Travel Thread

Macau is a nice place but can be daunting as although it’s small it’s rather compact.

With regards to where to stay, the newer hotels will provide the best facilities and also the bigger room sizes. For example the President hotel on Macau side is cheap but we are talking about interiors from the 90s. However something like the Banyan Tree gives you huge rooms, all of which have their own indoor pools (oh except a few which have their own outside pool). Banyan Tree when I was there price wise was comparable to a good Melbourne hotel (but with much larger rooms).

Macau is easy enough to get around by foot but also the public transport is easy to comprehend. Pretty much every bus stop has english & chinese on it so you can find which bus takes you where.

All the new and larger hotels also provide free shuttle buses. Even as a local you can use them to get around Macau. All the ferry ports have them as well.

With regards to where to go and what to see there are two distinctive areas. Taipa (which is essentially the middle bit) has all the new stuff. If you’re looking for shopping the Venetian has a pretty big shopping centre in it with not just expensive brands but also middle stuff as well. Gambling and relaxing is basically the new Taipa.

Macau itself is where you’d go if you want to see the old Portuguese influence. Hotel Lisboa used to be the only casino in Macau but the main hall has a rustic appeal to it. If you’re not a gambler it’s still worthwhile seeing. Macau tower is a reasonably new attraction but you can have nice views of the place or if you’re brave you can also bungie off the tower.

The ruins of st paul is an old church that burnt down where only the front facia remains. You can also see the archaeological dig in the area finding remains of the church and historical artefacts.

From here you can either go up the hill to the Museum which is small but gives you the story or Macau. From memory there were a couple of borrowed terracotta warriors from China as well. If you prefer shopping go down the hill. You can’t miss it cause there are tourists everywhere. The first part is mainly food. You’ll have samples put to your face. As you continue on the shopping turns to clothing and footwear. As you continue you also come to a well preserved area which is all shopping but the buildings are historical. If it weren’t for all the tourists (and they are mostly chinese) you’d think you were in Europe. In the area there are a couple of western churches (think church not cathedral) but with a bit of asian influence. Also right at the end of the walk you’ll find an old Government house. Free to enter, also has a bit of history explained inside about the building and it’s purpose.

If you want a cheap place to drink with a bit of atmosphere that isn’t in a casino find the statue of A Ma. It’s on a waterfront and the bars / clubs behind are ok. Most have live music but will vary.

Speaking of A Ma you can also visit the temple. It’s a bit more out of the way but only a 20 minute walk from Hotel Lisboa. You can also take a bus here.

If you need some fresh air and a bit more outdoor activity then you need to go to Coloane. Coloane unlike Macau and Taipa has a moratorium on it that no new highrises are allowed to be built. There are hiking trails and beaches. Take a trip to the ‘black sand beach’ known as Hac Sa. The beach sand is black (duh!). You’ll also find camping facilities here, tennis courts, pools, mini golf etc… While on the beach try the best food there. Pork in a bread. It’s a deboned BBQ pork chop served in a bread roll. Doesn’t sound like much but it’s so good. Last place in Coloane is a massive temple again dedicated to a ma.

“In the 16th century the Portuguese landed near the temple. They asked the local inhabitants the name of the land, but the locals misunderstood, thinking that the Portuguese were asking for the name of the temple. So they answered “A-Ma-Gau”, meaning “Bay of A-Ma”, on which A-Ma Temple is located. That’s where the name “Macau” is believed to derive. In modern Cantonese, “Macau” (Ou Mun) means “gateway of the bay”."

Food is plentiful in Macau. The more casino the area you go the more expensive it gets. If you can find a Macanese restaurant give it a go. It combines Portuguese and Cantonese cooking. Feel free to try my uncles Thai restaurant (Tuk Tuk). If you are picky get the Yummy Macau app (it’s run by my cousin).

Last tourist thing to do. There is a Macau F3 museum. You can see cars driven by Mansell, Senna, Hill etc… If you’re partner isn’t interested in this there is also a wine and beer museum in the same building. Entry fees for both (alcohol is also served as part of your entry fee). Also if you want to have a feel for the circuit jump in a taxi and ask them to do a lap for you. Should cost you about $10 AUD.

I hope that helps!

Oh, nearly forgot. Soon the ferries i’m assuming will disappear when the bridge is finally operational meaning you can catch a bus across. The ferry was fun but you didn’t really want to be on it on a choppy day!

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Please tell me you had previously written that for a different purpose. Either way, Blitz delivers.

Cheers, have seen a few of these places you have mentioned but thinking of digging a little deeper so thinking 2-3 days should be ample

I just scrolled up and realised how much there was! Only took me 5 minutes though :slight_smile:

Saying that Blitz has also helped me out in the past with Japan travels.

It’s the circle of life!

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Terrific overview. Can I just add that my better half reckons the egg tarts are to die for.

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I didn’t mention them cause I don’t like them. :smiley: Family does enjoy them though i’ll admit.

Same. I dislike them but my wife absolutely loves them

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Meandering along North Terrace, Adelaide, today when I spied this.

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He was Mr BHP for a long time, wasn’t he?

yes

Fair to say he would not approve of what EFC have done with the Essingtonisation of his name.

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kids these days…

A 12yo Sydney boy uses family credit card to fly himself to Bali

Apr 23 2018

A 12-year-old Sydney boy has used a family credit card to fly solo to Bali, Indonesia and book a four-day stay in a top hotel, all after a family argument.

While the mother of the unnamed Sydney youngster thought he was at school, he was, in fact, winging his way to Perth on his way to Denpasar, Bali.

The boy, whose story will be told on Australian TV show A Current Affair on Monday, said he looked up which airlines allowed him to travel without needing a letter from a parent. He then tricked his grandmother into giving him his passport.

He used the self-service check-in for his flight to Perth.

Once there no-one at the airport questioned him and he was allowed to fly onto Bali.

“They just asked for my student ID and passport to prove that I’m over 12 and that I’m in secondary school,” he told Nine News.

On the Indonesian island, he booked into the four-star All Seasons Hotel, telling staff there his sister would be joining him later.

In the meantime, his mother had reported him missing and said she was “shocked” when she found out where he was.

“There is no emotion to feel what we felt when we found he had left for overseas.”

The boy was flown back home to Sydney.

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I need to change some money to Canadian dollars.

Where do people go to get the best rate?

If you are travelling to Canada then use your Bank transaction card when you land at the airport.

If you are paying for an invoice in Canadian dollars by transfer, try American Express International payments. Their exchange rate is better than most.

ta.

I’ve already got 500 bucks cash I want to exchange before I go. Where would you do it?
Or put it in the bank account and get it out there?

I have always got a better exchange rate using my debit card at the airport. Depending on your Bank, there could be no fees.

Melb Airport sucks for exchange rates and these days cash is crap, unless you are in a country that has black market exchange. Do a Google search and find a card that give no fees and good rates. ING is good.

Citibank Plus card works well for me when using ATM’s O/S.

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Yep.
28 Degrees credit card + Citibank Plus debit card is the way to go to avoid fees.

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28 degrees is what we use but have a feeling its changed recently

Anyone who has been to Sri Lanka, what adaptors did you use? Is it the same as Asian or UK? Where can you buy them from? They use 50hz 220-240V