Kelocity.com

A runner with an appetite for adventure!

Macau: From Venice to Portugal to Another World May 25, 2014

Filed under: China,Macau,Travel — Kelocity @ 4:33 am
Tags: , ,

IMG_2606

We started our day off with some coffee from the Pacific Coffee Company. Paired with a croissant. IMG_2614

Today, we are exploring ‘old Macau’. The Grand Lisboa Hotel is iconic here. It has an ‘old Vegas’ feel even though it was only built in 2007.IMG_2621

IMG_2623

IMG_2629

IMG_2627
IMG_2632
IMG_2637

Right down the street you are transported from Vegas to Europe. You feel like you’ve walked right into Portugal. Macau is a former Portuguese colony, right up until 1999. That’s why a lot of the architecture and culture feels very European. Even though Macau functions as it’s own ‘country’, it’s still technically part of Mainland China.

From Wikipedia:

Under the policy of “one country, two systems“, the PRC’s Central People’s Government is responsible for the territory’s defense and foreign affairs, while Macau maintains its own legal systempolice force, monetary system, customs policy, and immigration policy. Macau participates in many international organizations and events that do not require members to possess national sovereignty.

IMG_2644

IMG_2645

IMG_2646

The tourism office offers free self-guided audio tours of the old district, so we picked them up and headed off to check it out!

IMG_2647

IMG_2649

IMG_2652

IMG_2657

I was very excited to get to this site…The Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral, which is now a UNESCO site. All that is left now is the facade of the front.IMG_2667

IMG_2668

We quickly realized that the audio guide we were using gave us way too much information. It went on and on and on, after a few hours, we were burned out on history. =)IMG_2669

IMG_2670

IMG_2674

We also climbed up to a fortress above the city to take in the views.
IMG_2682

IMG_2687

IMG_2688

IMG_2689

IMG_2692

What a cool place for wedding photos!IMG_2693

On our way back down to the casinos, we noticed this restaurant. Love the name!
IMG_2694

Our lunch spot today would be at the Wynn!IMG_2699

IMG_2707

I ordered a big bowl of fried rice! IMG_2705

Irving had a great sandwich. This actually ended up being one of the cheapest meals we had in Macau! We weren’t expecting that, especially at the Wynn! Score!
IMG_2706
The Wynn has a few fun attractions to check out. The ceiling opened up at this one and a giant chandelier emerged from it.IMG_2708

IMG_2715

And the Tree of Prosperity ‘grew’ from the floor. A cheesy little show, but it was fun. IMG_2720

It’s crazy how much it resembled the Wynn in Vegas! That was fun.
IMG_2722

Out front, we waited for the water show to begin. They have dancing fountains that go off on the hour.IMG_2727

IMG_2730

IMG_2738

IMG_2752

IMG_2757

Then it was a short walk over to MGM!
IMG_2775

IMG_2759

It looked like the Bellagio in there! Check out this atrium!IMG_2761

IMG_2773

output_EzIEwj

We took the free shuttle back to the ferry terminal and switched to another bus back to our hotel.
IMG_2777

photobooth

yourphoto

IMG_2790

We changed and then headed out for dinner. The Hard Rock Cafe again! No drinks this time, just some appetizers!IMG_2793

IMG_2798

IMG_2800

IMG_2801

Tonight, we’ve got tickets to the ‘House of Dancing Water‘ show! It’s an acrobatic show that was created by the same guy who made ‘La Reve’ at the Wynn in Las Vegas. IMG_2802

IMG_2807

IMG_2808

Strange that they let you take pictures during the show. It was very cool, we loved it!IMG_2811

These were motorcyclists doing crazy moves and jumps! I played around with long exposures to get these shots!IMG_2817

IMG_2823

IMG_2825

IMG_2826

IMG_2829

Macau, it’s been real. I will be back someday to see how much more you’ve developed. Rumor has it the Paris Hotel is being constructed next to the Venetian. Soon it will be a whole strip!

 

Macau: The Vegas of Asia May 24, 2014

Filed under: China,Hong Kong,Macau,Travel — Kelocity @ 2:39 pm
Tags: , , ,

We woke up at our Hong Kong hotel in time for another amazing breakfast. This buffet was huge. Here’s plate #1… this was followed by a couple more. And let me point out, they had cheese! It wasn’t until we got to Hong Kong that I realized I hadn’t eaten any dairy while in China. They don’t use a lot (if any) cheese in their foods. I realized how much I missed it! IMG_2507

They also had a “Pancake Machine”. All you had to do was Press Ok. Wait one minute! Easiest pancakes ever! They were delicious too! OK!IMG_2514

We said goodbye to some tour mates in the lobby, and then headed off on our own for the next leg of our trip. We took the subway over to the Ferry Terminal to depart for Macau!IMG_2516

Macau isn’t part of Mainland China or Hong Kong really, so we had to show our passports and off we went on our boat! It’s only an hour ride, I read my book the whole time. IMG_2518

Macau is known as the “Vegas of Asia”. They have lots of big casinos and it’s growing by the day. Each hotel/casino has a free shuttle bus from the Ferry terminals, so all you have to do is find the one you want to visit and all your transportation is free.
IMG_2526

IMG_2531

We decided to stay in the ‘new’ section of town called the Cotai Strip. We chose the Sheraton which was right across the street from the Venetian. Great location, highly recommended.
IMG_2573
IMG_2539
It was also randomly voted one of the world’s best hotels for kids. Perhaps the daily character parade helped it earn that title!

IMG_2542

That was the biggest difference between Macau’s casinos and the ones in Vegas. These catered to kids in a big way.
IMG_2546

We were very excited to check out the Venetian to compare it to the one we know so well in Las Vegas! It’s a little bit smaller, but man, it looks exactly the same!!IMG_2547

 

 

 

 

IMG_2596

IMG_2595

IMG_2594

IMG_2593

Even the false “daylight all the time” ceilings were the same!IMG_2591

IMG_2590

IMG_2589

IMG_2586

IMG_2585

IMG_2582

IMG_2580

IMG_2579

IMG_2578

IMG_2575

IMG_2572

IMG_2569

Across the street is the Hard Rock Hotel and the City of Dreams complex.
IMG_2549

IMG_2552
IMG_2553-001

Since we were already there buying tickets to a show for the next night, we grabbed dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. The food was so ridiculously expensive that we decided “Hey, why not make it outrageous and order two drinks while we’re at it.” When in Rome, right? The bill alone made us feel like we were in Vegas. HA!IMG_2555

IMG_2561

IMG_2562

IMG_2568
One of the biggest differences between Macau and Vegas…. it’s mostly smoke free! I think they allow it on the casino floor, but no where else inside. That was really nice. IMG_2576

Tomorrow, we’ll head out to the older side of Macau and explore a little of the history. This trip has been amazing so far!

 

 
%d bloggers like this: