Metro

Sunday September 13, 2009

Treasure-hunting in the city

By RENITA CHE WAN


Take up the challenge to discover the sights, sounds and tastes of Macau.

FIVE more locations to go and time was running out!

As my team member and I scrambled our way through the bustling streets of Macau, panting and agitated, we knew we had to keep our heads together if we wanted to win the first prize.

But the prize of shopping vouchers worth MOP5000 (RM2,200) was a long shot when we were already stumped with the very first hurdle – “A British flight and a famous American talk show host” was one of the clues we had to decipher.

So there we were, two Malaysian girls who don’t speak a word of Cantonese or Portu­guese (Macau’s official languages) in the middle of Senado Square, running around like headless chickens.

We knew the clue had something to do with one of the boutiques here as there was nothing else for us to fall back on.

Iconic landmark: The façade of the ruins of St Paul Cathedral is listed as a Unesco World Heritage site.

So we started scanning the 50 shops. At last, we saw the one thing that gave us cause to celebrate - Baleno! “Ba” in Baleno for the initials of British Airways, the British flag carrier, and “Leno” obviously refers to Jay Leno, America’s favourite talk show host. And we were right!

We probably had to walk a total of 20km or so in search of the clues and the only silver lining was that the entire exercise required us to taste the different dishes that Macau had to offer. For example, we were required to try out one of Macau’s favourite desserts – silky milk pudding at the famed Leitaria I Son dessert shop.

Those with lactose intolerance should avoid this place at all costs as its extensive array of desserts is all milk based. Only after we had tried the dishes did the owner of the shop hand us our next clue so we could move on. Although it was a lengthy and exhausting journey, the experience was worth all the effort.

This is just part of the many challenges that H.T.T. Travel (M) Sdn Bhd and Time Out Solutions Sdn Bhd, with the support of the Macau Government Tourist Office, have designed for their unique tour package.

The tour package is called the Macau Walk Hunt and those who crave adventures, like the ones on the popular American TV show Amazing Race, will surely dig this as they will get to know Macau in a fun and unconventional way.

The Macau Walk Hunt is offered as a package that includes a return air passage on Air Asia inclusive of taxes, three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Beverly Plaza (a four-star hotel), an award presentation dinner, return transfers between airport and hotel, and a travel kit, which comprises of a booklet, luggage tag, back pack and some souvenirs of Macau.

The winning team of the treasure hunt will receive a shopping voucher worth MOP5,000 (RM2,200), two nights’ accommodation at the Beverly Plaza Hotel (or a similar-classed hotel), and two tickets to the Cirque du Soleil.

While on the Walk Hunt, one will realise that travel within the Macau peninsula (total land area of 29.2sqkm) can easily be done on foot.

And on foot, we took in the culture and scenery while at the same time learning different things about the place.

Truly Macanese: Charcoal Grilled African Chicken with Coconut Rice.

Macau may be dubbed Asia’s Las Vegas, but there is more to it than gambling and casinos.

Celebrated as “the city that never sleeps”, it has a rich and unique architectural heritage and has been a melting pot of Eastern and Western cultures.

To truly learn about Macau, the five senses are put to the test – you see a combination of European, Chinese and other Asian cultural elements; hear the hustle and bustle of a busy city; touch the remnants of historical buildings; smell and taste the scrumptious cuisine. From the food to the ruins of St Paul’s Cathedral, the Portuguese presence in Macau is very much felt. There are Portuguese cafés selling superb espresso and pastries alongside dim sum houses and Portuguese wine everywhere.

Since the East and West complement each other here, it is not unusual to wash down a Cantonese dinner with a bottle of red wine.

The tourist with a passion for fine food and wine needn’t break the bank either; prices are unbelievably low compared to those at the trendy restaurants and wine bars of neighbouring Hong Kong.

In fact, a wonderful cross-section of Oriental and European cuisines is available in Macau, but the most intriguing of all is the unique Macanese cuisine. Macanese food blends traditional Cantonese and Portuguese cooking with the bold, hot spices and flavourings of Africa, Brazil and India.

One of Macau’s newest attractions is the Fisherman’s Wharf, which is an energetic and fun place to go to chill, shop and enjoy Macanese dishes.

I was fortunate enough to try a selection of Macanese dishes and was wowed by the unique flavour!

For details, call H.T.T. Travel at 03-2072 2866 or browse www.macautourism.gov.mo.

Melting pot of East and West

THE historic centre of Macau, with its collection of over 20 historical and cultural sites, is a living reflection of the co-existence of Chinese and Western culture spanning 450 years. In 2005, it was listed in the Unesco World Heritage List, making it the 31st designated World Heritage site in China.

A former Portuguese colony, Macau is only 29.2sqkm, comprising a peninsula of China’s Guangdong province, and the islands of Taipa and Coloane.

It also lies at the mouth of the Pearl River and is 56.3km west of Hong Kong. This means you can easily visit the two places while you go to Macau. It takes about one hour to get to Hong Kong by ferry. With TurboJet, the ticket price ranges from RM64 to RM80 while First Ferry’s ticket fare ranges from RM60 to RM76. The only difference between the two ferries is that the latter might take a longer to reach Hong Kong.

The best time to visit Macau is late September to December, when the weather is not too hot or humid. As the climate is greatly influenced buy the monsoons, the temperature difference between summer and winter is fairly noticeable. The average annual temperature of Macau is 22°C.

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