL HOPPING
The first hotel we check in is the five-star Legend Palace Hotel which is located near the Macao’s Fishermen’s Wharf. It’s a pleasant surprise to see praying neces- sities like prayer mats and qiblah compass prepared in the room.
Our ‘hotel-hopping’ then brings us to the steps of the 38-storey high Eiffel Tower in the Parisian Macao, a replica of the one in Paris, France. There are over 20 light shows known as the Grand Illumination
taking place at the tower from 6.15pm to midnight. The show will be accompanied by specially curated music.
Next, we head over to StudioCity, a popular resort famous for its four dimension (4D) simulation attractions like Batman Dark Flight and Golden Reel. It is here that
I put my imagination into good use.
During the Batman Dark Flight 4D simulation, I imagine I am one of the characters from the DC Comics, fighting alongside the other characters in order to save Gotham
City from the bad guys. The special effects are mind-blowing.
When we eventually step out into reality, we are further stunned by the magnificent building that isStudio City. In the middle of
the building is the number eight, the luckiest number in Chinese culture because “ba”sounds like “fa”, which means wealth or fortune in Chinese.
As it turns out, “number 8” is actually a figure eight-shaped ferris wheel (suspended about 130m in the air), built into the facade of the hotel itself. The all-glass
cabin (there are 17 of them) can accommodate up to 10 passengers at one time and the 15-minute ride will offer visitors a different view of Cotai.
As Macao continues to prosper and move forward, the unique architecture from the colonial times as well as the modern structures like the ParisianMacao and
Studio City remain an attraction by itself and will continue to draw its visitors.
HALAL EATERIES
DONG LAI SHUN MUSLIM RESTAURANT
ADDRESS: 26/F, Soundwill Plaza II - Midtown, 1 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay
TEL: +852 2763 7038 www.facebook.com/ DongLaiShunCausewayBay/
TASTE OF INDIA
ADDRESS: Shop F-G, G/F, Full Harvest Building, 16 Hau Wo Street, Kennedy Town, Western District
TEL: +852 5932 3874 www.openrice.com/en/ hongkong/r-taste-of-india-western-district-indian-r531542
SEAFOOD IN COAST, MGM COTAI
ADDRESS: MGM Cotai, Avenida da Nave Desportiva, Cotai, Macau TEL: +853 8806 2328 www.mgm.mo/en/cotai/dining/ coast
GOLDEN PEACOCK, THE VENETIAN
ADDRESS: 1037 Casino Level, The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, Cotai, Macau
TEL: +853 8118 9696 www.venetianmacao.com/ restaurants/signature/golden-peacock.html
TRAVEL FILE
MORE ATTRACTIONS
ANGRY BIRDS PLAY
CENTRE
Scheduled to open its doors to the public soon, the centre offers six themed sections all designed to suit visitors under 12 years of age.
MACAU TOWER
Like KL Tower, the telcommunication tower also a must-visit location. Besides the visiting observation decks, visitors get to participate in adrenaline pumping activities like bungee jumping.
TAIPA HOUSE MUSEUM
Considered as one the cultural relics and heritages of the island, the museum comprises of five distinctive green houses built in 1921 with the style of Portuguese architecture. It houses the Macanese Living Museum, Exhibition Gallery, Creative Casa, Nostalgia House and House for Receptionist.
GIANT PANDA PAVILION
Nestled against the hill side in Seac Pai Van Park in Coloane in a fan-shaped layout, the pavilion is located in the Macao Zoo. Here, you can see the giant pandas and gain a deeper understanding of the conservation of pandas.