destination = ruins of a 17th century church

[continuation of last Macau post]

We lug our belongings around again...through downtown, still not having a clue where we'd be staying. My dad is so spontaneous and never plans anything. While being spontaneous is good and all, but not really when you're in a foreign place just following your dad and he assures you that he knows where he's going. Hah. It's blazing hot, and we're just zigzagging our way through the tourist crowds on the narrow sidewalks. Again, luckily, we happen to pass by a travel agency...and finally dad books a night at Metropark hotel. It's only a couple blocks away, in the heart of downtown. The hotel is really nice and looks like it belongs in Times Square. There are 25 floors. We get placed on the 23rd. So, yes, a nice view is to be expected. The view is of Grand Lisboa hotel (the 52-floor $2 billion casino/hotel) and of the rooftops of apartment buildings... There is advanced technology integrated throughout the hotel/room. The AC, lights, TV power and volume, and even the do not disturb (which displays a red light at the doorbell outside) are controlled by a touchpad. There are four elevators within the hotel. Two of them have a glass panel, so you can see how fast up you're traveling and all the cool lights at night. In dad's words, this hotel is "special."

After settling in, Dad passes out for 20 minutes when I'm starving and trying to cool down after walking around in sauna weather. We go eat lunch at a Taiwanese dimsum place Dad spotted earlier. The dimsum here is pretty different from Chinese/Cantonese dimsum dishes. But it's good, nonetheless. We ask the waitress if there are non-smoking zones in the restaurant because ew who wants to have tobacco flavored fish. I notice the 3 guys seated next to us, who were just finishing their cigs as we sat down, listen to our question. Ugh, no manners these people. After they finish their meal, each of them pull out another cig to smoke at their table while we're still in the middle of eating. I eat til my stomach is about to burst, so no dinner for us later.

Towards evening, we take the public bus to get to this beautiful facade of a church I saw on the "Welcome to Macau" billboard in the airport. Ever since I saw that picture, I knew I had to pay a visit. And, I have a deep appreciation for old architecture. This church was built in 1601 and originally called Church of Mater Dei. In 1835 it, along with St. Paul's College which was adjacent to the church, was burned down--hence the name of the place. We miss the bus stop, but the next is only a couple blocks away. The stop we were supposed to get off at is called Senado Square (see first image). It is a gorgeous outdoor shopping and gathering place with old Portugese buildings. And, it's where Ji Hoo (from the Korean drama) sang to make money [thanks to Carla for pointing that out]! Anyhow, the buildings here have Portuguese and Chinese writing. I think it's so cool that Macau is the only place in the world where Chinese + Portuguese culture meet. So, we walking somewhat aimlessly through the plaza. I stop by a couple stores, pull out my map, and point to the picture of St. Paul to get exact directions. Despite the heat and my lungs polluted with second-hand smoke and my very tired sore feet (wish I had brought good walking shoes I was wearing my nice J. Crew flats) I was so determined to go. Finally we were there. There were quite a few steps to climb...kinda like Machu Pichu stairs but of course not as narrow or steep. I sat down on a ledge and just looked upon the facade. All of sudden I felt so at ease. I don't know what it was.


One brief, negative, but very true note: Macau has the worst public transportation ever. We ended up getting on the wrong bus to get back to downtown and end up in a suburb/dead area. The bus route maps aren't very helpful. The drivers are rude and could care less to help out a lost tourist. Dad got on a bus to ask the driver whether the bus goes to Grand Lisboa (the hotel everyone in Macau knows), and the driver---he shooes dad off the bus flicking his hand like when you try to swat a fly away from your food. I dunno how a non-Chinese/Cantonese-speaking tourist would not get lost here.

Last backtracking post tomorrow--->Hong Kong!!