"We travel not to escape life but to escape us"
For an Indian based in a hustling metropolitan, my life always craves for an escape. An escape that I don't need to think about too much.
Macao is that escape that keenly look forward to.
A place that is filled with a deep history and colourful culture, I'd always imagined myself going there.
With my girlfriend and bags packed and set to go, I'd catch the flight entering Macao by mid day. Once landed, I'd mostly take a shuttle to the hotels I stay at because it's amazing how most of the hotels have convenient shuttle free of cost :)
Chapter 1: Street Food
I always say, that the best way to know a new locale is through the food. Once checked in, one of my first priorities would be to check the street food. I'd hit the streets of to check out delicious renowned Ice Creams and desserts around the corners of Taipa
Chapter 2: Night Life
As the sunset while I grub on some bites, the night lights start to glow. With the dark sky and the bright colours, Macao just feels like a different place. As the night glows, crossing the glittering hotels just brings joy to your eyes.
Chapter 3: The Portuguese Influence
The streets of Macao are filled with pleasant Portuguese history. Most of the best Portuguese Macau sights are clustered around the Largo de Senado and can all be visited in under three hours, with a further hour or so needed to visit the Dom Pedro Theatre and Moorish Barracks. From the moment you walk in you feel transported back in time.
Chapter 4: Sand Sand and more Sand
One of the largest beaches, Hac Sa Beach, is just endless when you look at it. Perks of it being long is that it always gives you the space that you need to escape the reality and get lost in your own thoughts.
Chapter 5: A walk through History
Imaginative dioramas and interactive displays make for an interesting and engaging experience, unlike other museums which invariably leave their visitors bored. The experience of walking through the grand prix museum is something i'm waiting on for
Chapter 6: The Leap of Faith
Be brave, conquer your fear, calm your heart, and jump off the largest bungee jump point in the world. This is the single most important thing for me to do through the entire trip.
Chapter 7: "It's Broadway, Baby!!"
Broadway
Chapter 8: Black and White
The main attraction at the park is undoubtedly the Giant Panda Pavilion which houses the two resident pandas of the park. The two bears are kept in wide, transparent enclosures within the pavilion, which attempts to mimic their natural habitat. We'll be taking along a jacket as the temperatures within the pavilion are kept low at all times.
Chapter 9: The fragrance tale
Garden of Flower City is a traditional Chinese style garden located along Avenue Olympica in Taipa. Here you will find a nicely landscaped public garden with pavilions, winding bridge structures, Wall of Dragons, koy ponds, bonsai and a children's playground area and plenty of park benches.
Chapter 10: Top of the world
Macao Tower
Chapter 11: Good Ol' Days
Nowhere is this unique fusion more obvious than Taipa Village, a cultural district on the island of Taipa, which in spite of rampant development by casino resorts on the next-door Cotai Strip, has managed to cling onto its pastel-coloured houses, quiet backstreets and traditional restaurants.
Chapter 12: Life is full of drama
Macau has become a regional powerhouse in attracting the biggest bands and sport shows to the city. From musicals straight out of the London West End to the latest UFC action, there are plenty of big-name events held each week.
Chapter 13: The Lavish Affair
With my girlfriend tagging along, a melodious Gandola ride across the canals of Venice is at a near reach with it's presence in the Venetian Resort. It's as romantic as things can get, so can I ask for more.
This is just one of the places to celebrate the romance. The list here is even longer than things can get.
Chapter 14: Churches and Temples
Climb the steps to the ruined façade of St. Paul’s Church, duck into the incense-filled A-Ma Temple. It's all part of the history and heritage.
Chapter 15: The Forts and Lighthouses
For a generous dose of views and a completely different experience in Macau, climb up to Guia Fortress and learn about defending the city and about the Portuguese history in Macau. If you have been to Lisbon, the fortress will remind you of the city too.
Chapter 16: Shopping time!!!!
Shopping is one of those things I'm looking forward to. With having a free port status, Macao feels like a place where I'd want to be when it comes to the latest gadgets.
Chapter 19: Time to Relax
Amidst Macau’s excitant chaos, however, are parks and gardens that are often overlooked. The city map is shaded with many of these pockets of peace, but many just walk past them.There are quite a few sedative nooks and crannies of Macau that can give you a much-needed dose of peace and quiet.
Chapter 20: The Fishermen's Wharf!!
This entertainment complex offers a selection of antique stores, boutiques, and restaurants in a quiet setting. The surrounding Roman replica architecture makes for an interesting shopping experience.
That's about it. When the time is right, all of this will happen once I'm there.
Until then, safe travels!!!
P.S: All rights to the images are to the owners of images. I picked them off google images.