Traipsing around Macau in the rain

Linda Hollands ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Macau   |  Fri, 07/18/2008 11:17 AM  |  Supplement

We left Hong Kong on a bright sunny morning for a one-day guided tour in Macau. Thoughts of taking along an umbrella as shelter against the sun in the 31 degrees quickly disappeared as I packed my thick tour book and a bottle of water into a shopping bag.

We were picked up by bus and taken to the wharf to board a Turbo Jet for the one-hour journey across the South China Sea to Macau.

Just as we were approaching Macau, it started to rain lightly. Our guide, Maggie, was apologetic when she met us at the Macau pier, as though in some way the weather was her fault. And so she decided to take us to Museu de Macau, or the Museum of Macau, in hopes that the day would fine up and we could better enjoy the outdoor tourist spots later. But just as we alighted from the tour bus, the heavens opened and the light rain turned into a downpour. Luckily there was a kiosk selling umbrellas, and with at least half of the 41 people on our bus and 10 to 20 other buses parked nearby, the kiosk seller was making a killing.

Finally we reached the covered escalator to the museum and started learning about Macau. The museum's exhibits cover the country's 400-year history. The first floor covers the territory's origins from the prehistoric age to the middle of the 17th century when Macau was a vital Asian and European commercial port, while the second floor covers the territory's arts and traditions. The third floor houses exhibitions on contemporary Macau.

The museum itself is housed within the interior of the Monte fortress, built by Jesuit priests in 1626. It has an extensive section on Zheng Guanying, a Qing dynasty scholar, businessman and author of Words of Warning to an Affluent Age who lived in Macau.

From the museum we headed to the famed St Paul's ruins. The cathedral was burned down in 1835 and only its imposing facade remains, which still has intricate carvings and, uniquely, Chinese characters in its design. Unfortunately, it started to pour again, and Maggie announced that we had 10 minutes to take photos and then we would move on. Everyone dutifully took their photos quickly and hurriedly followed Maggie's lead back to the bus to go to Macau Tower for another indoor attraction.

Macau Tower is a dizzy adventure. Standing 338 meters above ground, it is the 10th tallest free-standing tower in the world and the eighth tallest in Asia. A lift with glass doors takes visitors straight to indoor observation deck on the 58th floor, or to the outdoor observation deck on the 61st floor. We chose the indoor deck. Alighting from the lift and crossing over to the ceiling-to-floor windows, the view was magnificent, until I glanced down at my feet and realized I was standing on a glass floor and was looking directly at the earth hundreds of meters beneath me. I stepped back to what I felt was more solid ground, even though I knew it was perfectly safe. Glass floors that high off the ground are not for someone even fractionally afraid of heights.

The 61st floor has bungy jumping and a mast climb, with the oldest bungy jumper being a 96-year-old man. Charlize Theron has also bungy jumped from this tower.

There is also a 180 degree lounge, a 360 degree cafe and a cinema in the tower.

The 400-year-old A-Ma Temple, where locals often go to ask for blessings before trying their luck at the casinos. The temple was built in homage to a young woman who saved the lives of seafarers during a storm. (JP/Linda Hollands)

Next on our tour was A-Ma Temple, which was built 400 years ago in homage to a girl who saved the lives of a boat crew by commanding the elements to calm down when a storm threatened. The temple has been declared a World Heritage site. The temple has weathered a few fires, the latest in 1988 that gutted its main hall. The alter has survived each fire, and for this reason the residents of Macau consider it a lucky temple and often visit the temple for blessings before hitting the casinos.

We were then taken to Fisherman's Wharf for a late lunch, after which we had one hour free to try our luck at the Babylon or Sands casinos or wander around the shops at Fisherman's Wharf.

And then we got back on the bus for the 10-minute trip back to the wharf, during which Maggie got out her microphone and proceeded to explain to the 41 people on the bus that in Macau it was customary for tourists to give a tip, and that HK$20 each would do nicely. And she off went down the aisle with a clear plastic zipper bag to collect her tips. She then returned to her jump seat next to the driver and proceeded to sort her loot into banknotes and coins -- totally oblivious to someone in the front seat repeatedly calling her name to ask a question.

Macau left a lasting impression, but, alas, so did Maggie's last act. -- JP/Linda Hollands

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