Piggy & Mousy: Hong Kong Day 4 (Jun 23,09)

HONG KONG DISNEYLAND

Plaza Inn

Inspired by the movie "Mulan", this restaurant serves Cantonese-style dim sum, signature shrimps, spring rolls, BBQ honey-glazed pork fillets and other delicious meals. Plaza Inn is owned by Maxim Catering Limited, the largest food & beverage corporation and restaurant chain in Hong Kong. Mousy, one month later, still dream on dining at Maxim hahahhaa~

Interior of Plaza Inn..

Very oriental design...

Garlic Prawn Spring Roll
蒜茸虾春卷

Fresh Prawn Wanton Noodle
鲜虾云吞面

Honey Glazed Barbecued Pork
密汁叉烧

Steamed Salted York Custard Bun
流沙奶皇包

Goose Liver Steamed Dumpling
鹅肝烧卖

Steamed Prawn Dumpling
虾饺

Steamed Vegetarian Dumpling
鼎湖素粉果

Black Glutinous Coconut Dessert
紫米椰露

MACAU
Mode of transportation: TurboJet
Time: 14:30

RIVIERA HOTEL, MACAU
Mode of transportation: Taxi
Time: 13:50

Situated amidst the breath taking Penha Hill, Riviera Hotel overlooks the panoramic view of Praia Grande Bay and Macau-Taipa Bridge. Riviera hotel is the EX - Ritz Hotel...

Though gone are the glamorous days of Ritz Hotel, Riviera still houses some of the historical leftovers of Ritz Hotel...

President Jiang Ze Min, president of People's Republic of China (1993-2003) stayed here during his visit in both year 1999 and 2000.

View of Macau Sky Tower from PMC's Ocean View room~~

Glimpse of PMC trio's room

MACAO TOWN
Mode of transportation: Hotel Shuttle Bus
Time: 16:00

Many signs and establishments in Macao uses both of Chinese and Portuguese names. honestly ain't very helpful if one don't read Chinese and ain't familiar with Portuguese language...can be quite a mouthful..

Largo do Senado
Mode of transportation: Walk

Largo do Senado Square has some of the most beautiful buildings in Macao featuring a neo-classicism southern-European design. The square is paved with a wave-patterned mosaic of colored stone and accompanied by an armillary sphere water fountain.

St.Dominic's Church
Mode of transportation: Walk
Address: Largo de Sao Domingos, Macau

Standing on the site of a chapel and convent built by the Dominicans in the 1590's St. Dominic's Church dates from the early 17th century. It has an imposing facade of cream-colored stone with white stucco moldings and green-shutter windows. The great baroque alter contains a cream and white statue of the Virgin and Child and a painting of Christ.

St. Dominic's Church has a violently dramatic past. In 1644 a military officer who supported the Spanish against the Portuguese was murdered at the altar during Mass. In 1707 the Dominicans sided with the Pope against Macau's bishop in the Rites Controversy, the friars locked themselves in the church for three days and pelted the soldiers with stones.

Pork Chop Bun Mode of transportation: Walk

The Macao version of a hamburger, the name pretty much says it all: it's a slice of freshly fried pork (often with a few chunks of bone left) with a dash of pepper placed inside a freshly baked bun.

Pearl Milk tea...the 'in-thing" at Macao that was brought in from Taiwan.

Ruins of St.Paul's Mode of transportation: Walk
Address: Rua de Sao Paulo, Macao

Front View~

The Church was built in 1602, adjoining the Jesuit College of St.Paul's, the first western college in Orient where missionaries studied Chinese before serving in the Ming Court of Beijing. These days, all that's remained of the greatest church of Macao is its magnificient stone facade and grand staircase.

Side View~

In 1835, a fire in the kitchen destroyed the college and the body of the church. Only the facade with its 4 colonnaded tiers covered with carvings and statues survived. The statues included Virgin and the saints, symbols of Garden of Eden and the Crucifixion, angels and the devil, a Chinese dragon and a Japanese chrysanthemum, a Portuguese sailing ship and pious warnings inscribed in Chinese.

Back View~

After the restoration work from 1990 to 1995, the back of Ruins of St.Paul's was turned into a museum. But alas, we were to late to visit the museum. Spent half an hour doing nothing but breathing and gazing at this magnificent ruins ahhahaa...

"Looking down" view hahaha~~

ON D WAY TO ...Mount Fortress and Macao Museum
Mode of transportation: Walk

Doggie toilet in the park

On d way up to Mount Fortress...a pair of good sneakers is really worth it...

Mount Fortress Mode of transportation: Walk

Address: Preceta do Museu Macao

Mount Fortress was built in 1617-1626 on the hilltop east to Ruins of St.Paul's. It was built by the Jesuit as part of a complex that included the college and church of St.Paul's. The canon though were only used once when the Dutch invaded Macao in 1622 ^_^"""

Glimpse of Central Macao from Mount Fortress~

Macao Museum Mode of transportation: Walk

The Cathedral Mode of transportation: Walk
Address: Largo de Se

The original cathedral was the church of Our Lady of Hope of St. Lazarus. The present building stands on the site of several previous cathedrals. The first stone Cathedral, consecrated in 1850, was almost destroyed in a typhoon 24 years later and had to be extensively repaired. The Cathedral was completely rebuilt in 1937.

It has two solid towers and massive doors. Inside, its chief beauty lies in its fine stained-glass windows.

Cafe at the Historical site Mode of transportation: Walk

Din catch d name of the cafe..it looked a lot more romantic than this pic hahaha~

SOUVENIR
Mode of transportation: Walk

PMC bought a lot of Macao hand made cookies such as almond cookies, peanut sweets, wild boar meat slices, sesame egg rolls...the list goes on... All from the shops in this area. Sure is yummy~ Most of the biggest chain stores for food souveniors are available here...

Ole London Mode of transportation: Walk

PMC almost stayed here..it is a lot closer to town center. Changed our mind due to the nice view Riviera Hotel offers at a slight 20++% higher in price =)

LORD STOW'S BAKERY
Mode of transportation: Taxi
Time: 20:30
Address: 1 Rua da Tassara, Coloane Island, Macau
Phone: +85328882534
Opening hours: 07:00 to 22:00 except Wednesday 07:00 to 18:00
website: www.lordstow.com

I will take another torturous 3hr + flight just to go back to macao for their Portuguese Egg tarts! Just for those heavenly tarts.
Just tell the taxi driver you wana go to "Andrew's Bakery". Most know where's that...quite costly though..Taxi fare from Central Macao to Lord Stow's bakery is about MOP 100++

Lord Stow's = best Portuguese egg tarts in macao!

The Macao version of portuguese egg tart is more decent compared with that of Chinese dim sum and even that of Portugal itself. Macao version has buttery flaky pastery shell and rich custard filling.

Lord Stow's bakery signature pastry, Portuguese egg tarts was geniusly invented in 1989 by a Briton, Andrew Stow. Andrew used cream in place of water and flour for its filling giving the tart custard a creme brulee-like texture. The slight charred top of the egg tart give the crisp bite.

Selling at MOP 6 each, Lord Stow's humble bakery actually sells up to 3000 egg tarts EVERY DAY! Though there are many bakeries selling Portuguese egg tarts in Macao. We bought 18 egg tarts and HAND CARRY em back to Kuching, they are really that delicious~

Venetian Macao Mode of transportation: Taxi
Time: 21:00
website: www.venetianmacao.com

A 40-story, 2.4 billion luxury hotel and casino resort owned by the Las Vegas Sand Corporation. The casino is currently the largest in the world at 550,000 sq ft (51,000 m²). It is further divided into 4 themed gaming areas namely Golden Fish, Imperial House, Red Dragon and Phoenix. The casino consists of over with 3400 slot machines and 800 gambling tables.