Winter season was already winding up in Macau when some members of the Cebu media were invited by the Macau Government Tourist Office and Cathay Pacific to a familiarization tour to this pulsating bi-cultural city. But whatever season of the year it is, and whatever time of the day, you won’t have any trouble thinking about how to maximize your day (and night) in Macau.
Our tour was fully packed with sight-seeing and food-tasting, but with hotel-hopping roped in to our itinerary prepared by MGTO’s PR executive Joao Sales, we’ve seen how the five-star hotels in Macau put a lot of effort in coming up with different recreational and entertainment gimmicks to keep the fun flowing and the guests coming.
After an exhilarating Macau Sky Tower experience (which is another story altogether), our Cathay Pacific’s ever-energetic escort, Connie Cimafranca, suggested that we cap the night and check out MGM Grand Macau Hotel’s Lion’s Bar, where MGM’s “Master Mixologists” are on hand to whip up a variety of mocktails and cocktails. The Lion Bar proved to be a relaxing place to chill after all those pulse-racing, sky-high activities. The Lion’s Bar also appeared to be a choice haunt of expats. We would later on be introduced to the vocalist of the Canadian band that was playing, who happily noted that he had worked with many Filipino musicians before.
Just a short walk from the MGM Grand is the Wynn Macau Hotel, where we found ourselves enthralled by the hotel’s signature attractions, the Performance Lake and Tree of Prosperity. The Performance Lake is home to a nightly presentation that showcases a choreographed watershow to the tune of Broadway and pop favorites, complete with dramatic fire effects and shimmering illuminations in a series of dream sequences. The Tree of Prosperity, on the other hand, features a crystal chandelier, golden tree, Chinese and western astrological symbols amid a sparkling movement of kinetic sculptures, video, light and music at the hotel’s Atrium.
We also visited the massive, picture-perfect The Venetian Macau hotel, which offers authentic Gondola rides and a Streetmosphere Program at its Grand Canal Shoppes—a luxurious one-million square food indoor mall that combines the beauty of Venetian landmarks, arched bridges, cobblestone walkways and winding canals surrounded by a far-ranging mix of exclusive shops, restaurants and cafes.
And of course, what is a Venetian experience without serenading gondoliers? We were informed that there are many Filipinos working as classical vocalists, street performers, “Carnivale” characters, and gondoliers at The Venetian. We called out to a very Asian-looking gondolier in the middle of his graceful rowing and asked, “Filipino?” With theatrical flair, he declared in jest, “I’m half-Pinoy, half-Italian,” then bursting into a powerful aria. (To be continued.)