Macau - Checking out at Metropark Hotel, I was confronted with a rude front desk lady. Never had anyone slide the check-out bill to you - most hotel staff will politely hand over the bill with 2 hands. The service from the Metropark Hotel is below acceptable standard.
The taxi driver that took me to Royal Hotel which is a 10 minutes trip that cost about HK$ 30 - wanted me to pay HK$100. I refused and came to a compromise of HK$40 - which I think is also too much. This was a very bad experience in Macau.
Futhermore, Macau has a stupid policy of some taxi can only take 4 passengers and some 5 passengers. If you have 5 people including kids, you have to look on the side of the taxi with the number 5. This is rediculous....
You need to be extra vigilant in Macau:-
1. When taking a taxi, don't forget to write down the taxi number and driver's name which are affixed next to the taxi meter.
2. Make sure that the taxi meter is running - walk out if he wants to hustle and negotiate for a fixed trip price.
3. Bring the hotel name card because all taxi drivers speak Cantonese or Mandarin and hardly speak English.
Checking into the Royal Hotel is miles apart - with very polite and attentive staff. Internet access is free for every room.
Walking about 20 minutes from Royal Hotel, you will come across an photo art gallery and then following the road signs you will come across the Fire Services Museum. This is located at the headquarters of Macau Fire Services. This European-style building built in 1920, contains more than 700 artifacts in two halls. The main halls contains both Chinese and British manual pumps, old British fire engines, photographs and historic costumes. It is free admission and opens daily.
The taxi driver that took me to Royal Hotel which is a 10 minutes trip that cost about HK$ 30 - wanted me to pay HK$100. I refused and came to a compromise of HK$40 - which I think is also too much. This was a very bad experience in Macau.
Futhermore, Macau has a stupid policy of some taxi can only take 4 passengers and some 5 passengers. If you have 5 people including kids, you have to look on the side of the taxi with the number 5. This is rediculous....
You need to be extra vigilant in Macau:-
1. When taking a taxi, don't forget to write down the taxi number and driver's name which are affixed next to the taxi meter.
2. Make sure that the taxi meter is running - walk out if he wants to hustle and negotiate for a fixed trip price.
3. Bring the hotel name card because all taxi drivers speak Cantonese or Mandarin and hardly speak English.
Checking into the Royal Hotel is miles apart - with very polite and attentive staff. Internet access is free for every room.
Walking about 20 minutes from Royal Hotel, you will come across an photo art gallery and then following the road signs you will come across the Fire Services Museum. This is located at the headquarters of Macau Fire Services. This European-style building built in 1920, contains more than 700 artifacts in two halls. The main halls contains both Chinese and British manual pumps, old British fire engines, photographs and historic costumes. It is free admission and opens daily.
Art gallery
This area is an UNESCO Heritage Site
Visited the Ruins of St. Paul's - this is a World Heritage site and was built by the Jesuits in 1602, but was destroyed by fire in 1835 except for its stone facade with carvings that tell the story of the Catholic Church in Asia. There is also a crypt containing the relics of christian martyrs and a Museum of Sacred Art. This museum is dedicated to the history of the religious missions in the region. Along the side walls are relics of Japanese and Vietnamese martyrs. A grave has been left uncovered, dominating the whole area. A cross and tabernacle have been placed on the stones where the first building was erected, facing an altar capped by a single piece of marble.
Ruins of St. Paul's
There are so many tourists at the Ruins of St. Paul's and on that day - there was to be held a big concert. Crossing the road, you will come across Mount Fortress into which is built the Museum of Macau. The fortress was equipped with cannons, military barracks, wells and an arsenal that held sufficient ammunition and supplies to endure a siege lasting up to two years. The fortress covers and area of 10,000 square meters, in the shape of a trapezoid. The four corners of the fortress protrude to form bulwarks.
Walking along the old section of the City Walls - these were the surviving segment of the city's defence structures built as early as 1569, is a remnant of an early Portuguese tradition of constructing defensive walls around their port settlements.
Further down, you will come across the Na Tcha Temple, which was built in 1888, to dedicate to the worship of Na Tcha.
Had dinner in the city near Senoa square at a small restaurant and it was shocking to have your porcelain dinner plate with 12 small pieces chip off. In Singapore and Hong Kong, this plate would have been thrown away as it does not look decent and professional. I just swallowed my pride, don't question and gobble down the chow....
Being in Macau, makes me feel like this is a backwater place for Hong Kongers where professionalism and courtesy are non existence. Because of the numerous Mainland Chinese coming to Macau to gamble, the Macau entertainment business is booming and courtesy just falls by the wayside.
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