Thursday, April 03, 2008 Macau her heritage and history
LET’S flashback to the 16th century during the era of conflicts and wars, when she had to construct massive fortresses, lighthouses for protection, temples and churches for worship. Well, these structures are still alive today. The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) saw it fit to invite us to see not only the Macau of today, but yesterday as well.
With Cathay Pacific Airlines (CX) represented by Connie Cimafranca, and Charina Puno of MGTO, the Cebu Media fam group took off for Macau.
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As soon as we had settled, quite luxuriously at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, our Macau Unesco heritage walking tour took place the very next day.
We started with the Moorish Barracks, which was a military base to house the Portuguese Goa stationed in India and how we marveled at the preserved, ornate building! Nearby was Barrio Du Lilau, where the early Macanese community used to live. Know what? “If you drink waters of Lilau, you will surely return to Macau,” they say.
Macau has delicacies too, and these are found at the Rua Da Felicidade, which is a quaint Chinese street selling, would you believe, almond cookies and beef tapa!
Macau’s most celebrated and remembered landmark is still Senado Square, where many of the heritage sites are located; St. Domingo’s Church, Sacred Art Museum, and of course the Ruins of St. Paul. This Church was built by an Italian Jesuit, and with the help of a Japanese stonemason, created a magnificent façade, but the back was plain wood, which was gutted by fire in 1835. Was it coincidence that the façade facing Macau was spared, and the rear facing the enemy, destroyed?
When we set eyes on the massive Monte Fort, again built by the Jesuits for defense against the Dutch, we couldn’t resist climbing the huge cannon, to get a panoramic view of the city. The fort was then used as the Governor’s residence, and now houses the Macau Museum. Four centuries of Macau history unfolded before our curious eyes, as we absorbed the bi-cultural character of the city--- her faiths and festivals, social customs and sports, art and architecture, and unique cuisine. Have you ever tasted bacalao, as the Macanese prepare it? It’s to die for!
Have you ever wondered how Macau got its name? Wonder no more. The most famous and picture-pretty temple, dedicated to the Taoist goddess, was named A-Ma, and from there Ma-Cau adopted it. This temple, with its four prayer pavilions set atop a hill, has been a favorite subject of artists.
An activity in stark contrast to the serenity of the A-Ma Temple, was our trip to the Macau Tower, by, would you believe…pedicab? Pedicabs are a dime-a-dozen in Cebu but in Macau it is a rarity to ride one. Well, from serenity to excitability.
The Macau Tower, all 338 meters of it, offers not only an unobstructed view of the Pearl River Delta, but also dares tourists to try skywalking or bungy jumping. From 338 meters high, I’ll stick to my treadmill!
A Macau heritage walk is not complete without a visit to the Taipa houses and museum which were actual homes of Macanese, but later on were brought by the government, and converted into buildings which tell of a bygone era. Here, we saw reproductions of period furniture, costumes, and musical instruments.
We had never been to an authentic Chinese garden, so when we were brought to the Lou Lim Leoc gardens, owned by a genteel citizen named Lou Kau, with its breezy, miniaturized landscape, bamboo forests, pond-sized lakes and moongates, we were truly in a green wonderland! Today, the Victorian-style house, has been taken over and restored by the government, and is the venue for modern ballroom enthusiasts, martial artists and what-have-you!
By now, our guide, MGTO’s very knowledgeable and approachable Joao Sales, suggested an exciting game…guess what? Our next stop was the Canidrome, the earliest Greyhound Racing Circuit in Asia, where we betted on our top dog….again I had never witnessed a greyhound race. First in Macau, and only in Macau!
Now it is time to return to Macau today. See, you have to flashback to the past, to make a refreshing comeback to the future!
