Macau: A Fusion of East and West

Macau, a city where Eastern and Western cultures harmoniously blend, has captured the attention of travelers worldwide, including ourselves. This was our first visit to Macau, and we were excited to explore its rich history and vibrant culture.

While Macau is renowned for its casinos and entertainment, we opted for a cultural immersion, focusing on its historical temples. Although casinos are often the first thing that comes to mind when mentioning Macau, the city boasts a wealth of ancient temples, easily accessible for a day of exploration.

As part of a media group invited by the Macau Government Tourist Office in Thailand, we embarked on a journey to discover the cultural treasures of Macau. While our primary focus was on temples, we also had the opportunity to experience the city's casinos and other attractions, capturing images and information to share with you.

From flight options and dining recommendations to sightseeing and accommodation, this blog will provide you with all the information you need to plan your own unforgettable trip to Macau. So, get ready to follow in our footsteps and experience the magic of this captivating city!

When the trip arrives, we are always ready. Passport, exchange money to buy snacks, hehe. It is recommended to exchange it for Hong Kong dollars, which will be much more convenient.

But it is also good to know about Macau's currency.

The Macanese pataca (MOP) is divided into 100 avos and is the main currency of Macau.

The exchange rate is 103.20 patacas (MOP) = 100 Hong Kong dollars (HKD), which can vary depending on the currency.

For Thai baht, 100 Hong Kong dollars is approximately 400 Thai baht.

Which airlines fly to Macau? On this trip, we will only talk about the airline we flew with, which is AirAsia.

For this round trip, we used the red-tailed airline with a very early morning flight at 6:35 am. We had to check in at 4:30 am, before the sun even rose, looking like we had just rolled out of bed. 555

But the advantage of traveling early in the morning like this is that it gives you more time to explore, even if you end up taking a nap during the day. 555

2.5 hours from Don Mueang Airport to Macau International Airport.

Time in Macau is 1 hour ahead of Thailand, so don't forget to adjust your watches.

Breaking news: AirAsia now has direct flights from Chiang Mai and U-Tapao (Pattaya) airports to Macau.

No need to waste time connecting at Don Mueang Airport. This is super convenient!

After going through the airport formalities, there is a bus to take you to your next destination.

We also stopped to buy a SIM card at the vending machine at Macau Airport for 100 MOP (400 THB).

The largest Sakyamuni statue in Macau, made entirely of wood.

The first place our group arrived at was the temple, of course. Monastery Pou Tai Sim Un, Taipa Island.

The temple is located on the roof floor, while the lower floor is a restaurant where we will be trying out the food.

Information about the Pou Tai Sim Un Temple on Taipa Island.

Open-close time 8.00-18.00

Considered the largest temple in Coloane and Taipa

In front, there is a shrine of Phra Phrom Erawan

Walking down, you will find the hall of the Thousand-Armed Guanyin (Avalokitesvara). At the back, there will be a plaque with the names of the deceased. The closer the position is to Guanyin, the more expensive it will be.

It is believed that the Thousand-Armed Guanyin has many hands, allowing her to help spirits extensively.

(Kun = clairvoyance Iam= clairaudience Kun Iam = can see and hear everything in the world)

It was noon by then. After we finished praying, we went down to the first and second floors by elevator. There were restaurants there, so we decided to start with the restaurant on the second floor.

And we were struck by the sight of them scalding cups and bowls with hot water to kill germs before eating.

I don't know if it's for cleanliness or for belief, but I think it's probably the former.

Pou Tai Un Vegetarian Restaurant on the 2nd floor

A vegetarian restaurant for locals, MOP90 per person for a set of 2 dishes.

The menu I had at this restaurant was

Luo Han Zhai (Fried dough with vegetable filling)

Curry Noodle Gen (Tofu + Mushroom Curry Stir-Fry)

Fried Wonton (Jing Lu) (Wontons frits)

Cui Pi Qian Ceng

Spring Rolls (เปาะเปี๊ยะ)

In terms of taste, for us, the Chinese style is a bit too oily. It's okay to eat it once in a while, but we wouldn't want to eat it too often because we prefer something more spicy. Hehe.

But the first restaurant was just an appetizer. (What? There's more?) We went down to the lower floor and there was another restaurant that was more upscale and stylish.

This restaurant caters more to tourists. It's a vegetarian restaurant with a more commercial look and feel.

than the restaurant upstairs, which caters more to locals.

We loved several dishes at this restaurant, they were delicious. But our stomachs were already half full from the first restaurant, so we could only taste a little bit of the food at the second restaurant.

But somehow, we still managed to almost finish every dish.

There are also blueberry juices, both chilled and unchilled. Add some ice, it's delicious.

I Leng Temple, the second temple I visited.

It is a temple where people come to pray for good health and medicine. May you be in good health.

Having good health is one of the first factors that will make you feel comfortable both physically and mentally. I would like to ask for a blessing first.

May we all be in good health. ^^

Kun Iam Temple on Taipa Island (Temple No. 3)

This is the only Kun Iam Temple on Taipa Island, where the goddess Kun Iam is completely covered in gold leaf.

A notable feature of each temple is the large number of incense coils, both small and large, that have been lit.

When worshipping in Macau, it is customary to offer 3 or 5 pieces of fruit. The order is as follows: offer fruit > light incense > burn joss paper.

The price of regular incense is MOP5-MOP10. Thicker incense is around MOP10-MOP20.

Coiled incense starts at MOP 120 and goes up to MOP 360. It lasts for 10-30 days, depending on the size.

Incense + joss paper starts at MOP 25.

I walked from the first temple to the second one because they were very close to each other. Some roads were one-way, and there were tourists walking around.

I saw a cute little bakery on the side of the road. It made me smile, and I couldn't resist taking a picture. Hehe.

We've reached the 4th temple! Let's give ourselves a round of applause. How did we get here? 555

Notice that the temple wall is attached to the restaurant. Most of the temples here are like shops or single stalls.

We can tell it's a temple by the incense coils hanging in front. And it's not just incense coils.

There's also a stamp box to mark your level, showing that you've reached this point.

It's a cute travel story about exploring Macau.

Inside the stamp book, there's a map of each temple with descriptions.

We can only guess if it's the right temple because we can't read it. 555

When we see it's the right one, we stamp it! And then we go inside.

Tin Hau Temple (Temple No. 4)

This temple is the oldest in Taipa. The exact year of construction is unknown, but judging from the year the temple bell was cast (1758), it is estimated to be 257 years old.

Tin Hau is another name for A-Ma, the goddess of the sea.

The temple's 200-year-old history is palpable. Very little light penetrates the interior, and the incense smoke has accumulated to form a thick black layer.

I would have liked to try my luck with the fortune sticks, but unfortunately, I can't read them.

Pak Tai Temple (Temple No. 5)

Pak Tai Temple was built in 1855. It is believed to be the emperor of the north, who has power over the sea. In the past, sailors often worshipped here before setting sail.

The difference between Pak Tai and A-Ma Temple is that when people come to worship before sailing, Pak Tai can only tell the sea creatures

Or things under the sea, don't hurt that person. While A-Ma can come to the rescue when something bad happens.

Speaking of A-Ma, she is a deity that is highly respected and worshipped by the people of Macau and China. Originally, A-Ma was the goddess of the sea.

In the past, when the people of Macau were still fishing, fishermen had to worship A-Ma before setting sail to ask for a safe journey.

But today, A-Ma is worshipped for blessings and help in all matters.

And A-Ma Temple is the oldest temple in Macau, which we haven't introduced to you today. Stay tuned for two more days and we'll take you there to worship.

Get to know each other for sure. But at this time

Let's find some food and go shopping in the Street Food area. There are many tourists, mostly selling souvenirs and food to take away. There are few shops where you can sit down, and even those are quite small. Even Starbucks is small here. There are only two coffee brands here, and there are no vintage or cute cafes like in Thailand.

The two beautiful women took a souvenir photo.

Checking in to our accommodation for the 2 nights we're in Macau: Rocks Hotel, a boutique hotel within the Macau Fisherman's Wharf complex.

Although the hotel is only rated 3 stars due to its small number of rooms and lack of amenities such as a swimming pool and fitness center, the decor, price, and service are comparable to a 4-star hotel. The hotel's interior is decorated in a Victorian style from the 18th century and has a total of 72 rooms.

I have inquired about the price rate. The room we stayed in is around 5,000 baht per night with a buffet breakfast.

Personally, I like the warm-toned decoration and the amenities in the room. We stayed in one room per person, which was very private.

The bathroom is also very beautiful. I soaked in the warm water both nights, hehe.

Another great location of the Rocks Hotel is that it is right by the sea. Open the balcony door and you will see the sea, the cool breeze will immediately spread in.

When we stayed here, it was September 19-21, the weather was similar to our home.

After checking in and relaxing for a while, it's time to change buses. We took a sightseeing bus around Macau.

Macau City Tour, which has 3 routes and pick-up and drop-off at the designated stops of the City Tour.

The staff on the bus or the guide can also speak Thai. Along the way, they will explain the places where the bus passes.

Until it stops at this point.

Macau Tower

The Macau Tower stands at a total height of 338 meters from the lowest point to the highest point of the building.

This area is a popular spot for photographers and tourists who come to find the perfect angle to capture the twilight sky.

But now, as we see the Macau Tower from afar, let's go and experience its height up close.

Inside Macau Tower, there are tea shops for afternoon tea sets and restaurants. The highlight is the 360-degree café on the 60th floor.

It is a restaurant where you can enjoy a 360-degree view.

Tourists can go up to the observation deck on the 58th floor, which is an indoor observation deck, to enjoy the view from inside the building.

Or the 61st floor Outdoor Observation Deck, where you can enjoy the view while participating in various activities such as skywalk, skyjump, Tower Climb, Climbing wall,

and Bungy Jump, which is recorded as the highest Bungy Jump in the world at 233 meters high.

At that time, everyone was screaming and cheering for the people who were doing Bungy Jump. There were even children among the brave ones.

The live broadcast was shown on the screen, so we could all watch the excitement up close.

And now, we come to the highlight of the 27th International Fireworks Competition Festival.

This event is held every September, with shows taking place every Saturday evening of the month, starting at 9:00 PM.

Our seats for watching the fireworks were at the Macau Tower, which is an open-air BBQ buffet.

Price for adults is 448 MOP per person / Children aged 6-12 years old is 268 MOP per person

Enjoy the International Fireworks Competition for over 1 hour.

During our visit on Saturday, September 19, the participating countries were 1. Korea 2. Italy 3. Portugal

The first day in Macau, with a travel program from morning to night, so long that I fell asleep as soon as I got back to the hotel.

I took a hot bath to recharge my batteries. 555

As for the travel program for the next day, Day 2 and Day 3, we will take our friends to visit.

Please follow us ^^

And there is very useful information for friends who are going to visit Macau here.

Macau Tourism Authority in Thailand