MACAU : Typhoon Too Week for Tourists (Day 2)

I woke up in the morning to a signal number 1 typhoon (the weakest). The rain hit hard on the concrete pavements and the winds blew fiercely against the glass windows. What a storm! But it gradually turned into a thunderstorm. My plans for beating the mainland tourists with an early walk from the A Ma Temple to the Ruins of Saint Paul's vanished and I felt like a stranded tourist at the fringe of Macau. So, I wandered inside the hostel for about an hour before heading out to find something to eat for breakfast (the rain had stopped for now but the strong winds remained). A brief walk along the beachfront this morning was quite different from the night before--sleeping dogs, closed restaurants, and an almost deserted Hac Sa Beach.

Hac-Sa Beach on the morning of June 28, 2006

We found a barbeque restaurant about a five-minute walk away and my roomate, Layton, and I sat down to order some food. We ended up being served two pork-chop buns (a famous food item in Macau) since the kitchen staff was busy cooking a few dozen take-outs for a nearby construction workers. By the time we finished our inexpensive but still filling Macanese specialty, I've observed that the weather had somewhat improved and concluded that it would probably not be too terrible for the rest of the day. So, after a farewell with my roomate, I jumped on the 21A Barra--A Ma Temple bus (luckily, I only waited for about a minute even though this is an hourly bus). The 21A bus was quite empty along the way, perhaps due to the infrequency of this particular bus route (only I had been on it for most of the trip...see the mirror in the picture below). People waiting at bus stops seemed to have a question mark on their faces as the bus slowed to pass by each bus stop (as though this bus had never existed). Or maybe it was just the poor weather that kept people home.

an empty bus 21A for A-Ma Temple via the Macau-Taipa Bridge

The typhoon, however, did not stop the flock of mainland tourists to praise the A Ma God at the temple on the southwestern tip of the Macau Peninsula. Another passing shower did not stop the faithful worshippers either. Incense filled the whole place, from inside out and across the stone paved plaza in front of the temple.

facade of A-Ma Temple


Looking up from inside the temple grounds.


Faithful Worshippers


Incense...Incense...Incense...

The strong smell of incense slowly drifted away as I moved away from the temple and climbed the hill. It was a longer and a tougher walk than I had expected, but I eventually made it to the top where the Chapel of Our Lady of Penha sits. Founded in 1622, this almost 400 year old church looks over the south including the Macau Tower and the Sai Van Bridge.

Southern view of the Macau Tower & Sai Van Bridge


Southeastern view of Taipa & Macau-Taipa Bridge


Facade of the Chapel of Our Lady of Penha

After lingering around for a good fifteen minutes (the grounds in front of the Chapel was nearly deserted except for five or six others) and enjoying the tranquility, I began to walk down the cobblestone lanes and headed for one of the older neighbourhoods on the peninsula. I strolled around the vicinity while heading in the direction of the Largo do Senado, the main plaza famous for its fountain and Portuguese-like mosaic pavements, visiting some UNESCO sites along the way.

Igreja de São Lourenco (St. Lawrence's Church). One of the three oldest churches in Macau and in very desperate need for repainting of its facade.


Renovation near completion at Seminario e Igreja de São José (St. Joseph's Seminary and Church)


Facade of Teatro Dom Pedro V (Dom Pedro V Theatre)


Igreja de Santo Agostinho (St. Augustine's Church) and...


...Largo de Santo Agostinho (St. Augustine's Square) with a street leading down the Largo do Senado (Senado Square)

But just before I wandered around Senado Square and its surroundings, I had to take a rest somewhere and eat a late lunch. I had always loved eating Portuguese-style Baked Chicken with rice back in Vancouver's café restaurants so that's the thing I ordered right when I sat down at a one in the heart of Macau.

Portuguese-style baked chicken at its best

After charging up, it's time for more strolling and photo shooting! Here are some shots from in and around the Largo do Senado area:

The fountain surrounded by lotus


The fountain again from a different angle


Santa Casa da Misericórdia (Holy House of Mercy)


A bench against a picturesque backdrop

the inner courtyard of Edifício do Leal Senado (the Loyal Senate)


the inner courtyard of Edifício do Leal Senado (the Loyal Senate)


a wall inside the Edifício do Leal Senado (the Loyal Senate) with stairs leading to the second floor

Walking through the maze of narrow streets, I reached Ruínas de São Paulo (Ruins of St Paul's), one of the key attractions of Macau. The staircase leading up to the facade had been, as usual, dotted with tourists pointing their cameras at the church which was destroyed by fire in 1835. The street leading to the ladders are filled with shops selling local delicacies and antique furniture, also attracting many tourists (including myself).

Looking towards the Ruins


East meets West. (back facade of Ruins of St. Paul's & the Na Tcha Temple)

Exhausted, I headed back to the hostel, found myself a good barbequed food dinner with a nice breeze on Hac-Sa Beach, and prepared for my final day.