Macau - More photos!

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Although Macau is tiny, it's definitely impressive. Where else can you find a place where two totally different cultures (Chinese & Portuguese) co-exist and develop an unique blend of cultures for half a millenium?

I visited Macau 3 times in 2006 (refer to my previous post) and I have taken so many photos that I feel that one blog is not enough! In this blog I'm posting more photos during my 3rd visit (in Dec 2006), with an emphasis on Coloane & Taipa (the two outlying islands south of Macau, which have merged into one giant island after massive reclamation).

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Photos

Church of St Francis Xavier
St Francis Xavier Coloane is a small chapel built in 1928 following the baroque style of Macau's major churches.
The plaza in front have arcaded restaurants and a monument commemorating the local victory over pirates in 1910. According to a friend, this place is featured in the highly famous Korean drama "Gong - Princess Hours".

Tin Hau Temple (Coloane)
Macau has three Tin Hau temples (one per Coloane, Macau Peninsula, and Taipa). The one in Macau Peninsula is best known as the A-ma Temple. The one is the photo is the Tin Hau Temple in Coloane. Tin Hau (also known as A-ma, Matsu, or Goddess of the sea) is a popular Chinese goddess.

Tin Hau temple visit - Step 1
Admire the ambience, the architecture, the sights and sounds and smells, etc... (My sister is doing a pretty good job)

Tin Hau temple visit - Step 2
Offer paper money to gods and ancestors by burning it in the oven. If you are rich, you can even burn paper houses, paper cars, paper clothes, paper furnitures, paper food, paper handphones, paper cameras, paper maids, paper pets, etc... (In the past people burn these things in the open. Now, due to safety and environmental reasons, temples provide ovens for burning.)

Tin Hau temple visit - Step 3
Pray for good health, prosperity, peace, good grades for exams, everlasting love, etc etc etc etc.... (And don't forget to burn some joss-sticks and insert them into the gigantic ash-tray. Ghosts and gods love the taste of joss-sticks. Always burn joss-sticks in a bunch of 3. It's a Chinese tradition.)

Ponte Cais de Coloane
Before the building of the causeway and bridge links, this was the pier for ferry travellers from the Macau Peninsula and Taipa. (The other shore in the background is part of Zhuhai, China.)

Largo Presidente António Ramalho Eanes
This beautiful little plaza has a bronze cupid in the middle.

Rose Exhibition
in the Municipal Garden and the Avenida da Praia, in Taipa

Rose Exhibition 2
A very "rosy" picture

Rose Exhibition 3
Rose art

Rose Exhibition 4
My mum likes roses a lot

Rose Exhibition 5
My mum wearing a "rosy" hat

Rose Exhibition 6
Saint Charles showing off the "aura of light" around his head

Macau Ferry Terminal
The sign reads "Luggage cart parking area"... And the arrow is pointing down to the sea???