Asia Travel Bug's Travel Blog

Makati Restaurant: Shang Palace, Shangri-la Makati

2012-01-21T22:15:00.000+08:00

Whenever we dine in Shang Palace in Makati Shangrila hotel, we always avail their lunch dimsum buffet. Yesterday, we decided to order ala carte for a change. It was equally good. I particularly love their pecking duck done in 2 ways, truly the best pecking duck I've ever tried!

I'm not going to comment too much on the ambiance and service. It's always excellent typical of the hotel chain. What I also like about Shang Palace is that this restaurant is friendly to people with food allergies. Before taking orders, the waiters will always ask you what your food allergies are.

We ordered suckling pig platter which is not in their new menu, you have to ask this specifically from the waiter. The meat is tender and the pork skin is very crispy! Apart from the pecking duck, this is a must try! If you want more cold cut variety, you can order sucking pig "combination" platter from their menu which is more or less at the same price range.
Sucking Pig Combination Platter - Medium - P1,125++ (USD 25++)

For vegetables, you can choose whatever local veggie you like at the same price. We ordered Kailan with minced garlic.

Local Vegetable Kailan with Minced Garlic - Medium - P480++ (USD 11++)

Another must try is their hot prawn salad! For medium, the serving is very generous with about 10 to12 pieces of big tiger prawns.

Hot Prawn Salad - Medium - P1,650++ (USD37.50++)

Two thumbs up for Shang Palace's Pecking Duck! At first glance it may look expensive, but I have to say that the half duck is sweetly priced at P1250++ inclusive of the second course. Other Chinese restaurants charge an additional of P300++ just to cook the second course.

Pecking Duck in 2 Ways - Half Duck - P1,250++ (USD 28++)

1st Duck Course - Duck skin with onion chives and cucumber wrapped in chinese pancake (12 wraps for half duck)

2nd Duck Course - Minced Duck Meat with Lettuce Wrap

The steamed live garoupa (lapu-lapu) is also good but a tad pricey. I'm heading over Jasmine in New World Hotel if I'm craving for steamed fish next time.

Steamed Live Garoupa (Lapu-Lapu) 700g - P1,680++ (USD 38++)

Overall, I would highly recommend Shang Palace as it always exceeds my expectations. The dishes ordered above are good for 7-8 people with the bill ending up almost the same had we availed the lunch dimsum buffet. For first timers, you can try their lunch dimsum buffet priced at P888++ per head. If you want real Cantonese food, I would recommend that you order ala carte.

Makati Restaurant: Jasmine Restaurant, New World Hotel Makati

2012-01-15T22:23:00.000+08:00

My search for Chinese fine dining led me to Jasmine Restaurant in New World Hotel a few weeks back. Finally, I was able to find a good alternative to Shangrila Makati's Shang Palace. Until now, I am still dreaming of Jasmine's super star dish Deep Fried Pork Spareribs with Changkong vinegar sauce!

The ambiance of Jasmine is quite good and waiters are attentive as expected. The price is value for money, considering that the menu is priced approximately 20% less than Shang Palace but with more generous servings. Not cheap but not too expensive.

We ordered Jasmine's cold cuts, deep fried pork spareribs with changkong sauce and steamed live garoupa (lapu-lapu). The deep fried pork spareribs with changkong vinegar sauce is to die for! A definite must try as recommended by the waiter. The meat is so tender and the sauce is a delight to the palate. We ordered small but the serving size is too generous that it looks like equivalent to a medium serving of a typical Chinese restaurant.

Complimentary Chinese Appetizer

Deep Fried Pork Spareribs with Changkong Vinegar Sauce and Mayonnaise - P440++

The cold cuts is good and tasty but I have to say that the same dish in Shang Palace is better.

Jamine's Cold Cuts Platter - P700++

The steamed live lapu-lapu is excellent, not overcooked and the meat is still flakey.

Steamed Live Garoupa 600g - P1200++

Next time when my Chinese food craving kicks in, it's now a toss between Jasmine and Shang Palace. I give Jasmine two thumbs up for their generous servings and for their super yummy deep fried pork spareribs!

Makati Countdown to 2012: Happy New Year!

2012-01-08T18:49:00.000+08:00

Since I moved to Makati 3 years back, I've always enjoyed the fireworks display during new year's eve. Compared to previous years, Makati welcomed 2012 with a bigger bang! The Makati countdown made a huge comeback. The countdown street party was flocked by a good mix of crowd. Local bands and street magicians kept the crowd entertained. But the star of the countdown is the super extravagant 30-minute fireworks display which temporarily redefined Makati's city skyline.

Happy new year everyone! Cheers to 2012!

Street Magician at the Intersection of Makati Avenue and Ayala Avenue

Salcedo Park

Makati 2012 Countdown - Fireworks View from Salcedo Village

Mactan Cebu: Shangri-la Mactan Resort - Always Amazing!

2012-01-07T16:48:00.000+08:00

I've been to Shangrila Mactan Resort for a couple of times already and this place never fails to amaze me! The Shangrila experience in Mactan is truly amazing, and I would not hesitate to come back to this resort over and over again. With good rooms, great food, excellent water activities and outstanding "Shangrila" service, this place is really perfect for a 5-star beach vacation. I have recommended this resort to my colleagues, friends and relatives and all them agree that Shangrila Mactan is wonderful.

I'm now blogging one of my previous trips to show the beauty of Shangrila Mactan to the world. Haha! For those who don't know where this gem is, Shangrila Mactan is located in Cebu Philippines. Shangrila Mactan is very accessible. Cebu is only 1 hour plane ride from Manila and the resort is located 15 minutes drive from Mactan Cebu airport. Shuttle to and from the resort is available in the airport for a minimal fee.

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It's your turn. If you have been to Shangrila Mactan before, please feel free to share your experience in the comments box below. :)

Mactan Cebu: Shangri-la Mactan Resort -The Beach and The Sea

2011-12-31T03:32:00.002+08:00

What I like about Shangrila Mactan is that you can use of all non-motorized water sports for free. You can do fish feeding, snorkelling and kayaking. There is also a dive center if you want to do jet ski, parasail and sea walk for a fee. What keeps me back is that the sea surrounding the resort is thriving with lots of colorful fish!

The beach in Shangrila Mactan is not as fine as the White Beach in Boracay. The sand is powdery white but a bit coarse. However, the abundance of marine life well compensates for it. I've been to Boracay before and you need 20-30 minutes boat ride from White Beach to snorkel and do fish feeding. In Shangrila Mactan, you can see schools of fish right by the sea shore and for me this is simply the best part of the experience!

Restaurant by the Beach

The beach is well-kept and clean with lots of beach lounges.

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Snorkelling and kayaking in Shangrila Mactan is so much fun!

Schools of fish right by Shangrila Mactan beach shore - amazing!

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Mactan Cebu: Shangri-la Mactan Resort - The Garden and The Surroundings

2011-12-31T03:04:00.000+08:00

The resort area of Shangrila Mactan is so gigantic that you cannot explore everything in a single day. The hotel was fully occupied at the time we stayed, yet we never brushed shoulders with other visitors.

Lawns are lush and well-manicured. Swimming pools are nice. I think there are 3 swimming pools, I lost count. There is always a place to sit and relax in the garden if you don't want to go to the beach.
These photos were taken when the hotel was at full occupancy. See, there is a huge space for everyone in Shangrila Mactan!

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Mactan Cebu: Shangri-la Mactan Resort - Breakfast Buffet at Tides

2011-12-31T02:51:00.003+08:00

I am a super fan of buffets and have tried almost all of the 5-star hotel buffets in Manila. The buffet spread in Tides, the main restaurant in Shangrila Mactan, could easily beat them all.

The breakfast is a feast and food quality is top notch. Buffet spread is a good mix of Asian, Filipino and American. You can order coffee latte or chocolate drink for free.
Be sure to get in the Tides Restaurant buffet area early as the restaurant may get pretty crowded between 9 am to 10 am. The good news is that Shangrila sometimes extends the breakfast buffet area to the adjacent restaurant Tea of Spring in order to control the crowd. You can also take the buffet breakfast in Acqua Restaurant in the Ocean Wing.

Tides Restaurant

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Alfresco Dining Area

The Food - Yummy! Yummy! Yummy!

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Mactan Cebu: Shangri-la Mactan Resort - Panorama Suite

2011-12-31T02:36:00.001+08:00

We booked a Premier Sea View room and got surprised when the front desk upgraded us to Panorama Suite for free! How cool is that. This 1 bedroom suite is huge, fancy and modern. It has a separate living room, an executive desk, a dining table, a walk-in closet, a bathroom with separate tub and shower, and a big balcony.

The view could have been lovelier had we been assigned to a higher floor. We got assigned to the second floor suite with sea views partially blocked by coconut trees. Oh well, I cannot complain, Shangrila has been extremely generous in upgrading our room to a USD800.00 suite for free. Thank you Shangrila! :)

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Shangrila Mactan Panorama Suite Living Room

The bedroom with 2 single beds. The size of their single bed is almost a double. 2 people can comfortably sleep in one single bed. The Panorama Suite has maximum occupancy of three according to their website.

The Walk-in Closet

The Big Balcony and The View

Lovely view to the sea.

The Bathroom with L'Occitane Toiletries

Double Sink and a Bathtub

Separate Shower

The Minibar - Oh I wish this is an honor bar! I like the aroma of their premium teas.

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Palawan Honda Bay: Dos Palmas Dinner by the Pool and Fire Dancers

2011-12-27T14:45:00.003+08:00

Due to good weather, tonight’s dinner was set-up by the pool area. The feeling of exclusivity sets in as only 20 guests remained. As usual, the dinner spread is excellent. To top wrap up our second night, fire dancers performed to all the guests’ delight.

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Palawan Day 1: Puerto Princessa Airport Arrival and Transit to Dos Palmas Palawan

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Resort Arrival

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas - Our Room

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Snorkelling near the Mangroves

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Breathtaking Sunset and Dinner

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Snorkelling at Helen’s Garden

Palawan Day 2: Lunch at Isla Puting Buhangin (White Sand Island)

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Dinner by the Pool and Fire Dancers

Palawan Honda Bay: Dos Palmas Lunch at Isla Puting Buhangin (White Sand Island)

2011-12-27T14:35:00.002+08:00

Our package includes a beach lunch buffet at Isla Puting Buhangin, a private island owned by Dos Palmas 30 minutes boat ride from the main resort. This small island is very beautiful with a long sandbar. Unfortunately, the tides were high at the time we went and the sandbar is only partly visible. Nevertheless, the island remains to be charming.

I salute the efforts of the staffs in bringing the food to the remote island. The buffet spread is cooked on the island itself and just like the food in the main dining area, food is really yummy. It feels so surreal dining by the beach, hearing the waves with the different shades of blue sea by your backdrop.

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Check the best rates of Dos Palmas Resort from 100+ travel sites in one click! Click here

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Palawan Day 1: Puerto Princessa Airport Arrival and Transit to Dos Palmas Palawan

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Resort Arrival

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas - Our Room

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Snorkelling near the Mangroves

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Breathtaking Sunset and Dinner

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Snorkelling at Helen’s Garden

Palawan Day 2: Lunch at Isla Puting Buhangin (White Sand Island)

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Dinner by the Pool and Fire Dancers

Palawan Honda Bay: Dos Palmas Snorkelling at Helen’s Garden

2011-12-27T14:20:00.001+08:00

After breakfast, we were immediately whisked away to Helen’s Garden snorkelling spot via a speed boat. I looked at the crystal blue waters in awe! There were lots of colourful fish in shallow waters as if they’re excited to greet visitors. The marine life and corals are in very healthy shape. Our snorkelling guide was so kind enough to take pictures of us from below the sea. Here are the photos taken using Sony Tx5.

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Check the best rates of Dos Palmas Resort from 100+ travel sites in one click! Click here

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Palawan Day 1: Puerto Princessa Airport Arrival and Transit to Dos Palmas Palawan

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Resort Arrival

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas - Our Room

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Snorkelling near the Mangroves

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Breathtaking Sunset and Dinner

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Snorkelling at Helen’s Garden

Palawan Day 2: Lunch at Isla Puting Buhangin (White Sand Island)

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Dinner by the Pool and Fire Dancers

Palawan Honda Bay: Dos Palmas Breathtaking Sunset and Dinner

2011-12-27T14:08:00.000+08:00

The sunset in Dos Palmas is the best sunset I’ve ever seen. While lounging by the beach, you can see the beautiful orange sun set by the lovely mountains.

We had dinner buffet in the main dining area. The food is excellent, way better than the lunch buffet spread. Seafoods are served along with sashimis. The roast beef in stick melts in your mouth and to me it’s a lot better than the roast beefs served in Manila’s 5 star hotels.

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Palawan Day 1: Puerto Princessa Airport Arrival and Transit to Dos Palmas Palawan

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Resort Arrival

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas - Our Room

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Snorkelling near the Mangroves

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Breathtaking Sunset and Dinner

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Snorkelling at Helen’s Garden

Palawan Day 2: Lunch at Isla Puting Buhangin (White Sand Island)

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Dinner by the Pool and Fire Dancers

Palawan Honda Bay: Dos Palmas Snorkelling near the Mangroves

2011-12-27T13:59:00.001+08:00

What I liked about Dos Palmas is its exclusivity and very personalized service. You can be whisked away via a speedboat to nearby snorkelling sites “when you want it” together with your very own snorkelling guide. Weather permitting of course. All snorkel equipments are free. In other big international resorts, yes you get fancy rooms and facilities, but you will be left alone kayaking to the middle of the sea and snorkel by yourself.

Dos Palmas has two snorkelling sites, one near the mangroves and the other one is a little farther away which they call Helen’s Garden. Today we were whisked to the snorkelling site near the mangroves. Although there’s lot of fish, the water is emerald green and visibility is not what I expected. This is definitely not the snorkel site which I’ve gone to in my day trip years back. Leynard, our snorkelling guide, told us that Helen’s Garden is much better and promised to take us there the next day.

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Check the best rates of Dos Palmas Resort from 100+ travel sites in one click! Click here

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Palawan Day 1: Puerto Princessa Airport Arrival and Transit to Dos Palmas Palawan

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Resort Arrival

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas - Our Room

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Snorkelling near the Mangroves

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Breathtaking Sunset and Dinner

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Snorkelling at Helen’s Garden

Palawan Day 2: Lunch at Isla Puting Buhangin (White Sand Island)

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Dinner by the Pool and Fire Dancers

Palawan Honda Bay: Dos Palmas - Our Room

2011-12-27T13:51:00.004+08:00

We got assigned to 2^nd floor of a beach villa as per our request from Dos Palmas staff. The room is spacious with 1 king bed, 1 single bed (almost double) and a sofa. Air-conditioning system is good. There is no TV and no wifi available inside the room. The view from the room could have been better if not blocked by the mangroves. I have to rate the room and facilities as 2.5 to 3 star at most based on my April 2011 travel. But with an island and surrounding sea so paradisiac, you wouldn’t care about your room as long as it meets the basics. The evening turn-down service is a nice touch with housekeeping leaving freshly picked flowers in your bedroom.

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Check the best rates of Dos Palmas Resort from 100+ travel sites in one click! Click here

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Palawan Day 1: Puerto Princessa Airport Arrival and Transit to Dos Palmas Palawan

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Resort Arrival

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Snorkelling near the Mangroves

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Breathtaking Sunset and Dinner

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Snorkelling at Helen’s Garden

Palawan Day 2: Lunch at Isla Puting Buhangin (White Sand Island)

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Dinner by the Pool and Fire Dancers

Palawan Honda Bay: Dos Palmas Arrival

2011-12-27T13:42:00.002+08:00

Upon arrival at the resort, we were greeted by Dos Palmas staffs playing gongs and chimes and we were offered welcome drinks. The beach was lined with colourful kayaks which looked very inviting.

The service is very personalized. Upon your arrival, you have a pre-assigned table reserved under your name for lunch buffet. The lunch buffet spread is Filipino cuisine based, plenty and good if you are a meat lover. The view from the dining area to the sea is lovely. The island is absolutely a tropical paradise!

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Palawan Day 1: Puerto Princessa Airport Arrival and Transit to Dos Palmas Palawan

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas - Our Room

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Snorkelling near the Mangroves

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Breathtaking Sunset and Dinner

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Snorkelling at Helen’s Garden

Palawan Day 2: Lunch at Isla Puting Buhangin (White Sand Island)

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Dinner by the Pool and Fire Dancers

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Palawan Honda Bay: Puerto Princessa Airport Arrival and Transit to Dos Palmas Palawan

2011-12-27T13:29:00.000+08:00

Puerto Princessa Airport Arrival and Transit to Dos Palmas Palawan

If you want to get away from city life’s stress and have a hassle free all-in travel, Dos Palmas Resort is definitely for you. After payment, all you need to do is show up in Puerto Princesa airport and they will take care of the rest of your vacation. We went to Dos Palmas for a vacation first week of April. The weather is just perfect, breezy yet sunny.

We arrived in Puerto Princesa Airport in the morning and were fetched by their cheerful guest activity officer. An old bus took us to the city pier where we transferred to big Bangka (Filipino boat). All your luggages will be carried for you by Dos Palmas staff. The one hour boat ride to Dos Palmas Resort along Honda Bay will blow your mind away! The waters are sparkling blue and the isolated islands in all shapes look so stunning!

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Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Resort Arrival

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas - Our Room

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Snorkelling near the Mangroves

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Breathtaking Sunset and Dinner

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Snorkelling at Helen’s Garden

Palawan Day 2: Lunch at Isla Puting Buhangin (White Sand Island)

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Dinner by the Pool and Fire Dancers

Palawan: Puerto Princesa Honda Bay, Coron, El Nido

2011-12-27T13:27:00.000+08:00

When: April 2011
Where: Palawan Honda Bay

I’m a super fan of snorkelling! When an online group buying site launched the Dos Palmas Palawan deal early in 2011, I immediately grabbed the deal without a second thought. I have been to Dos Palmas for a day trip before and was truly amazed with Palawan’s natural beauty. Now, I’m back for more – a full 3D/2N full board stay. The excitement led me to purchase a Sony Tx5 underwater camera, which I think is the best travel investment I have ever made! I still can’t believe that this little camera was able to capture the great moments beneath the sea.

About Palawan

Palawan is a group of islands west of the Philippines with turquoise blue sea and jaw-dropping beautiful isolated islands. The place is serene and not yet too commercialized. The three main tourist spots are Coron, El Nido and Puerto Princesa. Dos Palmas Resort is located within Honda Bay and is one hour boat ride from Puerto Princesa city pier. From Manila, you can take about an hour plane ride to Puerto Princesa Airport.

National Graphic is extremely right in featuring Palawan as one of the Top 20 Best Destinations in the World for 2011. Just recently, Palawan’s Underground River is chosen as one of the provisional New 7 Wonders of Nature. I hope this will boost the tourism for Palawan and gain its much needed “positive” exposure to the world.

Honda Bay

Honda Bay Snorkelling

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Palawan Day 1: Puerto Princessa Airport Arrival and Transit to Dos Palmas Palawan

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Resort Arrival

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas - Our Room

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Snorkelling near the Mangroves

Palawan Day 1: Dos Palmas Breathtaking Sunset and Dinner

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Snorkelling at Helen’s Garden

Palawan Day 2: Lunch at Isla Puting Buhangin (White Sand Island)

Palawan Day 2: Dos Palmas Dinner by the Pool and Fire Dancers

Macau: Venetian Macau Check Out, Fat Siu Lau, MGM Macau

2011-12-12T00:55:00.001+08:00

Check Out from Venetian Hotel

It was our last day and Venetian was kind enough to extend our check out time from 11am to 1pm. Since our flight is still at night, we deposited our baggage in the hotel's luggage area.

Venetian Shows

We watched a couple of Venetian shows today. The free shows are short performances from artists.

Restaurant Fat Siu Lau 2

According to Frommer's, Fat Siu Lau is the oldest restaurant in Macau with its original branch dating from 1903. I was able to chance upon this restaurant yesterday as the Venetian bus drove pass this restaurant before reaching Sands Hotel.

This restaurant is located along the same road as MGM just opposite to the Kun Ian Statue. From Venetian, we transferred to City of Dreams where shuttle to MGM is available.

We ordered their signature dish Shek Ki Superb Roasted Pigeon along with two other viands. This pigeon dish is superb, high recommended. The pigeon meat is sweet, tender and it melts in your mouth. We spent approx. MOP125.00 per person (USD17.00 per person) but its well worth it given the generous servings.

MGM Casino and Hotel

The structure of MGM is very modern and contemporary. The hotel is nicely decorated and there's even an area showcasing museum style glass wares.

MGM to Venetian

We used the same route as how we got to here - MGM - City of Dreams - Venetian.

Venetian to Airport

After our dinner at Red Dragon Noodles in Venetian, we got our things from the luggage area. We went to the main lobby to catch the free Venetian shuttle to airport.

Bye for now Macau and Venetian! We will definitely come back!

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Macau: Venetian Macau Facilities, Venetian Macau at Night

2011-12-12T00:48:00.001+08:00

Exploring Venetian Hotel

We explored Venetian Hotel thoroughly from casinos, godola rides, shops to the swimming pool area. Everthing is grand. Below pictures say it all.

Venetian at Night Time

The view outside Venetian Macau during night time is simply breath taking.

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Macau: City of Dreams and Sands Macau

2011-12-12T00:41:00.001+08:00

Sands Hotel Buffet

In our Macau day trip few years back, I enjoyed the lunch buffet at Sands Hotel so much. There were crabs, sashimis and fancy deserts back then and food was top-notch. In our trip this time, we decided to avail Sands lunch buffet at MOP108++ per person thinking that the food quality was the same as before. To our horror, the lunch buffet spread has been downgraded and it was such a big disappointment. No crabs to be found, cold sushis, ham instead of the usual roast beef. Definitely, this buffet cannot be classified as a hotel buffet.

Just across Sands Hotel is one of Macau's tourist attraction Fisherman's Wharf. Unfortunately, the rain is pouring non-stop so we decided to skip going there and go back to Venetian instead.

City of Dreams

From Venetian, we rode a Cotai Connection shuttle to City of Dreams. City of Dreams is the latest casino/mall/entertainment/hotel complex which just opened in 2010. It houses the newest show attraction The House of Dancing Waters featuring advanced special effects and water stunts. Despite of the steep prices to get to the show, The House of Dancing Waters was fully booked so we were not able to watch it. It is highly recommended to buy tickets in advance online.

The Bubble Show

One must not miss The Bubble Show which is a free show inside of City of Dreams. The visual effects are highly sophisticated and top notch.

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Macau: Solmar and Wynn Macau

2011-12-12T00:25:00.001+08:00

Solmar Restaurant - Macau's Oldest Portuguese Restaurant

Our original plan is to have lunch in Wong Chi Kei, the famous noodle house in Senado Square. However this restaurant was full when we passed by so we decided to check other restaurants around. We were walking towards New Yaohan Mall when we passed by Solmar Restaurant. I immediately remembered this restaurant being mentioned in Lonely Planet guidebook so we decided to take our lunch here.

Solmar is famous for its authentic Portuguese cuisine and people still flock the restaurant even its already 2pm in the afternoon. We ordered their best seller African Chicken, pork chop bun and a few other dishes. Although quite on the expensive side, the food is worth it as all the meat dishes are tender and of generous serving. Prepare to shell out approximately MOP120.00 per person (USD16.00). Solmar is located near the corner of San Ma Lo and Avenida da Praia Grande across Metropole Hotel.

Shuttle Back to Venetian

We had lots of shopping bags with us (local delicacies from Koi Kei Bakery) so we decided to go back to Venetian to leave our things and rest a bit. This time we tried a different route to go back to our hotel. From Solmar, we walked for about 10 minutes towards Hotel Sintra which is in the corner of Ave. de D Joao IV and Ave. Almeida Ribeiro. Shuttle to City of Dreams is available outside Hotel Sintra, however it is not very frequent. We waited for about 20 minutes before we were able to catch the shuttle. Had we known earlier that the shuttles going back and forth Hotel Sintra and City of Dreams operate in less frequency, we could have used the same route we took in the morning - Grand Emperor - Ferry Station - Venetian. From the lobby of City of Dreams, we transferred to Venetian via the Cotai Connection shuttle.

Venetian to Wynn

After a bit of rest, we headed to Wynn. We boarded the Venetian shuttle to go to Macau Ferry Station then switched to Wynn shuttle there.

Wynn Macau - Free Indoor Shows and Musical Fountain Show

The Macau downtown lights is not to be missed. Going to Wynn Macau during night time is one of the best decision we made. Just outside the Wynn lobby, the view is very colorful and breath taking. You should not miss taking a photo by the Wynn fountains with the colorful casino skyscrapers as the backdrop. The free Wynn musical fountain show which runs every half an hour is also spectacular.

While waiting for the indoor shows, we had our dinner in Restaurant 8 inside Wynn Casino. The food is good but servings are small. Both of the indoor shows are good with mind-boggling special technical effects considering they are free.

Wynn to Venetian

We took the same shuttle route - Wynn - Macau Ferry Terminal - Venetian.

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What to do in Macau

2011-12-12T00:05:00.001+08:00

A hazy morning greeted us when we woke up, however this did not deter us from exploring the rich and colorful cultural sites of Macau.

One good thing for tourists in Macau is that you can explore the city using free hotel/casino shuttle bus. We maximized the use of different casino shuttles through out the duration of our Macau vacation. Not a single cent was spent on taxis and public buses to tour around.

Venetian Coach Bay

The Venetian Coach bay operates from morning to evening, with free shuttles going to and from China border gate (Zhu Hai - Macau border), Four Seasons Hotel, City of Dreams, Sands Hotel and Ferry Station in regular timings. The shuttle timings are so frequent that you do not need to wait for 5 minutes to catch a ride.

Venetian to Senado Square via Free Shuttles

Our itinerary for the day is to explore the cultural sites downtown, so we hopped to a Venetian shuttle going to the Macau Ferry Station. The ride is very comfortable and it only took us about 20 minutes to reach the ferry station. There is a big coach bay just outside the ferry station with shuttles going to various hotels and casinos. Before switching shuttles in the ferry stattion coach bay, we headed first to the Visitor's Center inside to get some maps.

We rode the shuttle going to Grand Emperor hotel which is one of the nearest hotels to Senado Square. The Grand Emperor hotel is just a cross New Yaohan Mall and a block away from the main street Ave. Infante D. Henrique. We navigated towards Senado Square using the free map we got from Ferry Station's visitor center. Remember, you have to walk towards Ave. Almeida Ribeiro (or commonly known as San Ma Lo road) from Ave. Infante D. Henrique to reach Senado Square.

Senado Square and Other Cultural Sites
Senado Square is the heart of the cultural district of Macau. The site is very well known for its cobble stone walks. From here, you can walk by foot to Leal Senado, Holy House of Mercy, Cathedral, Lou Kau Mansion, St. Dominics Church and St. Paul Ruins. There are numerous street signs and street maps within the area on how to go to these places. The place is also compact, you will not get lost. You can finish touring around the area for less than two hours.

St. Paul Ruins and Free Taste of Local Delicacies
The street going towards St. Paul Ruins becomes narrower and crowder as you go a long. The street is very busy with shops selling local delicacies including the famous Macau Egg Tart. The vendors are very kind to give you free taste of almond cookies, pork jerkies etc but not very pushy to get you buy their products. We bought local delicacies from Pastelaria Koi Kei. At the end of the street, you will reach St. Paul Ruins.

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Macau Airport Arrival and Venetian Macau

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I have been to Macau several times before but only for day tours from Hong Kong. With superb food, luxury for less, free shuttle transportation (casino/hotel shuttle), bustling night life and laid back atmosphere, Macau tops my list of great places to unwind.

Macau Airport

The plane landed in Macau Airport at 9:30pm and queue in immigration is quite fast. Getting to our hotel is hassle free as there is a Venetian shuttle bus waiting in the coach bay.

Venetian Macau Hotel and Resort - Our Suite at 31st Floor
We booked a Bella Suite since we are a group of 4. Check in to the hotel is very fast and efficient. Despite of high expectations, we were still amazed when we entered our suite. The room is huge about 70 sqm in size, very well up kept, classy and exactly the same as the pictures in their website. The room has two queen size beds, a separate living area, two TVs, a working table with printer and a small dinner table. The bathroom is oversized and wheel chair accessible, so there is a shower instead of a bath tub.

As usual, I was able to snag the best deal using www.hotelscombined.com. I got the suite for $300 a night without breakfast but tax inclusive. A good suite deal for only $75 per person a night since we are a group of four. Breakfast is no problem since there are a lot of restaurants and fast food within Venetian itself.

The service we received at Venetian Hotel is impeccable with each of the staff very eager to please the guests. Drinking water is complimentary, you can request as many bottles as you like from house keeping.

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Macau Attractions

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Macau 3D/3N Itinerary using Free Casino Bus Transfers
No single cent was paid for land transportation to get to tourist areas. :)
Travelled: February 2011

Day 1: Arrival and Hotel Check-in

Macau Airport Arrival
Venetian Macau Hotel

Day 2: Macau Cultural City Tour and Wynn

Venetian Coach Bay
Venetian to Senado Square via Free Shuttles
Senado Square and other Cultural Sites
St. Paul Ruins and Free Taste of Local Delicacies
Solmar Restaurant - Macau's Oldest Portuguese Restaurant
Shuttle Back to Venetian
Venetian to Wynn
Wynn Macau Free Indoor Shows and Musical Fountain Show
Wynn to Venetian

Day 3: Sands Buffet, Venetian Hotel, City of Dreams

Sands Hotel Buffet
City of Dreams
Exploring Venetian Macau
Venetian at Night Time

Day 4: Venetian Checkout, Fat Siu Lau, MGM

Venetian Shows
Restaurant Fat Siu Lau 2
MGM Casino and Hotel
MGM to Venetian
Venetian to Airport

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Shanghai at Night, Xintiandi, French Concession, Din Tai Fung, Nanjing Road

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French Concession

From Yu Garden metro line 10 station, Xintiandi in French Concession is just two stops away. We followed the French Concession walking tour from Frommer’s which led us to Fuxing Park. I have to say that French Concession is one of the most beautiful places in Shanghai. Not crowded, the streets are lined with maple trees and the place feels like Europe rather than China.

We arrived in late autumn and for someone coming from a tropical country, watching the golden maple leaves falling from the trees is just priceless. The Fuxing Park is lovely and serene and could have been more beautiful on a sunny day.

Xintiandi

Xintiandi is a compound of old houses turned into a complex of restaurants and shops. We managed to find Din Tai Fung here, the Shanghai restaurant rated as # 1 in tripadvisor as of the time of this writing.

Din Tai Fung Restaurant

We ordered their xiaolongpao, honey glazed spareribs, drunken chicken, fried string beans, fried rice and pork bun. The serving size is small. Compared to Nanxiang, Din Tai Fung’s Xialongpao is way better but I can’t still find the WOW factor. But their honey glazed pork spareribs is to die for! We tried to order a second spareribs but it has gone sold out. Prepare to spend RMB130-150 (USD 20.00 – 24.00) per person.

Want to see Din Tai Fung Shanghai review from other travellers? Click here. Din Tai Fung Shanghai Reviews.

The Bund at Night (Shanghai at Night)

To wrap up our trip, we spent our last few hours in Shanghai strolling along the end of East Nanjing Road and the Bund. The sight of Nanjing Road, The Bund and Pudong Skyline bursting in colours at night is something that will blow your mind away.

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