Ruins of St Paul’s Church

Macao spells luxury in every aspect of its lifestyle. Re-christened as the swanky little Las Vegas of Asia, thanks to the uber luxurious Venetian, Macao has certainly emerged as one of the most popular destinations in South East Asia.

To begin with, the Venetian property is a sprawling luxury city with casinos, shopping arenas full of high-end luxury brands, the best of restaurants and everything from art to music. The atmosphere there is quite electric and buzzes to life as the sun sets and the casinos are brimming with people.
I attended the inauguration of annual summer carnival of Macao, and it was a roller-coaster ride to say the least. From music bands coming in all the way from the US to Brazilian-styled carnival, the summer fiesta began on a promising note. Acoustically well-designed and spacious Venetian auditorium gave it a truly international edge.
The morning ahead was scheduled for one of the most gorgeous art exhibitions I’ve ever come across. The Ice World at the Venetian is the biggest indoor ice-sculpture exhibition in Asia. From famous landmarks across the world to enchanting forests and fun mazes, the Harbin artisans put this exhibition together after over a month’s preparation and labour. Over 10,000 ice blocks were used to build the sculptures and the temperature inside the exhibition arena was freezing at -8 degree Celsius. Though, it is quite an ordeal to go through the entire exhibition even in your coats and gloves, it is worth every bit.
On the third day, we stepped out into the city for some soul-searching out of the opulent surroundings of the Venetian. The local city is a revelation. From people to places and the landmark monuments that define Macao apart from its casino identity. Well-connected and clean roads give you a sense of how particular the Chinese are.
The A-Ma temple is one of the most important landmarks of Macao and the city is said to have derived its name from this temple. An interesting feature at A-Ma is that you don’t remove your shoes when you enter the temple. That’s because as you climb up the stairs of the temple, you automatically bow your head before the goddess. I also performed a ritual where you rub your hands on the handles on this kadhai-shaped vessel, which is filled with water and pebbles. They say if you’re internally happy, the water forms into a fountain and you are blessed with good luck. Our next stop was St Paul’s Church which gives you a big impression of the Portuguese culture.
We also roamed the streets of Macao and visited the local market. It was a such a delight to find so many similarities and yet the striking contrast. Women bargained as usual, while shopkeepers tried to woo customers, it wasn’t a different sight from your usual markets. You would find the young girls wearing the trendiest of clothes with accessories, hugely inspired from the West. The best of brands have made their home in the heart of Macao’s markets and women.
The street food looked extremely delightful and tempting as fish and meat balls were on display. Sea-food is a must try-out in Macao and the vegetarian fare too is equally varied.
Our last stop was the Macao tower which offers a breathtaking sight to the whole city. It was an exhilarating feeling to be on top of the city. However, as our trip was coming to an end, what stayed with me were the people I met and the memories. The people there were extremely warm and gracious and their hospitality made me feel at home away from home.