Macau: A mix of sweets and spices

By Izah Morales
INQUIRER.net

Seeing the fluffy clouds from the plane, which looked like soft pillows, I felt like I was in dreamland. But I knew I was not dreaming when the plane landed on the runway of the Macau International Airport at Taipa Island one cloudy Monday afternoon.

As we headed to the arrival area, I heard voices spoken in different tongues. I opened my little notebook and jotted down a few conversation lines in Cantonese and Portuguese. But then again, they were of no help. Only a handful of people understood English. I noticed that they understood my English better if I imitated the way they spoke.

We later made our way to the hotel through a transport service from a travel agency, albeit most hotels do offer free shuttle services. When we arrived at the hotel, we checked in our luggage, grabbed a map and a booklet on some basic information about Macau from the concierge and went out to taste what it offered.

We took the hotel’s free shuttle to go to the Macau Ferry Terminal. The shuttle passed by a bridge connecting Taipa Island and the Macau Peninsula. The beauty of Macau bloomed as the sun set. Photographers would surely fancy the dazzling lights from the bridge and the exterior of the casinos.

From the Macau Ferry Terminal, we walked towards a department store called New Yaohan, where there was a bus stop. Each destination in Macau has a designated bus number. We took the bus number that was going to Fisherman’s Wharf. Later, we realized it was a mistake to ride the bus to the Fisherman’s Wharf since it was just a few meters away from where we were. The distance in the map fooled me. Nonetheless, it was a thrilling yet scary experience to be lost in a place, where you seem to feel like an alien.

In Macau, shuttles have no conductors or people designated to collect your payment. In the Philippines, they were necessary. The locals who were riding the same shuttle told us to pay MOP (Macau Pataca) 2.50, which was the standard fare rate, in a box that was located near the bus entrance. I asked the driver if he was passing Fisherman’s Wharf. He didn’t understand a word I said.

Fortunately, we recognized a Filipino who also boarded the bus. I approached her. She told us that we missed our stop and that we should get off the next stop. She then pointed at a button that we should press to signal the bus driver to stop. I took the map out and learned that we were in Lotus Square. We were lucky to have found fellow Filipino Vangie Soriano who understood us and could speak our language. She was riding the same bus that we took but was seated at the back. She helped find our bus stop, where a shuttle going to the wharf was passing by.

We later found ourselves in the busy streets of San Ma Lo, where vendors offered you to taste pork strip. We also noticed clothes being sold in San Ma Lo.

Here’s a photo of the streets in Macau.

Macau is in Asia but it is inspired by Mediterranean and European architecture. The buildings at the Senado Square gave us a glimpse of a different architecture that was shaped by 450 years of Portuguese rule. The lights at night gave a romantic appeal to the scenery. At around 11 in the evening, the city was still alive, thanks to numerous casinos operating in this place. By that time, we decided to go back to the hotel for a goodnight’s sleep.

Here’s a snapshot of the Senado Square I took

The next day, we headed back to the Macau Ferry Terminal to join a group tour, which the travel agency arranged for us. Most of the tourists were Europeans and Indians, plus us three Filipinos.

Our Portuguese tour guide Mario shared every bit of information about the tourist attractions in Macau. But what struck me was that Macau residents were free from paying taxes before the Portuguese hand over of Macau to China in December 1999. He said that only business establishments especially casinos were paying taxes. Casinos have become the lifeblood of Macau’s economy, which now attracts millions of tourists and gamblers from the world, thus earning the reputation of being the “Las Vegas of Asia.” Mario claimed there was now more money in Macau casinos than in Las Vegas casinos.

Amid the grandeur of the Mediterranean-European architectures, the historical churches, and the amazing casino lights, the public housing system in Macau, which resembles tenements in Binondo and in Divisoria in Manila, was what struck me. Mario told us that he would show tourists not only the best but also the worst side of Macau.

Here’s a beautiful shot of the St. Dominic’s Church at night.

Visiting another country has allowed me to see the world differently. I learned the following:

Before taking a trip abroad, you better have a checklist of the basic necessities for long trips. Number one, you’re passport should not fall under the six-month expiration window. Best to check when it will expire and have it renewed quick. It is your most valuable identification upon entering a foreign land. Also, don’t forget your plane ticket. Check this one before you start and finish packing. If you want a discounted plane fare, it is best to book a flight months before the trip.

Research about the place you’re visiting. Search the web for basic facts like language, population, weather, geography, among others. And before you fly, have some of your local currency changed to foreign currency from a local bank. It is cheaper to change your local currency from a bank than at the airport.

Don’t forget to bring extra cash, and yes, a digital camera to capture moments of your trip.

Every trip has its own adventures and misadventures. It’s like a dish. You should be brave enough to taste every foreign dish served to you, as you enjoy the thrill and experience no matter how sweet, sour, spicy or bitter it is.