Traveling with Full Joye (Age 5) — A Memoir of an Unexpected Stop in Macau
Journey memory: Macau has always been a tiny place, at least in my own perception.
This time we didn't go to Macau on purpose, nor to cause any trouble for the country; when we left, everything was still fine and basically under control, but by the time we returned, chaos had erupted and the atmosphere was tense. In Macau, we tried to change our flights three times in hopes of returning early, but due to limited capacity in this small place, we were forced to adjust and ended up staying two days. I originally planned to bring back some disinfectants and masks, but after checking several supermarkets, even disinfectant wipes were gone. That's all hindsight.
At home, Joye had taught herself "Song of the Seven Sons"; it's been 20 years since Macau's return to China. What was I doing then? There's a direct flight from Luzhou to Zhuhai, and from Zhuhai to the Lótus Bridge checkpoint at Macau, transportation is very convenient. It was my third time passing through Hengqin, so I was already familiar with the route. After crossing the Lótus Bridge checkpoint to Taipa, it's very close to Macau International Airport, so we decided to transit here on both the way there and back. Famous hotels like The Parisian Macao, The Venetian Macao, Four Seasons Hotel, and Studio City Hotel are all in this area. Given our financial situation, we chose the cost-effective Sheraton, and luckily the hotel upgraded our room to one with a direct view of the Eiffel Tower.
Upon arriving in Macau, the first thing we couldn't resist was the Ruins of St. Paul's. The little girl who sang there that year showed us how even ruins can be luxurious. The next morning, we took a taxi there. Taxi drivers in Macau are indeed quite grumpy, and they charge extra for luggage.
It's a very small square, but it's preserved as a classic. To the left of the Ruins of St. Paul's is the Na Tcha Temple; to the right, a small hill leads up to the Monte Fort. It only takes a few minutes to walk up, and from there, you can see most of the Macau Peninsula. Of course, after seeing the constant new district construction in mainland China, this area really looks like a part of our old city that's due for renovation. There are also a few old cannons at the top, recording the vicissitudes of the past. Joye had a lot of fun.
Coming down the hill and heading towards the Senado Square, it's really not far. I feel that, with the spirit of an elderly Chinese lady doing square dancing, you could walk through the entire peninsula in no time. Along the way, you can see Love Lane – it's really a tiny alley, probably made interesting by Macau's knack for storytelling.
During Macau's colonial era, many historic buildings were very beautiful and have been well preserved. Now they are great spots for taking photos.
The things sold in the alley shops are nothing more than pork jerky, Portuguese egg tarts, and milk tea – nothing particularly eye-catching.
Feeling a bit hungry, we ate at a nearby place called "Wong Chi Kei". The crab soup and shrimp roe noodles were delicious, but the fried wontons were indescribable.
After the meal, we found a square where we finally connected to the local free Wi-Fi. I checked my phone and decided to visit the Macau Fisherman's Wharf. By the way, Macau's buses are really good – subsidized by the government, cheap fares, and they can take you anywhere. On the way, we passed by the Hotel Lisboa and the Golden Lotus Square.
Compared to the Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong, the Golden Lotus Square clearly lacks grandeur, and the surrounding environment seems average. But finding such a place must have taken some effort.
Fisherman's Wharf is by the sea, built to imitate the Roman Colosseum, with some adjacent buildings resembling ancient Egypt. The whole of Macau feels like a "Window of the World".
Soon it was almost dinner time, and we were eager to have a Portuguese meal. After checking reviews online, we took a bus but ended up being led around half the peninsula by the phone map without finding it. By the way, the map is useless once you're away from Wi-Fi. We found a street stall in a small alley and bought a bowl of beef offal soup – it was actually quite good.
Nightlife is when Macau really starts! After freshening up at the hotel, we took some photos in the nearby square, then dove into the mall surrounded by several hotels.
After walking around a few times, Joye finally got to ride the figure-8 Ferris wheel.
The next day, we wandered around the area where we were staying, visited the Taipa Houses–Museum, and experienced local Macau life.
It was just a few steps across to Rua do Cunha, so we brought Joye's foodie heart here. We had the highly praised pork chop bun. We were still thinking about the Portuguese meal from yesterday, and as luck would have it, we happened to walk under the sign of "Little Flying Elephant". The three of us agreed: let's eat here! We didn't want to leave and then have no idea where to find food again.
After eating and drinking our fill, we decided to go back to the hotel for a nap, then go out again in the evening to explore and buy some souvenirs.
The feature of The Venetian Macao is that on about the third floor, there is a man-made Venetian canal where you can take a gondola ride, listening to the elegant Italian-style singing of the gondolier – truly pleasant!
