Che-Cheh

Hong Kong fun trip: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5.

Note: Post is overload with photos.

We had our last yummy Hong Kong breakfast at Caritas Bianchi Lodge before proceeding to Kong Chung Ferry Terminal, Kowloon. We arrived at the terminal 8.30am but aiyo we can only get hold of 10.30am seats. That also is deluxe class ticket priced at HK$212 pax. All the early economy tickets (HK$137) had been sold out.

Paying for deluxe class ticket means we’re sited on the upper deck, get free newspaper and brunch!

We reached Macau 1 hour later. This is Macau Ferry Terminal.

Friendship Bridge which connects Macau and Taipa.

We spent almost an hour at the terminal queuing for immigration. I tell ya, the whole terminal resonance like morning market! We met a lot of China’s people at the terminal. Some of them are quite rude and loud.

One particular grandma didn’t shut her toilet door. She just choose a toilet, pants down and wahla….shhhh shhhhhh

We arrived at our hotel, Macau Master Hotel at noontime. Sorry no photo because this hotel is so yucky! They promised us room with triple beds but what did we get? double beds with 1 extra bed. We couldn’t add another bed. No problem then but they charged us triple beds pricing. And because of this I don’t encourage anyone to stay there. The place is so rundown (different from internet photos), room is small, staff is quite rude and the hotel has this ‘old’ stinky smell. I didn’t make any complaint as we will be spending one very short night there.

After a short rest, we begin our walking route to Ruins of St. Paul’s Church.

Salted fish anyone?

We were greeted by rows of old buildings along Alvenida de Almeida Ribeiro (road name; they’re in Portuguese of course!)

This is our lunch. Mee hoon dishes: not our cup of tea. Hmm perhaps Macau people don’t like salty food. The Chu Pa Pao (pork burger) is yummy.

You can use HK dollar in Macau. HK$1 is approximately Macau $1 Pataca. Sometimes the shop in Macau will give you either HK$ or Pataca as change.

Senado Square aka Largo do Senado. Just follow this colorful road to Ruins of St. Paul’s Church.

This is the side wall of Pharmacia Popular; a pharmacy right at the heart of Senado Square. Pretty yeah?

I love old buildings. Arggh didn’t know that was a post office until I came back.

St. Dominic’s Church; built by the Dominicans in the 1950s.

These old shops still stands proudly today. Amazing isn’t it?

What are all these? They’re road signs and places name. Very unique!

After about 40 minutes walk, we reached our final destination: Ruins of St. Paul’s Church. Believe me 40 mins is NOT long because you’ll be busy looking around, absorbing the Portuguese and Macaunese culture and heritage.

Completed in 1602, St. Paul Church was destroyed in a 1835 fire. Only the main facade remain standing and it is known to the world as Ruins of St. Paul’s Church (Church of Mater Dei).

The beauty of Ruins of St. Paul Church.

This is the back view of the ruins. Yes you can climb on the metal pathway.

And this is the view that will greet you “Welcome to Old Macau”. Notice those tall modern buildings in the background. Oh yeah it is slowly swallowing old Macau.

Behind this ruins, it is home to a museum where you’ll find crypts and archaeological sites.

Just before leaving, I caught sight of Ruins of St. Paul’s image on the window of a building opposite this historic site. Pretty.

At the foothill of this ruins you’ll find a post office kiosk. Haha what else? We sent a few postcards home.

On our walk back from Ruins of St. Paul to our fugly hotel, we stopped by 2 pastelarias; Choi Heung Yin Bakery and Pastelaria Koi Kei. Two items that you must try from these shops are the almond cookies and phoenix egg rolls with seaweed and shredded pork jerky.

Portuguese egg tart from Choi Heung Yin. Taste like ours. From my research, the creator of the real Portuguese egg tart is situated at Coloane called Lord Stow’s bakery. Too bad we don’t have spare time to visit that shop.

When in Macau, you must try Portuguese food. And that’s what we had for our dinner. A Lorcha is a highly recommended Portuguese restaurant situated at Rua Do Almirante Sergio. The place is already buzzing with customer at 6.30pm (opening time).

I suggest you make a booking if you’re planning to dine there.

Our slurrppyyy…yummy…oh la-lala…mouth-watering dinner. Remember must try ar!
Sorry the photos are quite dark but I assure you the food is to die for!!!

After dinner, we took a taxi to The Venetian in Taipa. You can take The Venetian feeder bus if you’re leaving from Macau Maritime Terminal.

Left: Lobby; Right: Walkway to casino

Beautiful painted ceilings at The Venetian.

The Venetian was opened in August this year. This resort shopping area is themed after Venice. You’ll find the famous replica of the Grand Canal in Venice, St. Mark’s Square, the Rialto Bridge and beautiful decorated shop and painted clouds! Ohh you can even ride on the gondola and be accompanied by Italian opera singer. The singer’s voice is so good.

The Venetian casino is the largest in the world and hehehe I had the opportunity to look and play in this casino. Don’t have to guess la. I lost…&*#^!@ slot machines!!!

Our ride to the airport at 7am in the morning. Btw, The Venetian is just a stone throw away from Macau International Airport.

This is the end of my 2007 Hong Kong + Macau travelogue. I hope you have enjoyed reading my travel experience as much as I’ve enjoyed bringing ‘em to you. Hope you like those photos that I’ve presented to you as well.

I will definitely return to Hong Kong and Macau one day. I still have lots and lots of places, food and shopping to do you know?

Tags: Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Caritas Bianchi Lodge, Kong Chung Ferry Terminal, Macau, Macau Ferry Terminal, Friendship Bridge, Taipa, Macau Master Hotel, Ruins of St. Paul’s Church, Alvenida de Almeida Ribeiro, Chu Pa Pao, Senado Square, Largo do Senado, St. Dominic’s Church, Church of Mater Dei, pastelaria, Choi Heung Yin, Pastelaria Koi Kei, almond cookies, phoenix egg rolls with seaweed and shredded pork jerky, Portuguese egg tart, Lord Stow’s bakery, Macau, Portuguese food, A Lorcha, Feijoada, Ameijoas Bulhao Pato, Arroz Marisco, Galinha Poitou, The Venetian, Taipa, casino, Macau International Airport, 2007 Hong Kong + Macau travelogue