Destination: Macau

Paglalakbay ni Pansit Bughaw - Sa Maganda at Dukhang Mundo Personal photos using "tira lang ng tira" style Destination: Macau

I think it is almost a given fact that when you go to HongKong the first time, you must as well go to Macau.Since I am traveling with ‘two kids’ I might as well maximize the time and the kunsumisyon.
Surprisingly, we enjoyed the Macau trip albeit that I feel sick in the ferry (I got situated in the rear part Ugh), most of the building retained their Portuguese architectural façade, the egg tarts are really tasty,the St.Paul ruins is amazing despite the fact I can’t get a decent souvenir photo due to the crowd (so many people in the foreground…sigh…). And did I say that the egg tarts are really tasty?

It helps that for this trip we have a guide to lead us and shared some ‘interesting info’ to us….(Disclaimer: these are either 2nd hand or 3rd hand info, citation and validation is still needed)

A. The Lady of Mercy – Apparently, the locals are not pleased with this joint project for the ff reason:
• It costs hundred million dollars
• The lotus underneath the lady is clipping her feet. Feng Shuei wise the lotus should be open
• The lady is facing the mountain, with the sea on her back. Feng shuei wise, her back should be against the mountain and her eyes on the vastness of the sea
• The lady doesn’t look oriental


B. Two Black Granite - Again, this made some eyebrows of the locals raised up in the moon, as this also costs a hundred million dollars….Art explanation: the 2 granite slabs are a Portuguese and Macau men talking. Go figure. I guess politics and arts shouldn’t be placed in one bucket.


C. The Tower – I forgot the official name of this one, it was said that the management of this tower offers a unique kind of entertainment: free jumping. And to make it a memorable moment, a photographer will be there to capture how you scream your lungs out. According to the guide, there was this Filipino guy, a jolly guy that is, who tried doing it. At first, he was cracking jokes to his wife about not coming back and he even jumped out with gusto. The guy made it alive but he got so unnerved, white as a sheet, and when he was given a candy,he ate the wrapper and threw the candy away. Someone needs to confirm if this story is true.


D. Ma-ko (did I spell it correctly?) - The oldest temple in Macau. Story goes that when the conquistadores was asking the locals where they are, the local replied Ma-ko meaning the ‘place of our mother’, hence macau (people please verify), the place also serves as sanctuary for beggars who came from the ‘other side’…Anyhoo, we had a heck climbing the series of rock steps and my dad got heck of a fun taking photos of me with bullet size sweats and panting for dear life

At the foot of this temple is a stall of Portuguese egg tarts, I didn’t manage to take a pic of it, as it didn’t had a chance to ‘live long’ upon our purchase. We were barfing egg tarts afterwards.

E. Stanley Ho’s new Casino building – still under construction, but the vines have it that the design is heavily laden with feng shuei symbolism, such as encompassing the whole area on the palm of his hand. The structure also looks like a certain ‘hand gesture’…a message to his competitor they say.
F. Again, forgot the name of this church – but I like the façade, so I will mention it here, plus the noypi guard there is really nice.






G. And look who is also famous in this area:


H. Crown Casino (?) – Jackie Chan’s casino.. I am no fan, but at least he is investing his money. His casino is easy to spot with this “crown” atop the building.


In the lobby you an see gold nuggets in fibre glass enclosure as part of the lobby floor, this is again has something to do with Feng Shuei.


But the “gold” here is actually outside the hotel and guarding the doors. ISn’t he a cutie?!


Note that the girl in pink behind is doing the shoe shine thingie… (the blasted idea irritates me, shine your shoes in skimpy suits?)
Anyhoo, here is the close-up pic…


I was about to take a pic of the other guy,kaya lang may panget na sumingit…suya.


I. St Paul Ruins – skipping the part on how come only the façade was left standing…

some tidbits to know on the design…some people actually find some of the designs/symbols eccentric. Let’s take a look on it first….

Have you noticed the design of the blessed Mary standing atop the monster? Or the skeleton? Or the demon?the snake ? the vessel?





Nope, but here are my guesses (not so sure on the snake):



This is my ‘spot the mushroom’ pic:



Sirit?


Back to my problem, how can I get a good ‘I-was-here’ shot, with so many people in the foreground?:



I got my problem resolved, thanks to my friend Eeyuh:


J. And for me, this is the best thing I saw: