Macau:  Gateway between East & West

Macau is the product of over 400 years of cultural exchange between the western world of Portugal and Chinese civilization. The architectural heritage, as proclaimed World Heritage Site, and predominantly European in nature, stands in the midst of Chinese architecture in the historic settlement, providing both contrast and colour.

This small peninsula, only 25 square kilometres and about the size of Cape Town, is reached by hydrofoil within 55 minutes from Hong Kong. On this tiny piece of land, and islands of Taipa and Coloane, which are reach by a network of suspension bridges, building activities of billions of dollars, are under progress.

We were met at the Macau Ferry Terminal by a wonderful and ever enthusiastic guide, Maria Lam, who introduced herself as partly of Chinese and also Spanish origins. Her love for this region spans over more than 20 years, during which she introduced Macau to thousands of visitors.

The city itself embodies a theme of contrasting elements: on the one side one will get the ultra modern glass skyscrapers, viewing towers and elaborate suspension bridges, and almost next to that the old world charm of the pedestrian district with section of the old city walls and fortress of Our Lady of the Mount.

The best way to experience the diversity of Macau’s legacy is to walk the historic route, starting at the Ruins of St Paul’s Church, on the highest point of the old town. Although almost destroyed during wars, this beautiful single façade dates back to the time of the Jesuits who settled in Macau in 1565 and soon set to work spreading Christianity. After restoration work during the early 1990’s, it offers today visitors a glimpse of history through the Crypt and Museum of Sacred Art.

Down hill, along the Rua de San Paulo, small shops line the cobblestone street, selling an assortment of traditional home-made cookies and niceties.

Another fine example of Portuguese influence is St Dominic’s Church. It has an imposing façade of crème-coloured stone with white stucco mouldings and green shuttered windows. The interior resembles many European cathedrals.

The narrow streetscape opens onto the main city square, Senado Square. Situated at one end, the Leal Senado building has a commanding view overlooking the entire square, flanked on both side by European style buildings.

In contrast to the Portuguese influence, the A-Ma Temple is located facing Barra Square.

Macau’s name is derived from A-Ma-Gau. There is no set time for prayer. The temple keeper earns his living by selling spirals of joss, which are suspended from the ceiling and burn as incense for two weeks. These are name-tagged and the size of these spirals depends on the contribution the businessman made to the temple keeper, and will accordingly determine his fortune of business luck.

We had lunch at a popular venue Lion King Rei. The menu consists of a combination of East meets West: As a starter a potato-seafood soup, followed by a traditional pork dish, served with new potatoes and a strange green bean combination; the Chinese-Portuguese menu was rounded off by a cheese-meringue ice cream cake, similar to a pavlova.

For anybody visiting Hong Kong, it is worth the while to make a day trip to Macau.

One normally would think that Hong Kong is only a shopping paradise, but the most interesting aspect for me, was the diversity of its people, its architecture, its presence. No where else in the world, one would stand and look around, and would wonder whether you are somewhere in the East, or Europe or the States; but only then you realise, you have the best of all!