Macao
evokes a strong sense of connection to a shared colonial heritage because after
the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511, they sailed to the China coast in
1513 and it was not until 1553, that they started to trade from Macao.
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| Even the rain did not stop visitors from going to the iconic ruins of St Paul cathedral |
When
the British established themselves in Hong Kong in the 1870s and began to
dominate trade along the China coast, Macao became an outpost for gambling and
prostitution run by Chinese gangs. And
so it remained Portuguese territory until 1999 when Macao was returned to
Chinese sovereignty as a Special Administrative Region.
With
a wealth of history as a thriving trading post for centuries, Macao is certainly
more than the iconic ruins of St Paul’s, casinos and egg tarts.
In walking tours dubbed, “Crossroads of China
and Portugal,” “Footsteps into the Historic Centre” and “Bygone Days of Taipa
Village” I soon discovered Ten Things in Macao that’s not just about culture
and heritage but also exciting new attractions for the young and the
young-at-heart to enjoy.
· Ruins of St Paul’s cathedral
Built
in the early 1600s, a stone façade is what remains of a complex of buildings
including the original St Paul’s college and the Church of St Paul. Acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage site
since 2005, the ruins are one of the most-photographed sites in Macao and it’s
quite impossible to pose for a photo there without being “photo bombed!”
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| Quiet sanctuary of a Portuguese garden in the IACM Building |
Look
closer at the carvings to see Jesuit images designed with Oriental themes that
were carved by Japanese Christians in exile and local craftsmen under the
direction of Italian Jesuits. I’m not
surprised that even pouring rain does not stop visitors who are keen to see the
ruins!
A Portuguese garden
Within
the 400-year old IACM Building, an administrative building for senatorial
meetings, formerly known as the Leal Senando, I find a courtyard garden. The walls extending from the building
entrance into the garden are decorated with pretty Portuguese tiles, creating
the charming ambience of an 18th century Portuguese mansion. There are two stone spheres, one engraved
with the Shield of Portugal while the other symbolises Portuguese
discoveries. After a sudden downpour,
the garden is wet but beautifully refreshed.
·
Lord Stow Portuguese egg tarts
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| Boxes of delicious Lord Stow Portuguese egg tarts |
The original Lord Stow’s bakery in Coloane
village, opened in 1989, is jam-packed with customers but it does not stop me
from joining the queue to buy a few boxes of freshly-baked Portuguese egg tarts
to share.
Created in 1990 by Andrew
Stow, an English pharmacist in Macao, his signature recipe of lip-smacking tarts
are baked flaky, puff pastry cups filled with smooth egg custard. These Portuguese egg tarts are now synonymous
with Macao and visitors simply cannot leave without tasting them!
·
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| The glittering facades of Macao's popular casinos |
Casino-hopping
A visit to Macao is not complete without a
peek into their casinos. There’s much to
marvel at the décor and themes of the casinos situated in the city centre and
Cotai Strip, from the iconic Grand Lisboa to the world’s largest casino, The
Venetian. By night the building facades
are lit up by dazzling neon lights and where the 24-hour open casino-hotels are
not linked by covered walkways, there are free shuttle buses to ferry you to
the next. Macao is the only place in
China where casinos are legal and is positioned ahead of Las Vegas as the
world’s largest gaming centre.
·
Rua Da Felicidade or Street of Happiness
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| Iconic buildings at the Street of Happiness |
If these walls could speak, what tales they
would tell? This narrow street was once
a red light district with opium and gambling dens, and of course,
brothels. In the 1940s, the street
surface was cobblestones but the buildings’ façade with classic doorframes and
lattice windows, remain unchanged since the era when this was where joy-seekers
came for a taste of happiness! With its
sordid reputation safely in the past, this street continues to be an attraction
for its history and nostalgia.
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| The red-brick facade of the popular wet market |
The Red Market
The
Taipa Municipal Market, fondly called the Red Market due to its red-brick
façade, is a popular wet market at Rua Norte do Mercardo Almirante Lacerda
bordered by three other streets. This is
where you can get a glimpse of the local produce from fresh fish, meat,
poultry, vegetables, to dried seafood and sundry goods. In the morning, there is a convivial feel at
the stalls set up around the building to sell fruits, flowers and household
items and at a street corner, regulars gather to play Chinese chess with a
crowd of spectators looking on.
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| Join the locals for a Cantonese dim sum breakfast |
Traditional dim sum breakfast
Across
the road from the Red Market, is Long Wa Tea House, a traditional Cantonese dim
sum place. The tea house, established in
1962, has floors covered in small mosaic tiles, a popular trend back in the 60s
and business carries on virtually unchanged today. You pick from a choice of quality tea leaves
to yum cha the leisurely way the
locals do. Here, you help yourself to
the selection of dim sum from the steamer while your order for noodles, steamed
chicken and freshly sliced char siew
or barbecued pork, are served.
·
Pier 16 3-D World
Have
fun posing for photos with hand-painted 3-dimensional paintings and exhibits displayed
in more than 150 photo spots across 18,000 sq ft of exhibition space. Here’s where you find the world’s first
Michael Jackson exhibition with 3-D artwork to get close to the King of
Pop.
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| Have fun posing for photos at various scenes in Pier 16 |
Enjoy illusion technology and have
fun capturing shots in various sections of the exhibition like Macao Journey,
Jurassic World, Chinese Culture, Touch of French, Romantic Story and
Interactive Experience Zone.
Museum of Taipa & Coloane History
A
comprehensive collection of exhibits is found in this well preserved
Neo-Classical building that was once used as a public administrative building
on Rua Correia da Silva in Taipa. Look
out for the glass floors which gives visitors a view of the stone architectural
structures in the basement, discovered from recent archeological excavations.
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| Entrance to the Museum of Taipa & Coloane History |
The upper floor has exhibits on the life and
industry on the islands, fishing, agriculture, ship-building and the fireworks
factories that were once important here.
Closed on Monday and free admission on Sunday while entry fee is MOP5 on
other days.
·
House of Dancing Water
The City of Dreams offers a unique and exclusive
experience at the world’s largest and most spectacular water-based show, House
of Dancing Water.
It’s a jaw-dropping award-winning,
live show presented by a cast of about 80 international performing artists in a
purpose-built round theatre around a central stage which converts from an
aquatic to solid floor stage in moments!
Get ready to be wowed by live music, high-divers, a contortionist, an
amazing giraffe and roaring motorbikes!
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| A scene from the spectacular House of Dancing Water, performed at a theater in the City of Dreams |
A version of this was published in The New Straits Times, Life & Times on 21 Jan 2016
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