Vision Travel

If you want to taste it was a walk in Europe without wanting to apply for a visa to the embassy trouble and do not want to get too drained the savings, you can visit Macau, a small town part of China.

Macao or Macau is one of the two special administrative regions of People’s Republic of China, except Hong Kong. City of Macau is a city known for its nightlife and his gambling. It can be said that Macau is a Las Vegas of Asia because the region’s economy is heavily dependent on gambling activities and tourism city.

Behind the nightlife, Macau also store a treasure trove of riches architectural, urban planning, and abundant culinary heritage of the Portuguese who occupied the Macau government for more than 400 years, until taken over by the government of China in 1999.

Number of heritage buildings Portuguese Macao is making similar to a small town in Europe. The good, until now the historic buildings are relics of the colonial period is still well maintained, and even become one tourist attraction for the city.

Most historical buildings in Macau has two designation, one in English, another in Portuguese.

Certainly aware that not confused with the two term with these two languages. Road marker was written in two languages, Mandarin and Portuguese. Although many public facilities that use two languages, it turns out the language used most local residents are Mandarin or Cantonese. Only about 2 percent of the Portuguese language. It seems that in terms of language, Portuguese is not too influential here.

Towards Macau

To visit Macau, you can use a direct flight to the airport with a cross from Macau or Hong Kong via ferry with a range of one hour. Ferry fare varies, from 142 dollars up to 1062 Hong Kong Hong Kong dollars. Although at that time I use the ferry economy class, I was surprised too so get into the ferry cabin. The floor was carpeted, comfortable chairs like aircraft seats, and the interior is quite luxurious for my size as a backpacker beggar. But, after I think about it, 142 Hong Kong dollars, if used as the rupiah, approximately USD 170,000. Yes, no wonder comfortable.

Free map that I got at the airport in Macau unfortunately not too much help to explore Macau. Figure way less detail and did not appear skalatis well. However, at least we’ll get a pretty good orientation to get around Macau. So, do not forget to pick up your free map so landed at the airport in Macau.

To reach the inn as you go, you can choose to use a bus or taxi. Keep in mind, most locals do not understand English Macau. So, prepare your residence card which is equipped with local language, which sometimes provided on the website inn.

If you do not have a residence card, use the “hand language” to explain to taxi drivers, in other words: give a map of Macau and then point to your destination.

I myself at that time staying at an old inn over 100 years old in La Rue Felicidade named Sanva Hospedaria. Staying at this hostel is like to experience an ancient Chinese film, of course, considering this hostel also had several times used as a shooting a few Hong Kong films. Sanva addition, there are several other hostels are also often recommended the backpacker. Some of them Auguster’s Lodge and Ko Wah Hotel.

Traveling Macau

Macau is divided into four regions named Macau Peninsula, Taipa, Cotai and Coloane. For easy to remember, Macau Peninsula is a favorite tourist area; Taipa Macau airport is the place to be; Cotai area is famous for its casinos and nightlife, and Coloane in Macau is an area that has not developed completely. Can be said Coloane is a “village” of his Macau.

The city includes a city small enough to have the opinion that we can surround all over Macau in just over a full day. However, in practice, pretty tired too if you really want to surround the city within 24 hours, let alone the city has so many objects of interest to the lovers of photography.

For myself, Macau’s most interesting when explored by foot as the streets of Macau has a small “unpredictable.” Yes, some are saying that getting lost is part of the thrill exploring Macau. Indeed, we often get lost when looking for a single object. However, in the end even find other objects that are not less interesting. We also often find a small public space complete with her seat on the narrow roads we traveled, typical of small towns in Europe that puts the interests of the pedestrian.

I truly feel how nice walk in here, let alone supported a fairly friendly weather in May. City parks we passed looked very well groomed and active as a public space. Neighborhood streets in Macau neat and comfortable to go through with paving stones typical of small towns in Europe. In fact, in some specific way the number of vehicles is limited so it is quite safe for pedestrians. In addition, the city also has public transportation is quite convenient and accessible.

Surrounding Macau by public transport was very possible and include comfortable. However, you must set up a dime to ride public transportation so as not to inconvenience themselves because there is no conductor here. You simply enter the bus fare into a small box beside the driver. Bus fare can be seen here at markers located at each bus stop, flat to travel long distances-near, but vary depending on department.

That it should be noted, in Macau we can use Hong Kong dollars, but not vice versa. Patacca currency can not be used in Hong Kong.

Sightseeing

Since this is my first time and friends to visit Macau, Macau Peninsula is our main destination region for at Macau. Our short stay in Macau makes us no chance to visit some interesting objects are located far from our hostel. However, the notes below will at least summarize some places you can visit during their stay there.

One of the main objectives for travelers in Macau is the Senado Square (Largo do Senado), which are located close to our hostel. This is the first object that we visited upon arrival in Macau. Senado Square is a plaza with a fountain surrounded by historic buildings, colonial style painted white with shades of yellow-green. Paving stones with a unique pattern of pedestrian and road wrapped characterizes this plaza.

Another famous landmark and should be photographed the ruins of St Paul’s Cathedral (Sao Paulo), traces of a large church Portuguese architectural style. So famous, it’s not complete if in Macau has not been photographed in front of the ruins of this church. He exclaimed, apparently looking for these ruins are not as easy to read maps! Many times we got lost and asked local residents to find this place.