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The Chewys love travelling and although I’m currently in my third trimester of pregnancy, we are already in wanderlust mode and dreaming about our next adventure after my confinement ends! I guess this time, we shall not be overly ambitious as we would like to travel with both children, so our ideal travel destination should be not too far from home, and somewhere which we have not visited together before! Many of us have been to Hong Kong, but what about Macao? Just an hour’s ferry ride from Hong Kong, Macao is a world-class destination that leaves people enchanted and fascinated with iconic cultural sights, thrilling adventures, entertaining performances, a myriad of city festivals and is also a foodie paradise, guaranteeing a wide selection of local snacks and delicacies!
Here’s sharing my 3D2N itinerary which I have come up with!
DAY ONE MORNING:
Whenever we visit an Asian country, we make it a point to visit at least one of the temples there. A-Ma Temple in Macao is dedicated to A-Ma, also known as Mazu, the Goddess of seafarers and fishermen. According to legend, A-Ma had the ability to prophesize in her mortal life and also protect traders and fishermen from shipwreck with mythic power in her afterlife. Thus, A-Ma Temple was built by the locals to worship her. Homage is paid to this most popular deity of Macao during A-Ma festival, which takes place on the 23rd day of the 3rd month in the lunar calendar each year.
Over at Coloane Village, visitors get to enjoy the tranquility of village life and enjoy local delicacies. Make a stop at Coloane Pier which was rebuilt in 1873 and had been a crucial public ferry terminal between Coloane, Taipa and Macao Peninsular ever since. Regular ferry service in the olden days brought passengers from Macao and Taipa to Coloane.
At Coloane Village, don’t miss out on tasting the authentic and famous Portuguese Egg Tarts from Lord Stow Bakery! There are also other village cafes nearby which are ideal places for a leisurely afternoon tea while enjoying the tranquility of village life.
DAY ONE AFTERNOON:
There are many different kinds of cuisines you can find in Macao but nothing beats Portuguese and Macanese cuisine of course! We urge you to try African chicken, one of Macao’s best loved dish. It is basically chicken covered in peanut, tomato and chilli sauce, served with bread or potatoes. You can either head to Restaurante Litoral or Henri’s Gallery for a mouthwatering serving of African chicken!
Once in awhile, I think it is a good idea to head indoors in the afternoon to cool off! Pier 16 Macao 3D World is a fun and interesting indoor attraction at Sofitel Macao at Ponte 16, which is the first large scale 3D museum in Macao with over 100 photography points in 7 thematic zones, including MJ in 3D, 3D Jurassic World, 3D Macao Journey, Touch of French, Romantic Story, Chinese culture and 3D Interactive Experience Zone. If you are one who enjoys being in front of the camera, Pier 16 Macao 3D World is a must-visit as it offers visitors a chance to pose for interesting photos with the various exhibits and 3D paintings!
Children will definitely be captivated by the Performance Lake, where lofty plumes of water and fire shimmer and dance through the air to classical and popular music, as well as Broadway show tunes. Do you know that the Lake houses over 200 water nozzles and shooters and holds 800,000 gallons of water in order to present this delightful illumination of water, light, color and fire? Despite all that, this entertaining show is absolutely free!
DAY ONE EVENING:
The House of Magic, a one-of-a-kind multi-theatre attraction housing magic acts performed by leading magicians from around the world, – is yet another entertaining show in Macao that will appeal to the masses. Featuring 4 live magicians in a three-theatre magic complex, it amazes visitors with an array of mind-bending shows offering guests an incredible live magical experience showcasing the world’s greatest magicians. What’s more? You will also find The House of Magic Boutique, a Victorian-themed magic shop where visitors can take home a few simple-to-do tricks to delight their families and friends!
We love visiting food streets and for dinner, we reckon Broadway Macao is one of the unique dining spots in Macao that is truly worth visiting! Broadway Macao brings visitors back to the hustle and bustle of traditional Macao street markets, featuring authentic local cuisines with a vast array of over 40 local Macao and “first-to-Macao” popular Asian food brands, and even Michelin-star restaurants, festive street performances and unique Macao souvenir shops.
DAY TWO MORNING:
Begin the day with a leisurely stroll at Lou Lim Ieoc Garden, built by a wealthy 19th century Chinese merchant and subsequently inherited by his son. Enclosed by a high wall, it is a miniaturized landscape with narrow paths winding through groves of bamboo and flowering bushes, under moulded concrete “mountains” to a large pond filled with golden carp and lotus flowers. It is a lovely place for photo opportunities, as well as somewhere for children to roam about freely!
DAY TWO AFTERNOON:
Stop by Galaxy Macao, where the 3-metre tall Fortune Diamond is located in the lobby of the hotel. Rising from behind a waterfall and slowly sinking into a roulette-design fountain, the Fortune Diamond symbolizes abounding prosperity and good fortune.
In the afternoon, head over to Rua do Cunha (Taipa Food Street) in Taipa Village where plenty of snacking opportunities await! It is the ultimate place if you want to find local snacks and delicacies such as almond cakes, egg rolls, peanut candies, roasted sliced meat and many other specialties.
If you are planning to visit Macao during the December school holidays, watch out for the cultural event, “Parade through Macao, Latin City”. Created in 2011, the Parade is held to mark the anniversary of Macao’s Handover to China. Highlighting Macao’s unique cultural features and the City’s multicultural atmosphere, the Parade culminates in a grand joint performance in which the artists present dazzlingly colourful performances, bringing the celebration of this joyous occasion to a vivid climax.
DAY TWO EVENING:
Since we are planning to travel with children, I have also included The House of Dancing Water in our itinerary. Inspired by the Chinese culture, the story takes the audience through 7 emotions – Joy, Anger, Sorrow, Fear, Love, Hate and Desire. At the world’s largest and most spectacular water-based show, be enthralled by water diving stunts, motorbikes acrobatic stunts, aerial acrobatics and more! People of all ages will definitely enjoy this!
Make your last night in Macao a memorable one by having dinner at The Macao Tower 360° café, the highest and only 360° revolving restaurant enables visitors to enjoy feast of international delicacies along with stunning and breath-taking views of Macao cityscape. This restaurant rotates fully every one-and-a-half hour allowing visitors to watch as the lights of Macao come to life and the beautiful sunset scenery, a truly unique and memorable experience.
As you can see, there is plenty to do in Macao – getting to know more about Macao’s heritage, taking part in events and festivals, indulging in culinary delights, as well as watching entertaining shows!
Now, here’s your chance to win a pair of tickets to Macao in the Experience Macao Giveaway, jointly organised by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and Nuffnang Pte Ltd!
Simply like “Experience Macao – SG” Facebook page, leave a comment on their top post and tell them which activity appeals to you the most and why you want to head to Macao to experience it yourself with the hashtag #MacaoOnSocialSG! Stay tuned to “Experience Macao – SG” Facebook page for you might be one of the lucky winners!