Blogs from Macau, Macau, Asia

19-7-17 After a very busy lead up work wise for both of us, we had decided to stay at the Park Royal at Tullamarine before our morning flight to Hong Kong. What a fabulous way to start our trip, finally taking time to relax and wind down with a pint for Ron and a glass of red for Alex over dinner at Irish Murphys at the airport. 20-7-17 A nine hour flight saw us land in Hong Kong airport, we purchased tickets and were able to board the ferry to Macau before going through customs so did not actually go into Hong Kong. The airport somehow organised for our suitcases to be found and transferred to the ferry, we were happy to see them when we disembarked in Macau. 21-22/7 After our late night arrival we ... read more

The pathway to reach Macao are multiple (including by plane) but, for me, I stuck to the normal method of sailing on the ferry from Shekou Port. But even this path has two possible routes: direct to Macao or entry through Zhuhai. I did have a long time visitor of Macao acting as my advisor during this trip which started with the decision to either go straight or the round-about way through Zhuhai. With the ferry to Macao tickets sold-out, we travelled first to Zhuhai to cross the bridge into Macao. Zhuhai: Overview At first glance, it appears as a small city in comparison to Shenzhen (gateway to Hong Kong). The streets appeared less crowded and relatively cleaner than many streets I’ve seen in China. A place had been reserved here for tonight at what is ... read more

You haven’t really experienced luxury until you have been to Asia. No matter the grandeur, the amenities or the price you pay… there isn’t a place in the western world, that can compete with the feeling ,of lavishness one can experience in the East. Wynn Macau Beside having incredibly stunning facilities (that are made even more epic ,by the tropical lush that frames them), it’s the people’s philosophy that makes, all the difference. Ambra Wynn Suite I guess it’s a cultural thing, but the level of service here is simply outstanding. You feel pampered, cherished, almost revered. And what feels so good about it is that it’s actually genuine. People truly do care. They don’t spoil you to get a larger tip. They do it because it’s their custom.Because that’s how they manifest their appreciation for ... read more

Casinos and Portuguese cultural heritage A few weeks ago we went with Emma’s sister and a friend of ours to Hong Kong and Macau for a week. We will begin our stories from this journey by writing about the Macau part of the journey and cover the Hong Kong adventures in a separate blog entry. First a short background on Macau. The Portuguese were in control of Macau from the 15th century. They had it as a colony or trade station and as such the area had special privileges. The Portuguese presence ensured that there were a lot of European influences in the architecture, cuisine and culture. Macau was like a chunk of Europe thrown in right on the border to China. Chinese authorities however have always considered that Macau should have been a part of ... read more

And a quick 1h flight later, I was out of Guangxi and in the so-called Special Economic Zone of Zhuhai in Guangdong, gateway to Macau, gambling capital of the world, and Monte Carlo of the Orient. (Or should Monte Carlo be more aptly known as the Macau of the West these days?) I had read about the exorbitant room rates in Macau itself (USD50 upwards for crappy singles and shared baths??), so my plan was to base myself in more affordable Zhuhai, and cross the border daily. Plus I get the added bonus of a cheaper flight to Zhuhai, and the chance to check out the spill-over prosperity in this border city, which in its own right offered some interesting nightlife. But the game (literally) was Macau -- once an absolutely sleazy backwater with smoke-filled rooms ... read more