After the whirlwind tour of the U.S. this summer we had a sense of missing some relaxation once we arrived back in Hong Kong. With a quick glance at our school calendar we saw that there would be a long weekend in September that just might do the trick. The easiest place to get away for a weekend is the nearby Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Macau.
We'd only briefly visited Macau last year when we had to leave HK and re-enter in order to activate our work visas. At that time we literally arrived, took a bus to one of the many casinos, had lunch, then came back on a ferry. Macau is an interesting area with three main islands: Macau, Taipa, and Coloane. The history of the area includes heavy influence from the Portuguese so besides the large, modern casinos you also have cobblestone streets with designs, old churches, and plenty of egg tarts - all with a Chinese feel. This time we went with the quieter area of Coloane down at the southernmost point.
We'd only briefly visited Macau last year when we had to leave HK and re-enter in order to activate our work visas. At that time we literally arrived, took a bus to one of the many casinos, had lunch, then came back on a ferry. Macau is an interesting area with three main islands: Macau, Taipa, and Coloane. The history of the area includes heavy influence from the Portuguese so besides the large, modern casinos you also have cobblestone streets with designs, old churches, and plenty of egg tarts - all with a Chinese feel. This time we went with the quieter area of Coloane down at the southernmost point.
Not Macau, but the reason we had a long weekend was for the Mid-Autumn Festival which takes place on a full moon. Lunar holidays make sense.
We enjoyed a sea-side walk from our hotel down to dinner.
Lanterns are the big thing for Mid-Autumn festival and these lit the way to our dinner at Fernando's.
We had a really nice meal at Fernando's which was the one place that everyone agreed on for a recommendation. They have a nice sangria and I can vouch for the prawns in clam sauce and roasted chicken.
The Portuguese feel is everywhere with tons of these mosaic sidewalk designs.
Like I said, everything with a Chinese influence.
Marisa and the incense.
Sniffing out Lord Stow's bakery - famous for egg tarts.
Lord Stow's workers doing their thing.
The view from our hotel balcony. Although I can't recommend the hotel, it had a great location.
Macau proper by night
After an Italian dinner we walked around and were surprised to come across an international fireworks competition. Basically two different countries face off each night - this one was from Portugal.
Although our weekend was cut a bit short due to super typhoon Usagi that was approaching Hong Kong, I think we got what we were looking for.
--Justin
