Macao, popularly known as the Las Vegas of South Asia, has plenty to offer beyond its casinos and gargantuan malls. Sight-seeing was packed between three meals and several snack breaks. After all, Macao is on the list of Creative Cities of Gastronomy by UNESCO. Here are five things to make your trip memorable.
Walk on
Thanks to the city’s urban planning, it was love at first sight. The state-of-the-art high-rise buildings like Grand Lisboa and MGM Macau are supported by a clear street layout. This part of the city is filled with pedestrians rushing around; I couldn’t help but think of New York. On the other hand, the walks in the suburbs display the city’s Portuguese roots. The suburban streets connect tourist places like Lovers Lane, Ruins of St Paul’s and Senado Square. They are home to countless street food centres. Look out for graffiti and old-school architecture for that perfect social media post.
But more importantly, walking allows you to experience the city’s culture intimately. For instance, people in Macao not only pick up their pet’s litter but also clean up with water. The municipal authority does its bit to keep the city clean. There are ample dustbins across the city and art work on walls which addresses civic issues. My personal favourites were the QR codes on trees which give information like the scientific name in Chinese, Portuguese and English, morphological characters and global distribution of the tree.
Them egg tarts
If I had to categorise my days into two categories it would be days with egg tarts and without egg tarts.
The egg tarts at Lord Stow’s Bakery were one of the most recommended. Eggs tarts are like cupcakes filled with pudding. The main ingredients are flour and eggs. The crust is soft and sweet. On the second day, I visited Lord Stow’s Bakery in Coloane, a tiny port-side village. Irrespective of when you visit, this bakery is usually busy. But, your patience will be rewarded.
Tourists typically collect at least a pack of six and enjoy the fresh-out-of-the-oven tarts by the port. There’s a branch of this bakery in The Venetian Macao as well.
Dumplings paradise
The best part about travelling is exploring the local food. Federal Restaurant at R da Encosta street is a one-stop solution for authentic Chinese dumplings. The menu is in Chinese, therefore, it’s best if you order the dumplings as per your meat preference. I tried a handful made of beef, pork, chicken and seafood. After this experience, it is difficult to go back to desi momos.
Dine, wine and skyline
The view from the rooftop and the fining dining experience at Sky 21, AIA Tower, makes it a must-visit. The mellow indoor setting is complemented by soothing live music and the view is of the distinctly-shaped skyscrapers. Instead of feasting on the buffet, I pledge my allegiance to the beige-coloured, salty, muirgen oysters. They were served on an ice tray along with three sauces (soy, chilli, garlic). However, all I needed was a dash of lime. Oysters and white wine, make for one of the finest meals in Macao.
Beyond shopping
The malls in Macao are activity centres where technology, art and glamour intersect. There is a plethora of opportunities for local teenagers and artistes in these malls. It’s quite common to come across artistes from the US, Europe and neighbouring South-Asian countries working in Macao.
Studio City is one of many such malls where I saw Elēkrŏn, the first all-electric vehicle indoor stunt theatrical show at the Event Centre. The plot is similar to Mad Max. Two groups fight for resources in a dystopian future. The 150-member group has international stunt drivers, aerialists, parkour acrobats, pyrotechnic and fire performers, and circus artistes. From setting a Porsche on fire to aerobatic stunts, everything was pulled off in a tight space of 900 metres. People across all age groups will equally enjoy the show, which keeps the spirit of the circus and daredevilry alive.
A week later, Jabbawockeez, an American hip-hop dance crew, performed there. So if you are in the city even for a day, make sure you check out the line-up at Studio City’s Event Centre.
(The writer was in
Macao at the invitation of Macao Tourism)