March 2009

Continued from visit to Ruins of Saint Paul, A-man Temple, Kuan Iam Statue

Museu De Macau is steps away from Ruins of Saint Paul. Being on a package tour has twin effects, the time constraints and efficiency. Our tour guide allotted us two hours to visit the ruins and museum. I suggest that you see the ruins first because there’s a tendency that you will be unmindful of the time once you’re inside the museum.

The museum allows non-flash photography. But I noticed that not too many were taking photos. The visitors are multi-cultural and I assume that the interest in checking the bits of the museum will vary with the orientation, intensity of exploration, and basis of comparison. I also noticed that some of the museum’s keepers are Filipinos. I chatted a little with one of them and claimed that there are so many kababayans (fellow Filipinos) in Macau now.

The first area showcases rebultos (images) of old Chinese people, those of Jesus Christ and other traces of Christianity. This is not surprising since Macau has been under the colony of Portugal for a long time.

In addition, the Myths of Macau, a model trike and an area with TV featuring the history of Macau (reminds me of Lights and Sounds Museum in Intramuros) can be found in the main area.

There’s a miniature of old trading that happened centuries ago.

One of the most interesting displays here are the seemingly Chinese ‘dolls’. They are eerie and great to look at.

Traditional dresses, postal box, spices, pro-forma kitchen are also on display.

Of course, there is a showcase of artificial Macau food. I wished these were real and will then go out of the glass wall. I remember when I was a kid when someone feels cheated, he’d say “Lutong Macau”.

Lutong Macau refers to anything preconceived or planned and is bound to occur. The phrase might be from the local experience that Macau Chinese are known for their style of cooking and restaurants who promote the cuisine-prepared ingredients even before it is ordered.

As we turned to the other corner, this lady scared me a bit. I don’t know why, maybe it’s just my imagination. But I find the museum’s arrangement of displays to have a little eerie effect. Also, there are life size structures of local vendors during old Macau. They are all situated in the booth “Cries of Macau.”

A substantial amount of display is devoted to history of firecrackers. There was a time that Macau became one of the largest exporters of fireworks.

The museum also offers a two-storey fancy row of houses.

A traditional living room in Macau. I liked it a lot especially the paintings.

As of present time, this is how the houses in Macau generally look like. It’s very Binondo. I took this while we were walking back to the tourist bus as we were headed to the Fisherman’s Wharf (details in next post).

I also noticed that motorcycles are very popular there. As a side note, most of the signs are still written in Portuguese. Just like on this motociclos parking.

I have visited Museu De Macau before our very own Museum of Filipino People. I’d say the latter has more to offer and is at par with cleanliness of Macau’s. Here’s a very good video of Old Macau (1960s). I think this would speak better than the museum. I’m not a Macau local, but I felt having a trip down history after watching it.

Old Macau in 1960 – The most amazing bloopers are here

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Continued from Hong Kong visit

During my brief stay in Hong Kong, a day was dedicated for Macau. Instead of having the Do It Yourself arrangement, we joined a day tour for efficiency. From Tsim Sha Tsui, the travel agency’s shuttle picked us up and did board us to HK Terminal. It only takes a 30 to 40-minute Turbo Jet ride from there to Macau.

Inside the tourist bus, the guide gave us pamphlets and orientation about the places we would be visiting. In between, she would ask questions that will merit you a fake casino chip. I got one when I hit the response for “Who are the second largest residents in Macau?” I wildly guessed Filipinos. Of course, we are everywhere, aren’t we? We are trying to dominate the world.

Macau is popular for its casinos that it’s otherwise known as the Las Vegas of Asia. It only has 29 square kilometers, and there are 29 casinos also. Fair equation. How did I know this? From our tour guide. That was her first trivia question, I was so lazy to think that there are 29 casinos per square kilometer clue.

It’s odd how something not really attractive can be very interesting. Just like in one of the parks we visited, there’s this tulip monument being Macau’s national flower. I don’t imagine that Philippines will ever have a Sampaguita monument.

Due to Chinese and Portuguese influences, this statue of Kun Iam is said to be a blend of Chinese goddess Guan Yin and Catholics’ Virgin Mary. Our tour guide actually asked us to make a wish as we visited this spot. But she also strongly reminded us not to make the sign of the cross or else our wishes will not ever come true.

We weren’t able to get really close to the statue because there was an ongoing walkathon that day. During our visit, Macau was having a weeklong celebration of its 10th year of independence from Portugal under China’s umbrella. For the unfamiliar, Macau and Hong Kong are Special Administrative Regions of China.

We also went to A-Ma Temple which was built for the goddess Tin Hau.

(I wish I could read this)

(View from the top of the temple)

It was a lucky day indeed, as the walkathon culminated near the temple. Imagine almost all locals were there. I enjoyed comparing the profiles of the participants in the parade. We also had the chance to have our photos taken with them as well as the members of drum and lyre bands and dragon dancers.

Ruins of Saint Paul is said to be the greatest monument to Christianity in Asia.  Hence, this is the most famous sight in Macau.  Built in 17th century and was destroyed by fire in 1835.  The facade and stairway are all that remain.

(The amount of visitors is overwhelming)

As I was taking snaps, a younger visitor approached me to have her photo with me. Her mother became our photographer. It is one of the unusual and random interactions one could have.

Continued to Museu De Macau visit

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