With still so many places on my go-to list, and so little time (we allotted only a day and a half for Macau because we HAVE to spend 2 days at theme parks), we decided to forgo the north part of Macau.
First stop for the day was A-Ma Temple. From our place in Rua das Lorchas, we took the bus from Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro (San Ma Lo) to Barra Bus Terminus. Obviously the stop before Barra Bus Terminus, A-Ma Temple Bus Stop, was named just that because of it's proximity to the temple. I felt so stupid after. It's so close like 15 steps from the bus stop, you're in front of the temple close -.-
Walking to A-Ma Temple from Barra Bus Terminus, you will be passing by Maritime Museum - did not bother going in because no interests whatsoever in marine-related stuffs - and Edificio Administrativo Do Museo Maritimo.
The temple was smaller than what I expected... which disappointed me. I have to say, A-Ma Temple's probably the smallest temple I've ever been to.
From the temple, we walked to Pousada de S. Tiago or Sao Tiago Da Barra.
The facade and even the entrance to Sao Tiago Da Barra screams museum to me. Not to mention it was a fort. Upon entering we were awwing and comparing it to Philippine forts. It was well maintained, air-conditioned and has waters flowing on wall cracks.
Before proceeding we were photoshooting at the entrance for about 10 minutes I think. Going further, we were expecting a museum but instead ended up in a fine dining restaurant. Apparently it is now a 5 star hotel. I think we were quite noisy at the entrance and it was one of those Earth-swallow-me-now moments when the maitre d smiled and tried to show me the menu.
Behind this is Sao Tiago Da Barra.
From here on, we decided to wing it and walk to Macau Tower. Curving Lago Sai Van or Sai Van Lake, we realized we were going the wrong way, Avenida da Republica, so we retraced our steps and went the other way around. I swear, we've walked half of the lake!
We walked all the way there only to watch someone do a $3088 bungee jump and look at souvenir items. We did not bother going up the observatory. The three of us were super kuripot, our thoughts were going: "$135 for a view? Bitch please, we've walked that view"
Outside Macau Tower. Waiting for a bus to Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen or Fisherman's Wharf.
It was the longest bus wait my whole trip and the most Mercedes Benz that I've seen in a span of less than an hour. I was super tired from walking, lugging my camera and wet bag (clumsy me spilled my water all over it).
I thought Fisherman's Wharf was a theme park of some-sort but it's like a mini city of small casinos (compared to Lisboa, Galaxy and Venetian), expensive restaurants and high-end stores.
The only food I could afford was this $12 drink (whilst third-wheeling #walangforever) jk.
I was in Babylon. One step, Portugal. Second step, Spain. Next step, Central Station. Next, Roma.
The designs were so good <333 Spazzing over every building we saw but not daring to enter because underage and too broke to gamble.
Faking the feeling
After Fisherman's Wharf, supposedly Statue of Guan Yin/Kun Iam was the next stop. But we were clueless as to which bus stop we had to be dropped off to. We passed by it on our way back to Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro (San Ma Lo) but decided against continuing because we were already two bus stops from the statue. Our feet literally can barely take anymore. Thanks a lot to walking from the temple to the tower. We also passed by I.M. Pei's Macau Science Center and Macau Museum of Art - architecture lovers take note!
At Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro (San Ma Lo) corner R. do Dr. Soares (just cross Senado Square), you will find a museum. I'm not really sure if it's Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau or 民政总署大楼图书馆 but facing Leal Senado building, it's on your right. You can find a stamp museum and by the entrance there's a band (idk what else to call them) playing traditional instruments. My Chinese instruments knowledge only goes as far as identifying an erhu.
Back in Rua dos Cules, we ate lunch at a Filipino-run store. Dingy but $26 for meatballs is probably as cheap as it's gonna get. Also bought a $20 milk tea at Rua da Felicidade which I thought would taste better but meh, it tasted the same except that it's thicker.
We checked out at around 4pm and made our way to Avenida da Amizade's Largo do Terminal Maritimo. Bought Turbo Jet daytrip ticket's around 5:30-6:00 pm for $153. An hour later, we docked at Shun Tak Centre, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.
From Shun Tak Centre, we asked directions to go to Sheung Wan Station. I must say, commuting and communicating in Hong Kong is super easy. Almost everybody can speak in English plus so many Filipinos everywhere!
We bought an Octopus card at the nearest 711 at the station. Seriously this is a must especially if your trip is DIY. I think we've loaded around $200-300 the whole trip. MTR to the airport is super expensive :'<
Sheung Wan (blue line) > Central (red line) > Mong Kok (red line)
$15 street food
We booked 6 days and 5 nights at Xing Xing Hostel at Sincere House for Php 2685 each - 1 double bed and 1 single. The building is old and somewhat scary like the ones you see in movies where gangs hide out but there's 3 of us so I'm not so worried (plus points to looking like a local). We're not picky when it comes to places to stay because pretty much we're all just too tired to really care about the amenities they'd offer. The first room we entered was some sort of club where men were drinking and girls were in cosplay. We never went near that wing again.
We got a good bargain. We were situated at Argyle St. corner Fa Yuen ...which means that Ladies' Market is a walk away!
After we settled in, we went our separate ways around ladies' market (I felt so badass). I was planning to buy cheongsams for me and my sister but the cheapest (not the usual designs) are around $250 each :( In my opinion though, it's not actually cheap in night markets. It's cheaper in the Philippines.
The usual scenarios during the whole duration of my window shopping goes:
*looks at seller's stuff* *seller speaks Chinese to me the whole time encouraging me to buy*
"How much?"
*seller speaks more chinese*
"I don't speak 普通话"
Seller laughs: "Ah! I thought you Chinese. You look China Hong Kong girl"
Tip: When you like something in the market, you should be ready to buy and bargain when you ask for the price. Sellers hate it when you ask prices around and don't buy. Also, most of the stalls close around 11pm.
Of course I just have to eat noodles at a hole in the wall as well as visit their McDonald's too to see the difference because my cousin, who've been to China told me how different the menus were. And I'm like, "Transport your menus to PH pliz". They have a lot of green tea <333
* $ = MOP/HK$
//Sorta sad and pissed at myself for losing my notebook where I wrote things that happened during this trip. Mostly wrote expenses there as always lol.
Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6&7
