Macau trip part 1

In the past, I have a very bad habit of not finishing my travelling posts series (e.g. Taiwan Trip), I think I will just upload the tons of photos with caption and that's it (yeah, i'm such a lazy bum), its pretty much self-explanatory. Anyway, do stay tuned for my next post for my remaining write up on Taiwan Trip.

Macau trip was supposed to be Peter's gang group trip. I decided to tag along because it sounded fun. And it was INDEED fun, the companionship, the city, the journey, basically the entire package itself. My only complain is that there are TOO many same kind of different casinos! only one bigger than the other- Venetian, Grand Lisboa (Peter called it Grand lesbian) etc. It was an eye opener to see such grand casinos (like 10 times bigger and better than Genting) at first. Seriously, our 6 stars hotel (e.g. palace of golden horses) is not even close to what they have (gigantic fountain, theatre, hot chick dance, world class shopping street and dining etc).  However, the excitement wore off quickly after we visited the second casino. Too much of glittering slot machine, giant crystal chandelier, luxury Roman statues and carpets, loaded China gamblers... It simply numbed your senses and make you crave for the normal tourist sight-seeing instead. 

1st day- reached Macao, checked in to the hotel - Emperor hotel. It was categorized as 3 stars, but gosh its so spacious, and it has a see through bathroom with bath tub, kinky!

Visit to Senado Square, where all the shopping street and delicious local delicacies can be found. 

This is St. Augustine church. The church was originally built by Spanish Augustinian priests but was taken over by the Portuguese after three years. The church is famous for the cross-carrying figure of Jesus Christ at the altar. The church is associated with the colourful story of Maria de Moura who was a known figure in the 1700s. She died in child birth and was buried in the church grounds together with her baby and the severed arm of her husband [souce: Wikipedia]

Next to the famous St Paul ruin, a grand architecture legacy before our eyes. It was greatly preserved and stood majestically although its nothing more than a ruin. St. Paul’s Church was built in 1602 with its fascade being completed by 1627. As history would have it, the church was destroyed because of a fire in 1835. The only part of the church that survived the fire was the fascade which was covered with delicate statues of the Virgin Mary, saints, angels, devils etc. [Souce: Wikipedia]

And yes, they sell bubble tea near to the famous ruins, that was me proudly drinking my bubble tea on my way conquering the ruins 

Peter and his gang climb all the way up to the second floor of the ruin, and I took the chance to snap a photo of them. ;)

 The guys posing with the statues and trees. I wonder what really went through their mind when they did that.  ;)

 Macau Museum, right on top of the hill, splendid!

 Peter trying to launch the canon bomb towards the Grand Lesbian, opps, i mean Lisboa casino.

I must say Macao has a quaint and peculiar side due to its historic values and architecture. The pastel colored wall, the wooden planked windows with bright colors, old cathedrals and even the cobbled roads and the small alleys emits certain ancient/ historical aura which makes you just want to sigh in awe. It reminded me the value of history, how the rich colonisation, the diverse culture, the religion had impacted the
life of the people of Macao. HOWEVER, if you throw in the fake grandeur of the casinos and oddly shape hotel (i.e. Grand Lisboa) into the same city, it just distorts the entire experience. Casino and historic buildings simply doesn't jive together.

Anyway, more on Macau and Hong Kong visit in my next post!