went Macau, to Stanley Ho's Casinos, to its trademark Ruins of St. Paul's, thru the winding streets down a gradual slope to the Leal Senado Square, then into a cab to the jetty for our hour-long TurboJet ride back to HK, stopping by the tallest bronze standing statue of Guan Yin[Goddess of Mercy] in the world en route.
From my impression it's not anything like the VisitMacau ads on TVMobile; it's kinda slow and a little boring on the little island ... or maybe I was there at the wrong season, or coz I was without a very well-planned itinerary of some sorts. Maybe.
no photographing in Stanley Ho's territories
Ruins of St. Paul's
The Macanese are fortunate that, unlike so many other Asian metropolises, their city never suffered the destruction of war or natural disaster. Traditionally neutral, Macau avoided the devastation wrought on so many Asian cities during World War II. And by good fortune Macau has never suffered much serious damage from fire, typhoon or earthquake. Consequently a wealth of historic cathedrals, temples, mansions, government buildings and shophouses make up Macau's attractive half-European, half-Cantonese old town center.
Given Macau's relatively blessed existence, I find it ironic that the enclave's most well known building is a cathedral gutted by fire during a typhoon. In 1835 the hilltop St. Paul's Cathedral went up in flames, the conflagration fanned by howling storm winds. Today only the elaborate facade of the cathedral remains at the top of a wide flight of stone steps. I found the effect slightly eerie, for as I walked up the stairs I could see open sky through the empty door and window frames. These openings almost looked like portals to heaven. The ruins of St. Paul's remain Macau's most famous landmark. Featured in every tourist brochure and even on the five-pataca coin, the cathedral serves as a symbol of the long Portuguese presence in Macau. -- Macau: East Meets West in 6.5 Square Miles
From the other side of the facade
Those winding narrow roads of shops to Senado Square, where I sampled Macau's famous hot almond biscuit, and didn't like it.
As strange as it may sound, a Portuguese Christian lady designed this Chinese Buddhist goddess statue. Perhaps that's why you have visitors asking whether this is the Virgin Mary or the Guan Yin.
Good ol' TurboJet, without which it might take more than an hour to get back to bustling HK.
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edit:
here you go, babe.
shades of yellow, or of grey ?
3 Comments:
Macau and HK are quite vastly different (to me) ! Even tho' both were colonies under (different) European countries in the earlier centuries and now SAR of China. While HK can be very flashy and vibrant, Macau is very much laid-back and toned down in colors. You might be surprised at how understated and singularly colored Macau streets can be ... but just for you, I shall have a colored version posted up there oki babe
I was there on the 16th too!
two people on from a small island on another (even) small(er) island on the same day ! we could have have the feast you had together.
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