🇲🇴 MACAU

Flavors and Bright Nights

Macau was a special side trip for my girlfriend (who is now my wife) and me. We booked a multi-city itinerary, using Hong Kong as our main destination and exiting through Macau. While it was my second time visiting Hong Kong, it was my very first time setting foot in Macau. We made the crossing by sea on a high-speed ferry, and I still remember how bumpy the ride was due to the heavy ocean waves. When we arrived at the Macau ferry terminal, we caught a public bus straight to the city center. The air was crisp and chilly since it was still winter. Our first challenge was tracking down our hotel, which was tucked away in an old neighborhood that reminded me a bit of certain parts of Manila—though Macau felt noticeably safer. Once checked in, we spent the rest of our day exploring Senado Square, taking in the European and Portuguese-style architecture that felt surprisingly surreal to see within a Chinese territory. We also walked over to the Ruins of Saint Paul's, marveling at how its massive stone facade stands strong despite the rest of the church being gone, and visited Fortaleza do Monte, where ancient cannons still overlook the city skyline. Along the way, a fellow Filipino who owned a local souvenir shop invited us in, making it easy to shop for souvenirs without battling the usual tourist crowds before we spent the evening strolling through the vibrant streets.

The next morning, we headed over to Taipa Village. Exploring its narrow lanes almost felt like stepping into an old town in Mainland China, complete with traditional houses, small shrines, and distinct local aromas. After walking around, we decided to dive into Macau's famous street food scene, which officially sparked my love for trying exotic dishes. I tried skewered octopus and a hot bowl of pork organ soup, but the real highlight for me was the beef jerky. So many shops along the street offered free samples that we practically filled up on tasting different flavors, saving us from having to spend much on lunch. Of course, we couldn't leave without eating authentic Portuguese egg tarts—a treat so delicious that even after returning home, we found ourselves visiting local malls just searching for a bakery that could replicate that exact taste.

After lunch, we returned to our hotel to check out and collect our luggage, though we ended up staying in our for a few hours because my girlfriend developed a headache. Once she felt better, our next stop was the Macau Giant Panda Pavilion. Pandas have always been one of my favorite animals, so seeing them up close was a real highlight for me. We spent the rest of our afternoon and evening taking in the modern side of Macau in its central business district, wandering through its world-famous mega-casinos. I was amazed by the architecture of the Grand Lisboa, with its towering, lotus-inspired design. Walking through the resort complexes, I was hit with a strong sense of nostalgia seeing their grand European replicas—especially the artificial Eiffel Tower and the indoor canals of The Venetian Macao, which brought back fond memories of my previous trip to Europe.

We had dinner inside the Venetian before taking a ride out to the airport for our flight home. As with most of my travels, that familiar post-trip separation anxiety and nostalgia started settling in as we waited at the gate. If I had one minor disappointment with Macau, it was the public transit system; unlike Hong Kong's extensive MTR network, Macau relies heavily on buses, which made getting around a bit less convenient. Nonetheless, Macau proved to be an incredible destination. It gave me the unique feeling of being right on the edge of Mainland China without fully being there yet, and it's a place I would love to revisit with my family in the future.