 |
| original round trip airfare |
 |
| fare after travel insurance add on |
On the 30th of March 2014 I boarded the plane at 7pm. There were Chinese, Thai and Korean people aside from the Filipinos. I chose the seat beside the window as I was so excited to see Macau. Our flight got delayed by 30 minutes because of the weather in Macau. Of so many days, why does it have to rain on my travel date? Good thing was we landed safely. From the window, I saw City of Dreams, Hard Rock Hotel and Venetian Hotel.
I was given a free visa until April 29 by the immigration in Macau. I thought I would be asked some questions regarding my stay but the officer just looked at my passport and me and let me in. Well, hello Macau!
For this trip since I was alone I contacted my friend who was my former workmate who now works in Macau to accompany me around. Though it is safe to roam around the streets of Macau even in night time, it's still better to have someone to chat with and someone to take my pictures. And because she works under the Sands company which owns Sands Hotel, Venetian Hotel, Sheraton Hotel, Conrad Hotel and Holiday Inn, I got big discount on my accommodation.
For the first two nights we stayed at Sheraton Macao. We got a room on the 23rd floor with the view of Venetian and City of Dreams. The room was okay. I asked for an adapter and it was delivered to our room really fast although the shampoo, shower gel and conditioner was not replenished on the second day. Okay, I admit I have intentions of taking it with me. Pasensya medyo beggar hehe. I just wanted to make my stay super sulit even if I have to nenok those toiletries. :P
It was raining on my first day in Macau. The times of planning my itinerary was wasted because none of it had been followed. Everything was a mess because of the rain. Instead of supposedly roaming around the streets of Macau Peninsula visiting the ruins, the square, the temples, the fortresses, the churches and the tower we went on casino/hotel hopping in Cotai and Macau Peninsula. We visited Venetian Macau, City of Dreams, Hard Rock Hotel, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Sands Cotai Central, Galaxy Macau, Sands Macau, Grand Lisboa and Wynn Macau. I applied for membership on those casinos although I didn't play. I wanted to but time won't allow. Maybe next time. I also wanted to watch the House of Dancing Water at City of Dreams but I had second thoughts because it was pricey and I've had lots of expenses before this trip so we just watched The Dragon's Treasure and rode the carousel in Venetian. After the ride I realized it's really for kids.
On the second day the weather was better. We woke up at nine in the morning, had breakfast, took a bath and checked out at 11am. We first visited the facilities in Sheraton and had our baggage stored at Sheraton's cloakroom because our check in time in Venetian is at 3pm. Yes, I will stay in Venetian. It's like a dream. I really wanted to experience the suite there. And so we went on traveling to Macau Peninsula. We visited the Fisherman's Wharf, Macau Science Center, bought our lunch at KFC in Sands where it's the only KFC store in Macau and back to Venetian.
We arrived at Venetian at 3pm and got our bella suite on the 27th floor. We had the same view outside like what we had in Sheraton. We ate our KFC, a super late lunch at 3:30 pm, rest a bit and went on traveling again.
This time we went to Coloane. I had my first paid bus transpo. Good thing I have some coins. My friend gave me cents because I will not get a change when I drop all my coins.
We headed to the Giant Panda Pavilion first. Just 10 minutes to go and it will be closed. Buti nakahabol kami. Then we went to Hac Sa, strolled around the streets where I saw the white house where Ji Hoo and Jan Di of Boys Over Flowers stayed in Macau. Being a Koreanovela addict I didn't miss the chance of taking pictures in front of the house. Then we continued walking and walking and walking at the rocky trails where I didn't know where it was leading to. We just followed the path and took pictures. It's quiet and a really relaxing place. I enjoyed the walking and the scenes that I saw. We went back to the bus station and went to Coloane Village. This time it's Princess Janelle of Princess Hours whom I remembered. We went to the church where she got married again to Prince Gian, the restaurant where they dined and the Lord Stow's bakery where she bought egg tarts.
It was getting dark but we still headed to Taipa. We cannot waste time because I'd be leaving the next day. We got to Taipa by walking from Galaxy. This was really a tiring day. Imagine all those walks we had. Going back, at Taipa it looked like Coloane Village. But Coloane is beside the sea so it looked more peaceful. Taipa looked like somewhere in Europe. We strolled at the streets. There are pasalubong shops too and I found a cheaper selling store of souvenirs. We didn't see much more because it's late and we have to be at the Venetian Carnival at 7pm.
One good thing about my travel date except for the rain was the Venetian Carnival which started March 28 to April 13. It's like a fiesta in Venetian with shows, masked and dressed people, musicals, games and dances. It really looked like a carnival. A classic carnival. We had this voucher of free foods when you buy a coke. We claimed it, rest a bit and watched the environment. After that we went to Sheraton to claim our baggage and went to our suite in Venetian. We rest a bit and went down to a bar to claim our welcome drinks. We planned to be back to our room by 11pm but we enjoyed the chillaxing ambiance in this bar so we left at 12am.
On the last day, we woke up at nine am, had breakfast and checked out at 11am. I stored my baggage at the Venetian cloakroom while my friend brought hers as we were going to our next destination which is close to her house. After dropping her baggage we visited Guia but wasn't able to ride the cable car. Well it's okay because I find it corny as the distance between to and fro were very short.
We went straight to Macau Tower. From here you can see Macau in 360 degree. You can even see lands that are not part of Macau anymore. I enjoyed the view and the heights. I even wanted to try Skywalk but it's too pricey so I didn't.
Next stop is A-ma Temple. My friend seemed not to like to go here but I insisted. I entered the temple and watched what people were doing inside.
Last stop is San Malo where the Senado Square and Ruins of St. Paul were. But first, we ate our again super late lunch as it was 4pm and took pictures at Grand Emperor Hotel. I had my remaining dollar exchanged to pataca and enjoyed Senado Square and Ruins of St. Paul. These places were also very relaxing. Just sitting on the side watching people is an enjoyable thing to do. Plus you'll never feel shy taking pictures and selfies here bacause everyone does it.
I really enjoyed this trip. My first out of the country adventure. For first time travelers I would recommend this place. It's very safe and convenient. There are lots of Filipinos in Macau so you won't feel out of place. I'm also proud of my kababayans working hard in this country, contributing to the growth and progress of this place. I am really amazed by the government and the people. Many times I have thought that I wish it would be like this in Manila.
As for my expenses, thanks to Cebu Pacific for a cheap airfare. My biggest expense came from the accommodation.
2 nights at Sheraton = 1,260 HKD
1 night at Venetian = 690 HKD
1,950 HKD = PHP 11,310
Phil. Travel Tax = Php 1,620.00
Airport Fee = Php 550.00
Activities:
Carousel Ride = 15 MOP
Dragon Treasure = 50 MOP
Macau Science Center = 20 MOP (originally 25 MOP)
Panda Pavilion = 10 MOP
Macau Tower = 135 MOP
230 MOP = PHP 1,334.00
Food = 196 MOP = PHP 1,136.80
Pasalubongs = 817 MOP = PHP 4,738.60
Bus Transpo = 40 MOP = PHP 232.00
Manila Transpo PHP 547.00
Airfare PHP 2,634.39
HKD and MOP converted to 5.8
It was getting dark but we still headed to Taipa. We cannot waste time because I'd be leaving the next day. We got to Taipa by walking from Galaxy. This was really a tiring day. Imagine all those walks we had. Going back, at Taipa it looked like Coloane Village. But Coloane is beside the sea so it looked more peaceful. Taipa looked like somewhere in Europe. We strolled at the streets. There are pasalubong shops too and I found a cheaper selling store of souvenirs. We didn't see much more because it's late and we have to be at the Venetian Carnival at 7pm.
One good thing about my travel date except for the rain was the Venetian Carnival which started March 28 to April 13. It's like a fiesta in Venetian with shows, masked and dressed people, musicals, games and dances. It really looked like a carnival. A classic carnival. We had this voucher of free foods when you buy a coke. We claimed it, rest a bit and watched the environment. After that we went to Sheraton to claim our baggage and went to our suite in Venetian. We rest a bit and went down to a bar to claim our welcome drinks. We planned to be back to our room by 11pm but we enjoyed the chillaxing ambiance in this bar so we left at 12am.
On the last day, we woke up at nine am, had breakfast and checked out at 11am. I stored my baggage at the Venetian cloakroom while my friend brought hers as we were going to our next destination which is close to her house. After dropping her baggage we visited Guia but wasn't able to ride the cable car. Well it's okay because I find it corny as the distance between to and fro were very short.
We went straight to Macau Tower. From here you can see Macau in 360 degree. You can even see lands that are not part of Macau anymore. I enjoyed the view and the heights. I even wanted to try Skywalk but it's too pricey so I didn't.
Next stop is A-ma Temple. My friend seemed not to like to go here but I insisted. I entered the temple and watched what people were doing inside.
Last stop is San Malo where the Senado Square and Ruins of St. Paul were. But first, we ate our again super late lunch as it was 4pm and took pictures at Grand Emperor Hotel. I had my remaining dollar exchanged to pataca and enjoyed Senado Square and Ruins of St. Paul. These places were also very relaxing. Just sitting on the side watching people is an enjoyable thing to do. Plus you'll never feel shy taking pictures and selfies here bacause everyone does it.
I really enjoyed this trip. My first out of the country adventure. For first time travelers I would recommend this place. It's very safe and convenient. There are lots of Filipinos in Macau so you won't feel out of place. I'm also proud of my kababayans working hard in this country, contributing to the growth and progress of this place. I am really amazed by the government and the people. Many times I have thought that I wish it would be like this in Manila.
As for my expenses, thanks to Cebu Pacific for a cheap airfare. My biggest expense came from the accommodation.
2 nights at Sheraton = 1,260 HKD
1 night at Venetian = 690 HKD
1,950 HKD = PHP 11,310
Phil. Travel Tax = Php 1,620.00
Airport Fee = Php 550.00
Activities:
Carousel Ride = 15 MOP
Dragon Treasure = 50 MOP
Macau Science Center = 20 MOP (originally 25 MOP)
Panda Pavilion = 10 MOP
Macau Tower = 135 MOP
230 MOP = PHP 1,334.00
Food = 196 MOP = PHP 1,136.80
Pasalubongs = 817 MOP = PHP 4,738.60
Bus Transpo = 40 MOP = PHP 232.00
Manila Transpo PHP 547.00
Airfare PHP 2,634.39
Total Expenses = PHP 24,102.79
