attractions

The ruins of St. Paul’s remains Macau’s most famous landmark. But as colossal gaming shrines formerly synonymous only to Las Vegas continue to rise in this port city, could this remnant of a burned-down 17th-century Catholic church, along with other 20 or so churches and chapels, now be only symbolic of its religious past?

Even as visitors continue to flock to the stone-carved Ruins—flat and cardboard-like from a distance, but a stunning baroque image as if painted on a bright blue canvas on a clear day—you can tell they come only for the requisite souvenir photo.

Many people still think of Macau as the Disneyland for big-time gamblers and playboy tycoons. Surely, gambling king Stanley Ho, who transformed this former Portuguese colony into a world-class tourist destination, wouldn’t mind that at all.

Globalization leads to variations of diaspora for economic opportunities, as well as enjoyment of foreign travel more than ever. As the leisure classes expand across societies, we see increasing numbers of innocents abroad, availing themselves of cruises, tours, or quick hops within easy reach.

The gamut of holiday desiderata is dictated by ticket price ranges, bargain budgets, time constraints. And, of course, by the practical, allowable radius — of how far or close one may wish to gallivant away from home.

T’S perhaps the first place where East met West historically, and two very different cultures began to live side by side.

Macau developed from the middle of the 16th century as a Portuguese trading and religious settlement on the edge of Imperial China, and although now once again part of China, it has retained its unique attributes and idiosyncrasies.

Beautiful Portuguese and Sino Portuguese architecture, and the highly visible use still of Portuguese as an official language, though actually little used by the current population, remind one of the history.

Several historical buildings and sites in Macau were placed on the World Heritage list in 2004 as assets to be cherished.

Preserving these buildings and their histories are an ongoing task for the Macau government.

Macau has already set its goals on developing cultural tourism based on the uniqueness of Portuguese colonial history, along with the development of modern industry.

Carefully maintaining and making full use of its historical and cultural heritage from Portuguese colonial times, Macau is developing as a distinctive destination for cultural tourism.

The trip from Hong Kong to Macau is unexpectedly hectic. There's a mad dash to the gate after an absent-mindedly long lunch at the China Ferry Terminal food court, a queue at immigration that takes us all by surprise, an hour aboard a vessel so fast its impressive speed can not only be observed through the sea-splattered windows but felt through its floors, and a queue at the taxi stand that's at least as long as the one at immigration.

If you want to experience and enjoy something different this weekend, go to the The Curve at Mutiara Damansara. There, you will get a taste of all things Macau.

The Macau Festival at The Curve is organised by the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and showcases the various tourist destinations and the Chinese territory’s unique blend of Western and Oriental cultures.

Among the many attractions at the festival are cultural performances like Portuguese folk dances, Chinese acrobatics, cabaret dances, games, a limbo rock competition, lucky draws.

All things Asian still brings on a curiosity from Westerners and travel to Asian countries has always been a popular destination choice for many. For those who love water sites and spectacles, fountains in particular, your trip to China would not be complete unless you visit the Cybernetic Fountain.

Macau, a city famous for its tourism for the past couple of years, is exerting effort to further improve the industry and become a tourist destination with something to offer to everyone.

To advocate tourism, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has employed "Macau: a World of Difference, the Difference is Macau" as the promotional slogan and "Experience Macau!" as the theme for a series of promotions around the world through its representatives.