Viva Macau!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
21-23 November
Macau
CHINA
I took advantage of the fact that the Engineer was traveling to Macau to attend the Mobile Asia Conference. The Engineer is not that fond of mixing business with pleasure but I convinced him to allow me to meet him there.
He agreed on the condition that I would meet him AFTER the conference. Too bad because we had to book for our own hotel. Extension na lang kasi ng trip so his company would only pay for the duration of the conference.
Anyway, we stayed at a 5-star hotel because there were only 5-star hotels in the area where the Engineer was staying for the conference. In fact, I just booked for the hotel where his company put him--Grand Waldo (USD232 / 3 days, 2 nights with breakfast).
I was a bit worried about my trip because I'd be arriving in Hong Kong at around 2pm and kung susuwertehin, I'd be in Macau around 5pm pa. One day would already go to waste if ma-delay lang ng konti ang flight, maligaw ako sa airport, ma-miss ko ang ferry connection, etc.
Anyway, upon arrival in Hong Kong, I realized na masyado pala akong nag-worry for nothing. Within the terminal, I could buy a ferry ticket to Macau without having to go through the immigration procedures. So I technically saved about an hour because I didn't have to queue at the immigration counter.
From the airport, only TurboJet was operating and the ferry trip to Macau was about an hour. I took the economy class and paid around HKD200. The ferry took me to the China-Macau Ferry terminal from which I took the free hotel shuttle bus (most of the hotels have shuttle buses at the terminal which leave every 15 minutes) which would take me to our hotel located in Taipa (20-minute drive from the ferry terminal). Taipa is in another island connected by a bridge to Macau City. Taipa is where the Venetian Macau is located as well.
So after 20 minutes, I was already at the hotel. I just rested for a while, took a hot bath and then off we went to the Venetian Macau to have dinner and play at the casino. Played we did. And lost, too. In less than 30 minutes, we've already 'donated' USD200 to the casino! Grabe. Dun mo talaga marerealize kung gaano kabilis maubos ang pera. If I did not control the Engineer, we might have lost more. Or we could have gained back what we've lost. I didn't take the chance. I asked the Engineer to go back to the hotel and rest and play another day.
The following day, we woke up only to have breakfast. It was already 1pm when we decided to go out. We first took our 'pre-nup' photos at the hotel, by the pool. Then we just decided to walk and sight-see. We were on our way to the Taipa Village (just to buy the famous egg tarts) when we chanced upon some Tourism students who asked us to join their free walking tour. Since we didn't have any plan for the day, we went together with the tour.
We were too tired after the tour that we decided to have merienda first at McDonald's, go back to the hotel and rest and then play at the casino later. However, so tired were we that we just slept and didn't go back to the casino. Ahh. Salamat naman at di na kami matatalo.
The following morning, we woke up early to pack our things. The Engineer's flight was at 3pm and we still had to go back to the Venetian Macau to buy a starbucks coffee mug for a friend...and also to take pictures. We checked out at 12 from the hotel and then went to have lunch and buy the things that we had to buy at the Venetian Macau. Then the Engineer went to the airport and I went back to Hong Kong.
With a 6-kg backpack, I roamed around The Gateway and Harbour City in Kowloon and when I was too tired to walk, I decided that it was time for me to go to the airport to wait for my flight which was at 1am. I waited for about 4 hours before the counters opened for checkin. Luckily, the flight was not full so I didn't have to wait much longer. I slept the whole time inflight. I never even bothered with the meal service. I arrived at 6am and went to work at 7! What a weekend!
Macau
CHINA
I took advantage of the fact that the Engineer was traveling to Macau to attend the Mobile Asia Conference. The Engineer is not that fond of mixing business with pleasure but I convinced him to allow me to meet him there.
He agreed on the condition that I would meet him AFTER the conference. Too bad because we had to book for our own hotel. Extension na lang kasi ng trip so his company would only pay for the duration of the conference.
Anyway, we stayed at a 5-star hotel because there were only 5-star hotels in the area where the Engineer was staying for the conference. In fact, I just booked for the hotel where his company put him--Grand Waldo (USD232 / 3 days, 2 nights with breakfast).
I was a bit worried about my trip because I'd be arriving in Hong Kong at around 2pm and kung susuwertehin, I'd be in Macau around 5pm pa. One day would already go to waste if ma-delay lang ng konti ang flight, maligaw ako sa airport, ma-miss ko ang ferry connection, etc.
Anyway, upon arrival in Hong Kong, I realized na masyado pala akong nag-worry for nothing. Within the terminal, I could buy a ferry ticket to Macau without having to go through the immigration procedures. So I technically saved about an hour because I didn't have to queue at the immigration counter.
From the airport, only TurboJet was operating and the ferry trip to Macau was about an hour. I took the economy class and paid around HKD200. The ferry took me to the China-Macau Ferry terminal from which I took the free hotel shuttle bus (most of the hotels have shuttle buses at the terminal which leave every 15 minutes) which would take me to our hotel located in Taipa (20-minute drive from the ferry terminal). Taipa is in another island connected by a bridge to Macau City. Taipa is where the Venetian Macau is located as well.
So after 20 minutes, I was already at the hotel. I just rested for a while, took a hot bath and then off we went to the Venetian Macau to have dinner and play at the casino. Played we did. And lost, too. In less than 30 minutes, we've already 'donated' USD200 to the casino! Grabe. Dun mo talaga marerealize kung gaano kabilis maubos ang pera. If I did not control the Engineer, we might have lost more. Or we could have gained back what we've lost. I didn't take the chance. I asked the Engineer to go back to the hotel and rest and play another day.
The following day, we woke up only to have breakfast. It was already 1pm when we decided to go out. We first took our 'pre-nup' photos at the hotel, by the pool. Then we just decided to walk and sight-see. We were on our way to the Taipa Village (just to buy the famous egg tarts) when we chanced upon some Tourism students who asked us to join their free walking tour. Since we didn't have any plan for the day, we went together with the tour.
We were too tired after the tour that we decided to have merienda first at McDonald's, go back to the hotel and rest and then play at the casino later. However, so tired were we that we just slept and didn't go back to the casino. Ahh. Salamat naman at di na kami matatalo.
The following morning, we woke up early to pack our things. The Engineer's flight was at 3pm and we still had to go back to the Venetian Macau to buy a starbucks coffee mug for a friend...and also to take pictures. We checked out at 12 from the hotel and then went to have lunch and buy the things that we had to buy at the Venetian Macau. Then the Engineer went to the airport and I went back to Hong Kong.
With a 6-kg backpack, I roamed around The Gateway and Harbour City in Kowloon and when I was too tired to walk, I decided that it was time for me to go to the airport to wait for my flight which was at 1am. I waited for about 4 hours before the counters opened for checkin. Luckily, the flight was not full so I didn't have to wait much longer. I slept the whole time inflight. I never even bothered with the meal service. I arrived at 6am and went to work at 7! What a weekend!
