MACAU-HK VACAY P5

We now come to the final stage of our three-day experience in the country of Macau...

An uphill road leading to one of the famous landmarks this small country has to offer.

The Ruins of St. Paul the Apostle Church. A stone church facade is all that was left caused by a great fire more than a century ago. The site was breathtaking. After climbing the 66 stone steps leading up to the landmark a path worth taking. There is also a small museum at the back where  relics of the ruined but historical church are showcased.

After our mini-tour at the ruins, we went on to mangle on free food samples along the streets, grabbed some warm coffee form Starbucks and finally, bought our "pasalubongs" for our loved-ones back home. Just a few freshening up and we headed straight back to the airport, said our heartfelt goodbyes to Karesse and boarded our plane homeward bound.

THANK YOU, MACAU AND HONGKONG!!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME!

MACAU-HK VACAY P4

Ahh... The Venetian Hotel.

Where decadence is present everywhere you set your eyes upon. This Hotel is located at the heart of Taipa, Macau and it is  just a brief bus ride away from the airport. This is where Karesse is currently employed as a singer/ gondolier.

Fact: This hotel is the biggest single structure building in Asia, 40-storeys high comprising 3,000 suites (imagine that!) and boasts for the most number of Filipino Gondoliers in the world!

The main "visual" attraction of the hotel is the portion of it showcasing a little glimpse of Venice, Italy.  Hence the name, "The Venetian", It never fails to serve as a "come on" for tourists and natives alike.

Located deep within this massive structure is an indoor river where gondolas cruise around and gondoliers sing beautifully for passengers and on-lookers on the sides of the river. The river is surrounded by facades mimicking the ones in Venice. Although I haven't actually been in Venice. (ahaha!)

There is also a vast casino on the ground floor! Unfortunately, we cannot take pictures of it. One other unique feature of the hotel was the curved escalator which was the first in Asia.

The lobby was indeed an epitome of opulence! The murals spread arcoss the ceilings like paintings of Michael Angelo with a modern twist. The Venetian Hotel experience is one which I'll be remembering for years to come. 

MACAU-HK VACAY P3

At last, we arrived at Disneyland! Where most of us, as kids would only dream of getting to see it first-hand! Well this is the day. Actually, this is already my second time. But I still share the same level of excitement and happiness my first time companions had by just being in front of its majestic gates. 

The Sleeping Beauty Castle was as breathtaking as the first time I saw it. You could instantly be driven out of the normal world and led into a magical place where all "fairytale" dreams could come true. Our pack didn't waste any more time and immediately took souvenir photos of it at all angles and poses one could ever come up with!  

The parade entitled "Flights of Fantasy" is new to me. There were new attractions that were truly eye-candy. People doing acrobatics on the floats and new characters  were introduced! Of course, the FILIPINOS work for Disney were usually the ones leading the parade. I couldn't help but shout "mabuhay" whenever I see my kababayans trying their best to please the crowd! And they would always shout back: "Mabuhay ang Pinoy!" I could still remember Annalyn, whispering to me while watching the parade, "Iba talaga and Pinoy"...

The majority of workers and performers at HK Disneyland are Filipinos. And I couldn't help but feel ultimately proud of the fact that a country as progressive as HK could not manufacture such raw talent that could only be found in the Philippines.

continued...

MACAU-HK VACAY P2

All were excited the next day. We were bound to HK aboard a Ferry! It wasn't entirely enjoying because I was never fond of travelling on water. So we had to force ourselves to sleep while in the sea... 

The climate in Hong Kong was as cold as Macau's and very nice to walk while breathing in the occassional cold breeze. Once again, I have gotten to walk through the busy streets of this bustling country.

At lunch time, our choice of resto was at the Cafe de Coral. It is famous for its authentic Chinese food served in a contemporary way at reasonable prices. They were famous for their Hong Kong stlye baked pork chop that was unfortunately unavailbale when we were there. But certainly, the other food on the menu were just as great!

After lunch, we had to walk to the train station for Disneyland! I could almost taste the excitement as the last train to Disneyland arrived at the station. We immediately took pictures on the train and had a great time enjoying the view along the way.  

  

More to come...

MACAU-HK VACAY P1

A few months ago, there was an airline promo posted on the internet about a very reasonable deal to get to go to Macau and back. Of course the travel-hungry members of MSC immediately grabbed the deal and set on a journey to a strange land to get some well deserved R and R!

Annalyn, Mackoy, Oyet, Joy,  Glady and her family and I signed up for the journey immediately! It was a three-day vacay which also is intended to visit our very own Karesse that is currently working as a singer in a well-known hotel in Macau, The Venetian.  

Flight was at 7:30PM at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga. We arrived at the Macau Airport an hour and a half later and was warmly greeted by our Host, Karesse who enthusiastically invited us all for a welcome dinner at her apartment.

After a sumptuous dinner, we headed to the famous casinos and some tried their luck on the gambling tables in which Macau is famous for. As we stolled down the streets of Macau, I couldn't help but appreciate the cold climate of the night which one could never go out without a coat or a jacket.  

We managed to convince Karesse to stay at our hotel so that we could all be together the earliest to set off for Hong Kong the next day... Disneyland, baby!!!

THE LOSS OF A MATRIARCH

Just a few days after New Year, while all the people in this country are still in their holiday hangovers, the Matriarch of the Que family left to reunite with her creator. I am talking of Mrs. Ester Payumo Macam also known as Nanay Ester or simply "Nanay" to close friends of the Macam-Que Family. 

(Nanay Ester with granddaughter Ikang) 

Nanay lived a full life. She wasn't at all a perfect mother. But the results of her hard labor and dedication to her family paid off by just looking at the outcome of how her nine children have grown to be such good, kind and compassionate people. She was never selfish and always ready to help and show her love to her children and the others that love her.

In these times of mourning, We pray for the Que-Macam Family to be strong to face the difficulty of coping with the loss of a very important loved-one. But as consolation, we must also remember that the Lord has already taken away all the hurt Nanay was feeling during her times of affliction. And she will forever be in the midst of glory in heaven.

Nanay, you will surely be missed...