It was so unfortunate that we had a rushed trip to Macau. Blame those travel companions without travel plans! (peace!) Anyways, I just had to make the most of my one-day-only stay at this amazingly bright and colorful city.

We took a fast boat, Turbojet, from HK to Macau. It's similar to the fast crafts that we have in the Philippines. The boat trip was short and comfortable---thanks to the cushion seats and fun companions. After getting through the immigration, we rushed out to look for maps and money changer. HK dollar is accepted in Macau though.

I always plan my trips and study bus or train routes of the place I'm going to. We took the right bus but, we failed to alight at our stop. No choice but to take another bus and alight at Senado Square. We didn't book any accommodation, so we just walked around (with our luggages!) and looked for the most convenient, clean, and cheap guesthouse.  We ended up at Vila Universal which is very near Macau's tourist spots. After a short nap, we started discovering the charm of Macau.

Me, the tourist.

We started our tour with a walk around Senado Square which is the most touristy place in Macau. Frankly, I was surprised that the old buildings were occupied by commercial establishments. I was expecting them to be filled with museums and history stuff.

Mc Mc Mcdo!

Green Tea Sundae. Didn't like it.

You'll never get lost in the square; it's not that big. And also, there are very helpful signs around.



The street going up to the Ruins of St. Paul will not only lead you to the picturesque site but will also fill your stomach. We went out without having our lunch yet. And it was a very warm welcome seeing all those free, sample food. Of course, we won't let this opportunity pass. We basically entered every store and tasted everything until we got sick of it!

free taste of beef jerky

The street leading to the ruins was full of tourists making it hard for us make our way to the landmark. Along the way, I saw a food cart selling egg tarts. I heard that egg tarts in Macau are the best. They really are. It was, by far, the best egg tart I ever tasted.




The highlight of our Macau trip was actually visiting the famous casinos and hotel. Where else to go first but The Venetian. At first glance of the building I was immediately at awe. With all its bright lights, huge size, and incredible architecture, the tour was definitely captivating.



The most mind-boggling experience was the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian. Those super bright lights and daylight-similar environment. Totally mind-f*ck. Haha! That canal too. Super awesome!





We also went inside the casino and met a lot of Filipino workers there. They were very friendly. They help us find our way out of the enormous Venetian Hotel and Casino.

We then took a shuttle bus from the Venetian to Senado Square. This is free so expect a queue. And this is how the square looks like at night...



Below is a summary of our actual itinerary and expenses. You may use this as a guide on your trip to Macau:
         

11:00am	HK to Macau via Turbojet	Ticket: 150HKD
12:00nn	Arrival in Macau Take Bus to Senado Square	Fare: 3.2HKD
1:00pm	Check in at Vila Universal	300HKD
2:00pm	Tour: Senado Square, The Ruins, Fortress, Macau Tower, The Venetian
8:00pm	REST
THE NEXT DAY
10:30am	Hostel to Ferry	Fare: 3.2HKD
12:00nn	Macau to HK via Turbojet	Ticket: 149HKD