Romantic Honeymoon Island: Travel

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Streets of Macau

The last time I went to Macau was ages ago. At the time it was considered the backwaters to Hong Kong - famous for the Lisbao Hotel and Casino and not much else. Most people would make a side trip there if they are in Hong Kong, spend a few hours and then rush back to the big city and bright lights. But actually Macau has lots more to offer. As a Portuguese colony, Macau has its share of colourful history and heritage.

Recently we spent a few days in Macau on a family holiday. Being a compact city, Macau is quite family-friendly. Most of the historical attractions are on the main island, and it is quite easy to walk everywhere. They also have an excellent bus service which circles the island, making this the best option to get around. Taxis are also convenient and cheap compared to Hong Kong. Just get a good map and you are all set to explore the city.

Although Macau has seen lot of new developments in hotels and casino, the main parts still feel and look the same. It always remind me of Kowloon with its endless highrise tenaments and small shops. Most of the buildings are very old and shabby, but you can feel the life and pulse of the city coursing through the streets, and that is what am most interested in.

Life goes on in the streets of Macau.

Parts of the city haven't changed much.

These tenaments are where most Macanese live.

The best way to see Macau is to walk around. There are still many unknown little corners waiting to be explored.

Eating in Macau - Ding Tai Fung ?

The main commercial centre of Macau is on the Peninsula facing the Outer Harbour. Dr. Sun Yat Sen Avenue runs along the Harbour, and several major roads branch out from here forming a rectangular city grid. Within this area you will find mostly office buildings and several major casinos such as MGM Macau, Wynn and Galaxy Star World. If you are looking for places here to eat, you are out of luck.

There are very few eating places off the streets - it seems like most of the eateries are either in the hotels or casinos. We came across this outlet which calls itself after the famous Taiwanese restaurant chain Ding Tai Fung. It even has "Taiwan" in brackets, in case you are wondering. The place looks very shabby compared to the outlets I have been to in Malaysia and Hong Kong. I did a search on the Ding Tai Fung global site and Macau was not listed there. I am wondering whether this is the genuine article.

Ding Tai Fung is famous for its dumplings and noodles. This place also list a large selection of these DTF staples. We ordered a few things to try.

The Xio Long Baos are quite good. The skin very thin, and inside its filled with very tasty morsels of pork and porky soup.

They even had these dumplings with pork and glutinous rice which are popular at DTFs. These are tasty but a bit filling.

We liked the dumpling soup very much, and even ordered a second. The soup really packs a punch - very savoury and rich, with bits of fried minced pork to give it extra flavour.

Pot-Stickers. Not bad, the skin was a bit thick and tough.

The food at this restaurant is not bad, but service is quite rude and the place is not very clean. Even asking for extra utensils got us a scorn from the waitress. I don't think this is the real thing, but I am dying to find out. Any Bloggers out there know ?

Chiang Mai Hotels & Resorts - The Veranda

If you are heading to Chiang Mai, don't miss a visit to Veranda - The High Resort. It is the latest luxury resort in Chiang Mai, and also the most breath-taking. Veranda is located on a valley slope in Hang Dong, about 30 min drive from the old town. Clear vistas of the beautiful mountains and valleys are what set this resort apart from others.

The design of the resort is modern contemporary, but with touches of tropical architecture in the details. The most unique part of the resort is the lobby - an open pavilion with an oval-shaped curved roof. The main structure of the roof is made entirely of timber, and is covered in timber shingles. It is a bold architectural statement and a stunning welcome to the resort.

The main landscape feature here - like The Four Seasons, are the rice fields, only here they are not rice but pretty little yellow flowers and native plants. Because of the hill side location, the fields are terraced and even more beautiful. The landscape is very natural and immaculately maintained throughout.

There are two main types of accommodations - rooms in 3-storey terraced blocks, and individual 2-storey villas. I find the 3-storey blocks more interesting - there is a roof terrace above the lowest level which double as a roof garden, and the 1st level rooms have a reflecting pool next to the individual balcony terraces. Very sophisticated and thoughtful design.

Most of the facilities are in a multi-storey block near the lobby complex. These include a spa, gym, bar, restaurants, and an infinity pool right at the top with breath-taking views of the mountains.

Rates are The Veranda are actually very reasonable. You can get internet rates starting from around THB 3,500 (about 25% discount) per night. That is a steal for a resort of this quality.

Eating in Kuching - Dinner at the Orchid Garden Coffeehouse

A I mentioned in my previous post, the Orchid Garden Coffeehouse at Kuching Holiday Inn (now Grand Margherita) used to be an institution in Kuching. It was so popular, the place would be packed even to the late hours at night. People would be drinking coffee, enjoy some grilled steak or nasi lemak, and Hungarian Goulash - one of the coffeehouse's specialties. When other hotels came up, Orchid Garden continued to hold its own until recent years when it just couldn't compete with the spanking new and better establishments in town. Still, it has its loyal followers.

The coffeehouse has undergone a complete makeover recently. Now it has a large open kitchen in the middle, with several other cooking stations on the front and back. The seating area is divided into 2 sections, one next to the river terrace and the other just after the entrance.

The central open kitchen. One of the main flaws of the design is that the kitchen is separated from the diners with clear glass. Although this helps to reduce the fumes from the cooking stations, it makes it unfriendly - and diners have to sneak in from the side to order some of the items. A better exhaust system would have made the glass unnecessary.

The food.

The new concept has made Orchid Garden more current, and the menu has also been given a refreshment. Unfortunately the quality of the food is a bit uneven. The salads were good. The sushi was just OK. Cooked items were not very good, and desserts were very limited. There are better buffets in Kuching, but when you have grown tired of all the other places then this serves as a pleasant alternative.

Chiang Mai Hotels & Resorts - The Chedi

The Chedi is another one of Chiang Mai's iconic luxury resorts. Designed by Kerry Hill of Aman fame, it has become an architectural destination for design aficionados. The resort is located along the Mai Ping River, not far from the old town centre.

The design of the hotel is modern and contemporary, but a predominance of wood used in the finishing gives it a softer and warmer look compared to other more pared down Modernist resorts. An old Colonial mansion in the middle of the compound has been preserved and restored to become the centre piece. It also accommodates some of the F&B facilities.

Rooms are in 4-storey accommodation blocks wrapped around a very large courtyard. As is typical of Kerry Hill's projects, the design is very understated and elegant. His resorts are always a lesson in good taste and doing more with less.

The Chedi's swimming pool is probably the most well-known part of the resort. It has been featured in countless travel magazines and advertisements, and much copied around the world. It is an amazing visual delight created just using clean lines, proportions and a limited palette of materials.

The Chedi is truly a design icon and an example of the best that luxury travel has to offer. Rates are surprisingly affordable, starting at around THB 4,500 (after discounts) for a Deluxe Room. It should definitely be at the top of your list should you visit Chiang Mai.