I wasn't able to write an entry about my thoughts for our Macau and Hong Kong trip due to the limited time after we got back from the Manila and Clark trip. Since we're back from the trip already, I'll just write about my experiences during the trip instead and also my thoughts about it as well.
It was our first foreign trip together with my girl - the first of four trips scheduled this year. I didn't prepare as much as I used to do when I traveled alone before coz I feel my girl did more of the research and bookings for us this time. But I'm not complaining. It made me realized traveling alone is not an option anymore when you get to experience traveling with somebody special to you.
We had company is this trip. They were also the ones who helped us plan things out. Three couples, who are all officemates of my girl, travelled with us. We were originally 11 when we booked this trip April of last year, but only 8 of us were able to make it. That shows how much these low-cost airline carriers make from unused airline tickets sold at cheap pre-booking prices.
I have been to Macau twice, and Hong Kong five times before this trip. But I know this would be different since we'll be there for "work" and not just for a plain vacation. With "work" I mean the pre-wedding/prenuptial photo shoots we scheduled for the trip - both in Macau and Hong Kong.
Before the trip, I searched for almost all wedding photographers there who could give us a good deal. Compared to local photographers here, the rates they have there are quite exorbitant. We ended up booking with a portrait photographer from Macau who doesn't have much experience taking pre-wedding pictures. But we got a good deal from the Hong Kong wedding photographer who gave out a promo price for us.
The trip started with a late night flight from Manila to Macau. It was my first time to take the trip thru Macau Airport since I only took the fast craft for a day-trip from HK the last 2 times I was there. When we arrived there, we boarded the free hotel shuttle service to Venetian Hotel. Yes, we stayed at the Venetian Hotel, the biggest casino hotel in the world. But we shared the room with 4 other people to divide the room charges, though we got a discount for booking a month before.
We immediately got to "work" upon arriving. The photographer and his assistant were already waiting for us at the hotel lobby. We wanted evening shots both inside and outside the hotel. It felt nice dressing up and posing for a professional photographer, while people gaze by wondering who the models might be. After the photo shoot, we went around the casino and the shops inside the hotel. Most of the shops were already closed but the casino was still so alive with a lot of Chinese people gambling. Going around the casino was the closest thing to Las Vegas we could experience.
Our second day in Macau was still scheduled for more photo shoot. After taking some day shots of the same sites we taken the night before, we went to the most famous landmark of Macau, St. Peter's Ruins. We took more shots there and in around nearby attractions like the Senado Square and Happiness Street.
After the shoot, we took some time for ourself to wander around the place. Being a stamp collector, we dropped by the Macau Post Office to buy some stamps. We went by some of the food and souvenir shops in that place to try on some macau delicacies like the egg tart.
Macau had completely changed since the last time I was there 5 years ago. A lot of new casinos have sprouted throughout the island. Most people go there not for the attractions anymore but to gamble. And you could still see a lot more on-going constructions of huge hotels and casinos all around. I can't imagine how Macau would look like if I go back 5 years later.
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