::3 March - 6 March::
Landed in Macau. I know Macau is famous for gambling but I was really shocked. Well I didn't expect to see casino every 5 minutes walking! And yea I was exaggerating =P.. But I checked on the map there were like 36 Casinos in Macau! Not including the small ones and the one they are currently building! This post I'm gonna to keep it short and simple. Easy on the eyes (mainly because I'm lazy =P)
Mostly people will fly to Hong Kong and go Macau for one day trip, but we fly to Macau and go Hong Kong for one day trip =P. Mainly because landing fees in Macau are way cheaper and taxi to and from our hotel to Macau airport are way cheaper too. Since Macau are smaller than Hong Kong (I feel).
I'm not sure whether it is better to change MYR to HKD or MOP in Macau or HK. But better rates were offered in Macau airport for HKD to MOP. 1HKD = 1.05 MOP
Macau tower.
We stayed in East Asia Hotel. The receptionist sucks! They are not helpful at ALL if you don't speak Cantonese. They speak really horrible English and they don't really respond to you in Mandarin. Little tip, If you manage to ask direction from any information counter available and IF they do speak English do ask ALL direction you needed. And I am deadly serious about this! Very very hard to find English speaking human insight!!!
The BEST PLACE to ask for direction is at THE INFORMATION COUNTER IN MACAU AIRPORT.
The girl is not that friendly but at least her English is understandable!
We paid RM400++ for 3 nights stay. We wasted one night because we stayed in Hong Kong. A bit of review for the hotel. If you have money I strongly suggest you find a better hotel. This hotel is not that dirty but they use coloured carpet for the floor. Imagine how many germs gather there! And the hotel too have funny smell.Yucks! Room quite spacious for 2. Little bath tub (Asian Size).
On the other hand this hotel is definitely very near to Senado Square and Ruin of St Paul. But you have to know how to use the short cut =) Mostly, 2 stars hotel around, such as Hong Thai, Man Va, Kou Va, Central. Never really see the actual hotel but you can try and google the reviews. The nearest 5 star hotel is Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16.
Had our lunch in Money God restaurant. The dishes are same standard of Esquire Kitchen in Kuala Lumpur. Not so nice. Maybe it is Macau taste.
Honey ribs.
Deep fry chillies, salted tofu.
Deep fry chilli, salted squid.
First we head to Venetian. Really nice place! How I wish I could stay there!
Curved escalator. First for me =P
The skies are beautiful. Actually, it seems as if the clouds are moving as you walk.
Next day we head to Hong Kong, We stayed in Dragon Hostel. RM120 for one night. Dragon Hostel is quite famous hostel in Hong Kong. Located in Mongkok. If you have no credit card like me, do ask for their CIMB bank account to make transfer =) We depart 815am and arrive 915am. HKD146 per trip on Thursday. They have different prices for different time. We took the ferry from Macau Ferry Terminal and reach Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan. I feel we did save quite a bit on cab fares in Hong Kong, since we didn't even ride on one =P ( Bear in mind we didn't go to a lot of places.)
When we reach we head off for breakfast. Btw, the Sheung Wan MTR station is in different building with the arrival building. So you have to walk a bit. The MTR facilities are rather convinient. Almost similar standard to the one in Singapore. No doubt that Singapore ones are better.
Click here for MTR map in Hong Kong. This will give you better picture while reading my post =P.
We plan to go to Ocean Park first, since we are not carrying heavy luggage. So from Sheung Wan we head to Admiralty Station. Btw, since we are only staying for one day in Hong Kong, instead of using the Octopus card which is recommended by fellow travelers in Lowyat forums we bought tourist card. HKD50 no deposit and unlimited use for 24 hours. The 24hours countdown starts on your first swipe. Lucky us, because mostly our single journey cost HKD10.50. So by using the tourist card we save a lot. And you can bring the card home as a souvenir! =P
When you reach Admiralty Station, do look out for sign to buy ticket to
Ocean Park. The bus no. is 629 (city tour bus) To avoid local traffic, go during weekdays. You save a lot of time from queuing up waiting to go on rides. Bus to Ocean Park cost HKD10.50 one way and entrance for adult cost HKD250. We spend 5 hours day. Our plan to go to Victoria peak was cancelled due to the weather.
If you are planning to stay in Dragon Hostel you can take the MTR from Admiralty station to Mongkok station. One thing stupid about this hostel is they DO NOT have signboard. Damn hard to notice!! When you reach Mongkok Station take the D2 exit to Argyle Street. When you come out of the correct exit, when you see signboard for Spanish Hourly Hotel walk along that street. You will pass pedestrian traffic light and after the traffic light on that building you will see their small "SINCERE HOUSE" signboard, like the picture below.
If you don't speak Chinese or read Chinese words you seriously will be in hell!.
We stayed in a room which was supposed to be occupied by 5 person. The room is really really small. Even the bathroom! Damn hard for you even to turn. But it was comfy and cozy.
At night we head of to Victoria Harbour to watch Symphony of Lights. Avenue of Stars and Victoria Harbour are nearby. To get there. you can take MTR from Mongkok and stop at Tsim Sha Tsui. You have to walk quite a bit. From Tsim Sha Tsui station you have to walk underground to the correct exit approximately 20minutes. The show starts at 8PM every night. To me it is a total waste of time!... Fountain show in The Mines KL is way better!
We went back and shop at the Ladies Market. Located very very near to Dragon Hostel.
The day we were supposed to go back to Macau we took a ride on the open roof top bus. Unlimited ride for one day at HKD50. You can hop on and off anytime you want but the interval of the bus is 30- 40 minutes. So plan your time wisely to avoid wasting time. Like us we didn't even hop off. It is nicer to just sit and enjoy the view, plus their historical place is no match to Bangkok or Malaysia ones.
If you do not plan to hop on and off do purchase the round trip ticket for 2 route. I think it will cost only HKD36.++
Basically, in Hong Kong you can find few open roof top double decker for sight seeing. But this company offers the cheapest tour. They have 2 routes.
The first one is Heritage Route.
13 stops in total. Central (Star Ferry), Central (Exchange Square), Western Market, Man Mo Temple, Old Central Police Station, Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum, Ladder Street, HKU Street, Pokfield Road, Chiu Sheung School HK, Centre Street, Sutherland Street, Macau Ferry.
Next, is Metropolis Route. 9 stops in total.
Central (Star Ferry), Wan Chai Convention Centre, Cannon Street, Leighton Centre, Happy Valley Racecourse, Wu Chung House, Admiralty Pacific Place, St John's Cathedral, Statue Square.
If you have to choose one route, choose the Metropolis Route. One round trip cost HKD18.++
If you are staying in Mongkok you don't have to go all the way to Central to take the bus. Just stop at Admiralty Station and ask direction on how to go to Admiralty Pacific Place.
We went back to Macau at 330PM Friday. The ticket was HKD134.
On Saturday and public holiday the ferry ticket will cost HKD168.
We had our dinner in Macau. 2 dishes for MOP22, for 3 dishes it will cost MOP30. For the pigeon, it will be MOP40.
Basically, if you don't mind walking, walking in Macau is a niE� W @�
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Their version of Guardians.
No doubt Macau is a great place to buy miniatures liquors ( I bought few bottles! ) miniatures perfumes or even full size perfumes. Slightly cheaper than Malaysia.
Senado Square.
Ruins of St. Paul.
After all not really a short one..hmmmm...
Til then.
p/s:
Classes start later. Oh I hate class! Can't wait for next trip! Airasia! Give me Zero seat!!!!