10 Top Things to do in Macau

Macau, the Las Vegas of the East and one of the top gambling destinations in the world, is a special perk for Indian citizens as this is one of those countries where we get visa-free access. With easy Macau visas and cheap flights from India, it is no wonder that holidaymakers combine this gambling and cultural destination with a trip to Hong Kong.



A Macau holiday includes everything from casinos, gambling, glittering nightlife, adventure, great food, shopping to a rich cultural experience in its old Portuguese town and a UNESCO world heritage site. Here are 10 of the top experiences that you should indulge in on your next holiday to Macau.

1) Walk the Macau Heritage Trail



Even though Macau is famous worldwide for its casinos, I think its top highlight lies in its rich Portuguese past. With churches, a fort, colonial buildings and the Macau museum, this old part of the Macau peninsula is full of cultural and historical significance. You start at the ruins of the St. Paul’s church and then you slowly make your way through the tiny lanes and cobbled paths to the other attractions while soaking in this cultural flavor of Macau.

2) Try your Luck at the Casinos



Be it poker, blackjack, roulette, boule, Sic bo, Fan tan, keno or slot machines, you are never too far away from trying your luck at any of the casinos in Macau. While there are close to 40 casinos in Macau, my favorites are ‘The Venetian’, Wynn casino, Casino Lisboa and Sands Casino. Most of the action takes place in the night and this includes the colorful lights, expensive cars, designer clothes and of course the heavy gambling. When you are there, do make sure that you are well dressed and try to spend responsibly, even though I know it is difficult.

3) Watch City Views from Fortaleza do Monte



Macau may not have the skyscrapers of Hong Kong, but it is nice to see nonetheless. One of the better views of the Macau skyline can be seen from the roof of Fortaleza do Monte, the Portuguese fort located in the heritage part of the city. This is where you can see casinos, skyscrapers, slums and ruins all together from an ancient canon’s eye line.

4) Shop at Rua da Tercena



For designer labels, one can head to the malls of Hong Kong or the five star hotels and casinos of Macau, but if you are interested in budget shopping and something more authentic from the land, you should head to Rua da Tercena near Senado Square. This is where you will find top quality t shirts for less than a dollar, tailoring shops, art, antiques and a full fledged flea market. Do remember that most of these places shut shop by 7 pm.

5) Be amazed by the Colorful Lights of the Casinos



Like Las Vegas, the casinos of Macau are known to dazzle the spectators with an array of lighting, fountains, live performances and shows that are considered the best in the world. Water shows, laser shows, dragon shows and the iconic house of the dancing water form some of the top attractions. Each casino has its trump card. The City of Dreams, Venetian and the Grand Lisboa are my favorites for unique shows and experiences.

6) Do the 2nd Highest Bungee Jump in the World



Macau is not just about gambling, culture and shopping, but it is also about adrenaline rushes. Macau tower, an iconic landmark is home to most of these adventure rushes. At a height of 233 metres, it offers the 2nd highest bungee jump in the world, a sky jump, a protected sky walk for all he normal people, bouldering and sport climbing. And while you are feel like an adrenaline junkie, you can soak in possibly the best views of Macau and its coastline.

7) Relish the Portuguese Egg Tart



One of the Portuguese legacies left behind in Macau are its tarts, cookies and other baked items. The fresh, soft and hot Portuguese egg tarts are highly recommended and they make for great companions while you are walking the Macau heritage circuit. And so are the cookies and other baked goods, which not only are great power munchies, but are also fantastic souvenirs to carry back home to your family and friends.

8) Relax on the Hac Sa Beach



Macau is blessed with good nature too, especially through its small, but gorgeous coastline. The Hac Sa beach, Macau’s largest beach is known for its black sand is a great place for a swim. Popular with both locals and tourists, this beach makes for a great weekend getaway.

9) Take a Gondola Ride at the Venetian



The Venetian is the largest casino in the world and the single largest single structure hotel building in Asia. Designed after Venice, this luxury hotel resort is all about opulence, grandeur and European design. You can stay here, shop here, play here or even take a gondola ride in one of its canals. It is definitely one of the best hotels in Macau.

10) Tour Macau in a Tricyclos



When you visit Macau, you will notice these colorful cycle rickshaws parked in front of the casinos and at other tourist attractions. Locally called as Tricyclos, these cycle rickshaws are a great way to explore Macau at a leisure pace both at day or at night. While during the day, you can hop on them to explore the old town, the beaches and the Macau tower, during the night, you can use them for casino hopping. Even if you don’t wish to hire them for a full day, you should definitely take a ride in this iconic form of transportation.

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4 Of The Top Gaming Havens Around The Globe

These days, many people opt to gamble online, choosing to take advantage of convenient, internet-based options like Euro Palace casino games. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette and all your other favorites are waiting for you, and you can even get a welcome bonus of up to €500 for free. Still, land-based gambling has its charms, so you would be remiss if you ignored the leading gambling destinations around the world.

1. Las Vegas



Not for nothing is Las Vegas known as Sin City: There are around 100 gambling venues in the Las Vegas area. Poker players especially will find their needs catered to with the many well-run poker rooms open to the public. Originally centered on the old, downtown area, the hotspots in Vegas are now located along the Strip -- Las Vegas Boulevard South. Many themed resorts and casinos allow you to play within diverse environments. Las Vegas bills itself as a center of entertainment, so you will find a wide selection of fine dining, shopping, theatrical performances and other diverting amusements.

2. Macau



Macau, a special administrative division of China, has benefited from economic growth in the country and the rest of Asia in recent decades. In fact, it now generates more gambling revenue annually than any other city, including Vegas. More than 30 casinos would like to earn your custom, and the trend is toward huge establishments that spread almost any game you could think of. The "Big Game," as poker fans call it, runs regularly and features many variants of poker played for astonishing stakes by frequently drunk competitors with deep pockets.

3. Monaco



The casino in Monaco offers an upscale setting for ladies and gentlemen who enjoy high-stakes thrills. Since its opening in the 1850s, this center of iniquity has been the downfall of many an over-optimistic aristocrat. Despite the age of the casino, the gaming here is up-to-date, and the accommodations are first-rate. When you need a break from the tables, you can hang out by the French Riviera, check out the museum of vintage automobiles or visit the Prince's Palace.

4. London



London's other interesting elements often overshadow its gambling action, but you should be aware that a couple dozen gambling halls serve the capital of the United Kingdom. Most of them are open to the public, but there are a few exclusive clubs that maintain strict membership lists. London casino staff members have earned their reputation for being more polite and respectful than those in many other gambling destinations although they can be a bit reserved at times. Many professional gamblers, from England and abroad, call London home because gambling income is completely tax-free in the United Kingdom.

Pack your bags, and head to one of these highly regarded gambling destinations for a memorable getaway. Whether you prefer North America, Europe or Asia, you will be bound to find games that interest you as well as relaxing pursuits away from the tables. You deserve a break from your everyday routine, so make your arrangements today.

Note: The pictures have been borrowed from wikipedia.org under the Creative Commons license and each photo has been linked to the host page.

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The Cultural Side of Macau

Macau is extremely popular the world over for its casinos and its gambling circuit and this is what drives much of the tourism to this special administrative region of China. But, Macau’s equally famous and equally important tourism piece is its cultural side. A large section of the Macau peninsula is a UNESCO World heritage site and is deeply entrenched in rich Portuguese history through its ruins, churches, squares, streets, cathedrals, heritage buildings and Museums.


The best way to enjoy this cultural beauty of Macau is to go on a heritage walk that takes you through most of the buildings and areas that have cultural significance. The best way to enjoy your Macau holiday would be to explore the cultural side during the day and the gambling side during the night.


This will ensure that you set to visit all the heritage monuments that are open during the day and the casino shows that come to life during the evening and night hours.


If you are exploring on your own, it is best to start at Senado Square, a center point to this heritage stretch and home to most of the shops and restaurants. This square is closely located to the downtown area and hence easily accessible from most of the hotels in Macau.


At Senado Square, you can see buildings designed during Macau’s Portuguese rule. My favorite way to explore this stretch is after having some special Portuguese egg tarts, Macau cookies and waffles. There are many shops and street vendors at Senado square where you can find these items.


After Senado Square, your next stop should be St. Paul’s ruins. It is also known as Sao Paulo cathedral and is one of Macau’s oldest and richest buildings in terms of beauty and history. This cathedral also has a small museum, which you can explore. After this cathedral, you can make your way towards the Macau museum, which is situated inside the fort.


It is here that you will get a lot of information and insight into the colonial history of Macau. This is also one of the best places in this heritage zone to offer you a great aerial view of Macau town. You can see the casinos, the Macau tower, St. Paul’s ruins and also notice the stark difference between Macau’s rich and poor living standards.


Once you have got all your insights from the museum, you can stroll through the small heritage lanes that cut through heritage buildings, lanes filled with cookie shops and Portuguese churches with enough oomph to make you gape in wonder. For me, the Portuguese sign boards were a huge interest point.


The best part about this Macau cultural experience is that you can easily cover all of it in a single weekend. You only use the days for this cultural trail and do the casino, gambling and shopping circuit in the nights. This means that you can plan a power packed weekend holiday from Hong Kong and return with so many rich experiences and pictures.

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Travel Photo: Trishaws of Macau

Macau is associated with money, luxury and gambling. And to a lesser extent, its rich Portuguese culture. However, within all of this and something that you don’t normally associate with a casino destination are the Trishaws of Macau. This archaic mode of transport can be seen standing in front of the casinos and five star hotels in resplendent yellow colours.


Each of these trishaws have a menu at their disposal that tourists can refer to see which area of Macau they want to explore. To give you an idea of the menu, it has packages to the strip clubs of Macau, the happening night clubs, the busy casinos, the historic sites and much more. These trishaws or tricyclos are ideal for those who wish to explore this vibrant city at leisure and then step into the happening nightlife spots of this casino city.

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Travel Photo: The Portuguese Culture of Macau

Macau is known more for its casinos and its insane gambling amounts, but it also has a UNESCO World Heritage site by way of its rich Portuguese culture. This is the old area of Macau with the famous St. Paul’s ruins, St. Augustine’s Square and many colonial churches and buildings. And the best part is that all this old town can be easily covered by foot, thereby allowing one to explore all these sights at leisure.


I loved exploring this side of Macau by foot. All I had was a map in hand and a camera and I went clickety-click. Whenever I felt hungry, I grabbed a bite of the famous Portuguese egg tart or their superb baked cookies and kept moving through this very beautiful and well maintained old Portuguese area of Macau. Have you explored this side of Macau as yet?

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Hong Kong and Macau Visa for Indians

Hong Kong and Macau are two of those countries (special regions) where the Indian passport doesn’t need a visa. It is where you feel like you have a European, American, Australian or Japanese passport as the citizens of the countries walk in into most of the countries around the world without a visa or any documentation. Even though the Indian citizen does not need a visa to enter these two countries, the Indian traveler still needs to be prepared.



Hong Kong
To get into Hong Kong, the Indian traveler needs the following:
1) Passport with minimum 6 months validity and 2 blank pages
2) Return ticket within 14 days out of Hong Kong
3) A business card or a document to show that you are employed or self-employed
4) Hotel bookings for the 1st night (some immigration officials are known to ask for this)
5) An international credit card and some foreign currency

There is free entry. All the Indian passport gets is a stamp saying that you are allowed to stay in Hong Kong for 14 days. As long as you exit Hong Kong within 14 days, the Indian traveler can enter many times in a short duration.

UPDATE: Do note that all Indian travelers to Hong Kong require a Pre Arrival Registration (PAR) slip in order to enter Hong Kong. This does not cost anything, but it is a necessity. This change was made in early 2017.

Macau
Macau is a bit easier to get into than Hong Kong as the Indian passport is a bit more respected here. To get into Macau, the Indian traveler needs the following:
1) Passport with minimum 6 months validity and 2 blank pages
2) An international card and some foreign currency

Generally, the immigration officials don’t ask for any other documentation, but it is good to have some answers ready regarding hotel bookings and return journey. There is no charge for entry into Macau for the Indian passport and the traveler gets 30 days in Macau on a single entry. As long as you exit within 30 days, you can enter Macau as many times as possible.

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Travel Costs: South East Asia Backpacking

A lot of you must be curious to know how much I spent in the last nine months while I traversed 12 countries across South East Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines) and a bit of East Asia (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau).

Below is an approximate daily cost (in US Dollars and Indian National Rupee @INR 58 to 1 USD) for each country that I visited. This should help you give you a ballpark for your future travel expenses to any of these 12 countries. It includes:

1) Stay in a budget hostel or sharing a budget room with another traveler
2) 3 vegetarian meals either on the street or in a budget restaurant per day
3) 1 or 2 snacks from the street or from the super market (like yoghurt, fruits or biscuits) per day
4) Small commute inside the city using public transport or self drive rentals (I walk quite a bit)
5) Entrance fee for one tourist attraction per day
6) Occasional drinking. I don’t drink beer
7) Inter-city travel via trains, buses, ferries and planes
8) Bottled water wherever safe drinking water is not available
9) Lots of Souvenir Shopping (Fridge Magnets, Wood Work and the usual stuff)

Per Day Costs
South East Asia
Thailand: $23 (INR 1344)
Cambodia: $21.5 (INR 1247)
Vietnam: $19.5 (INR 1131)
Laos: $19 (INR 1102)
Myanmar/Burma: $38 (INR 2204)
Malaysia: $32 (INR 1856)
Singapore: $48.5 (INR 2813)
Indonesia: $28 (INR 1624)
Philippines: $19 (INR 1102)

East Asia
Hong Kong: $48.5 (INR 3103)
Macau: $43 (INR 3132)
Taiwan: $38 (INR 2668)

Note. There can be cost variances due to the following:
1) The above costs can be higher for larger cities and lesser for small towns. This is an average across the country.
2) I spent a bit more in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as I wanted to treat myself.
3) I spent 2 weeks in Malaysia with family and hence the cost went up marginally.
4) I did some big shopping in Malaysia as it was my last country
5) I took some expensive flights to reach the northern stretches of Myanmar
6) I had to pay for medical expenses in Singapore
7) I stayed with friends for brief durations, especially in Vietnam and Indonesia.

In total, I roughly spent about INR 4.25 Lakhs or ~USD 7,400 over the nine months. Mine was not truly low cost backpacking and I indulged in luxury from time to time. Below points briefly describe the way I traveled.

Accommodation
If the temperature went above 33 degree Celsius or more than 80% humidity, I ended up taking an air-conditioned dormitory or an air-conditioned room.

Land Travel I am 6 foot 3 inches tall. Hence, when it came to land travel, I always opted for more leg room and this were available in the most expensive buses and trains.

Air Travel
I took the cheapest flights available and never paid for anything extra except for 1 check-in baggage.

Food
I never once sacrificed food. I am a big guy who needs a lot of food and drinks and that’s exactly what I gave myself. I am a vegetarian so sometimes I ended up paying more to get good vegetarian food.

Paid Activities
I did avoid some unnecessary activities, but never bothered about entry fees or charges to go somewhere or do something. Since I was already there, I never shrugged from participating in a activity that would otherwise be deemed expensive.

Intra City Travel
I always took public transport and only in rare instances did I take a taxi all alone.

Shopping
I did a fair bit of souvenir shopping, but I bargained real hard.

Phone Connectivity
Except  for Vietnam and Indonesia, I didn’t get myself a local phone connection.

Packaged Tours
I think I took a total of 3-4 tours in the entire 9 months. I tried avoiding tours as much as possible and did everything my own way.

Internet
I always leveraged free internet available in hostels/hotels, restaurants, airports and other tourist areas.

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Fridge Magnets from South East Asia

Welcome back! I got a lot of such phrases from many of you when I landed in India a couple of days back. Thank you so much for giving me such a warm welcome. I would like to thank you in return by showing you South East Asia through fridge magnets. These are the magnets that I collected over 267 days and 12 countries.


I had purchased more magnets, but this is what remains on my metal wardrobe doors after my sister and my friends wacked some for their respective fridges. To all those who do not know my travel shopping habits, the two things that I collect religiously from my travels are fridge magnets and currencies and to a small extent, rare wooden work and masks.


I hope you like this magnet tour! I am slowly settling back into the Indian lifestyle. The first two days were tiring as I found it difficult to get used to the polluted air in Bangalore, but I am doing much better today. I have a lot of stories and pictures to share with all of you. Do stay tuned for a lot of my South East Asia experiences.

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Spending money wisely in Macau

Every time a traveler is in a flashy location, there is an urge to spend money. Every time there are more avenues to buy, people spend more money. And when this is coupled with casinos, money flows freely. That is the case with Macau. This country is such a lifestyle statement. It’s casinos make more money than Las Vegas and that is why all the leading casino brands of the world have an empire here.


And with China’s growing riches, Macau is just getting bigger and bigger. There are mighty big casinos and five star hotels, there are the leading fashion brands and then there is unlimited shopping. All of this ensures that the traveler is tempted to shell out a lot of money.


Sometimes it is the temptation to become one with Macau and play the part. For a while, this is a way to have a good holiday. But, if not kept in check, it could have a big drain on your wallet as living the Macau lifestyle is an expensive proposition. And when it comes to the casinos, we know how gambling makes people behave. The temptation to make more money is always there and to make some profits, people have been known to lose a lot if not all.


If someone is lucky and ends up on the positive side of the casino table in terms of profits, even they get controlled by the lust for more money or fame. They either end up placing the money in another bet or end up spending the money on lifestyle products or services. In sum, money is not earned, but spent. If you wish to keep your spending habits in check when you are in Macau, always use a credit card when possible with a pre-defined limit so that you can keep yourself in check. This will help you enjoy your Macau holiday while ensuring that you don’t have a financial heart attack when you return home after your holiday.

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Vibrant Casino Experience of Macau: The Monte Carlo of the Orient

When one thinks of casinos, it is always Las Vegas. For most of us, that is the first and the only thing that comes to our mind, but may be that is because of the movies. But, what people do not know is that the casinos of Macau has more gambling revenues than the ones in Las Vegas. Traditionally, Macau, located on the east coast of China and south of Hong Kong was known to be a Portuguese old colony with some heritage monuments, churches and good Portuguese tarts and other baked items. Gambling used to exist, but in a very nascent form and preferred only by people from China.


Today, casinos account for more than half of Macau’s GDP. The biggest players are from China and Hong Kong. Casinos are such a big attraction here that people from Hong Kong and mainland China come every weekend to try their luck and this has led to a special weekend price in Macau where the price of hotels and everything related to tourism doubles for the weekend. This increased demand for gambling has ensured that the traditional Chinese style of gambling got morphed into the more international style with more western casino brands joining in on the casino brigade.


The demand is so high that the tourists who come to Macau are more casino tourists than general tourists looking to explore the UNESCO World heritage site, eat some local food and do some shopping. The casinos and their five star hotels have risen up to this demand by coming up with great shows and unique experiences. Some do the laser show. Some do the water show. Others do the culture show with dragons and more. Then, there is the house of the dancing water, a very popular dance show. All these shows evolved around the casino business.


There are about 33 casinos in Macau. Some of the key names include ‘The Venetian’, Wynn Casino, Casino Lisboa, Sands Casino and others. Out of these the biggest is the Venetian, which is entirely modeled after Venice and has its own waterways and gondolas. A lot of tourists who come to Macau over the weekend have just enough time to explore the Venetian. Such is its size. The best part about all these casinos is that anyone can enter, play any amount of money and play any game of their liking. All you need to be is dressed decently. This is not because it is a rule, but it is because everyone else is very well dressed and if you are dressed poorly, then you stand out easily.


Inside the casino, you can notice a multitude of games being played: poker, blackjack, roulette, boule, Sic bo, Fan Tan, keno, slot machines of amazing varieties and much more. Depending on one’s budget, one can pay the cash and get the equivalent in chips and pick any table or machine of their liking. If you are new to the gambling world, it is worthwhile to be a spectator on a table or a slot machine, just to help you understand the rules and the possible techniques of winning. If you are on a short time leash, you can practice online though online gambling sites and hone your skills. Ideally, this should help you understand the basics and even some level of logic, but it is much different when you play on a table with real people.


The casino life begins after sunset and goes on till sunrise. It is during this time that you will find that the Chinese are getting very rich and also see some of the finest cars and clothes on display. The latest Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Rolls Royce, etc would be vrooming their engines in the quiet night of Macau and all the people sitting inside it would display their Gucci, Versace, Armani, Prada and other designer labels. These casinos form a good holiday for the normal tourist who is looking to break away from his monotonous life and indulge in some fun.

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16 Random Things about Macau

Like most tourists, I stayed only a short duration of three days in the Portuguese old town and casino hub of Macau. However, I ensured that I utilized all of my 3 days and 3 nights here and explored a good deal of Macau. During this exploration, I came across some interesting things about this small country, which I have noted below for everyone’s reading.

 
1) Tourists visit Macau for its glitz, color and its rich casinos, but the bulk of the people in Macau are really poor.

2) T Shirts can be bought in Macau for as low as 70 cents.

3) Macau used to be a Portuguese colony and hence all of its streets are given Portuguese names. Most of the people living in Macau do not recognize any of these names. They have their own equivalent Chinese names.

4) Cookies and biscuits can be smelt a mile away. Most of Macau is big time into baking.

5) The casinos of Macau rake in a lot of money and are second only to Las Vegas in the United States of America.

6) Even though the old town of Macau is an UNESCO World Heritage site, it lacks basic sanitary conditions with blocked sewer and one has to walk through some streets with closed noses.

7) Like Hong Kong, Macau allows its banks to print their own currency notes.

8) Even though Macau is a SAR of China and has most of its population as Chinese, it still has a lot of Portuguese influence.

9) The Egg Tart can definitely be called the national snack of Macau. Not only do the tourists adore it, the locals snack on it very often too.

10) Even though it is very far away from Venice and Europe, it has its own Venetian style canals and gondolas in one of its five star hotels that is modeled after Venice.

11) Macau has one of the easiest immigration systems. It is also one of those countries where an Indian passport gets easy visa free entry.

12) You should be able to get around most of the touristy places in Macau free of cost through the shuttle buses that is run regularly by the five star hotels and casinos.

13) It is a big world inside the casinos. There are so many tables, so many games and so many machines that it will take you a couple of days just to put your head together and decide what you want to play and how you want to play.

14) You have to spend just an hour in one of Macau’s casinos to understand how rich the people of China are and why China is so getting close to becoming a economic super power.

15) Macau is such a popular weekend getaway from Hong Kong that every hotel, restaurant and travel company has a weekday and weekend rate card.

16) Macau is all about good service at no cost to the tourist. The entire old town can be visited without spending any money, the excellent shows run by the five star hotels are also free and so is it to enter a casino and watch the gambling world unfold in the middle of the night.

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Tarts, Cookies and more baked items from Macau

You are in Asia and attached to the People’s Republic of China. You are in one of the top gambling destinations of the world, but apart from gambling, tourists visit this country for two things. One, a dose of its Portuguese past and the other to taste its unbelievably good Portuguese baked items, which are a legacy left behind by the Portuguese.


And in line with this legacy, one can see a baking frenzy all over Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China, like Hong Kong. A one hour ferry ride from Hong Kong brings you here and a 10 minute bus ride brings you to the Portuguese old town where you can smell the goods before you see it. As you follow your nose, you end up crossing an unbelievably large number of bakery shops, some small and some really large. They are all doing brisk business as the baked items of Macau are a hot favorite with tourists and locals alike.


The tourists prefer to carry huge boxes of freshly baked cookies and crepe rolls as souvenirs from Macau after a round of tasting. But, if you just want to taste the goods and want to know the best one here, then it is undoubtedly the Portuguese Egg Tarts that are so yummy. The fresh and hot egg tarts are so good that you can just complete your entire meal with egg tarts. Apart from the egg tarts, you have to eat the egg baked rolls, the wafer thin crepe rolls and the excellent assortment of cookies that range from pecan nuts to walnuts to almonds and more.


Whatever you do in Macau, don’t miss out on sampling its excellent Portuguese baked items. If you do miss it, you have not visited Macau. If you want to know a reputed brand for sampling these goods, look up Koi Kei bakery, the largest and the most reliable chain in Macau.

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Vila Universal: Manageable Budget Hotel in Macau’s Portuguese Quarter

If you want to live lavishly in Macau, you should stay at the Venetian or other five star hotels that give you easy access to the top designer brands, the casinos and a rich experience. If you wish to explore the Portuguese area of Macau and just wish to drop into the five stars for their shows and casinos, then you need to stay inside the old town to prevent you from walking too much. While there are many places in the old town, most of them are obscenely expensive for the quality of accommodation and the service they provide. The only plus is ease of access to the main tourist attractions. I stayed in the Portuguese old town too at the Vila Universal hotel on Rua de Ferdinande, a short walk away from Senado Square. Below review is based on my recent stay of 2 days and 2 nights here.

1) The rooms in the hotel are big with all typical hotel facilities like large beds, air conditioner, hot shower, attached bathroom, television, etc., but I did not like the fact that the rooms had no windows, the corridor was stuffy, the bathroom was extremely slippery and th shower handle was missing.

2) The other problem here is that the people running the hotel do not speak English and you have to use Google translate for every small bit of conversation.

3) I had to book into this hotel as the other hotels were quoting higher prices and the ones that were cheap were really bad.

4) The plus points about this hotel is its location, location and location. It is a short walk from most of the big casinos, the Portuguese old town attractions, restaurants, famous bakery cafes and shops are all just a short walk away and the free shuttle buses to the Venetian and other hotels on Taipa island stop very close to the street where the hotel is located.

5) The place has decent internet connectivity and don’t have a night time cap in spite of it being a family run hotel.

6) The hotel has no restaurant of their own, but many restaurants are located close to it. In fact, at least 3 of them are located right opposite it.

Personally, I would not stay at this place as my first option. I would always look to find a better place that is worth the money. If you do not have any other options, then this is a manageable option.

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Calling Travel Advertisers from South East Asia

Dear Travel Advertisers,

On Nov 23, 2012, I embark on a 5-6 month backpacking journey across South East Asia, which includes an overland journey into mainland South East Asia. During this exploration, I will be visiting Burma, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Thailand and Vietnam and if I am able to land visas, then the remaining South East Asian countries of East Timor, Malaysia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Philippines. Details about this trip can be found here.

Partnership
During this trip, I will share my travel experiences through photographs and videos, which in turn will be read and assimilated by the fans and readers of my blog. These readers of mine would be ideal prospects for you if you are looking to promote or increase visibility for your travel brand located in South East Asia. And I would be happy to work with you in making this a mutual success.

Below are some TRAVEL BRAND TYPES who could be interested in my offerings:

Travel Portal / Agent (Flights + Accommodation + Holiday Packages) 1) Advertising space on my site through banners, links and posts
2) Review your holiday packages and share my feedback with my readers

Hotel / Hostel / Homestay / Resort 1) Review your property and share my thoughts with my readers
2) Advertising space on my site through banners, links and posts  

Government Tourism Board
I know that government tourism boards typically work with large media houses and publishers. But, if you do see potential in me to work with you as a travel blogger, do let me know.

Travel Insurance Provider
1) Advertising space on my site through banners, links and posts
2) Would be happy to review your insurance products on my site

Travel Comparison Site
1) Advertising space on my site through banners, links and posts
2) Would be happy to review your comparison tools from the eye of a traveler on my site

Travel Photography Assignment
I would be happy to do a travel photo shoot for you that could be a destination, culture, food and/or people coverage.

Travel Writing Assignment
I would be happy to write about any destination that I visit during my trip either for a website, guidebook, magazine or others.

Adventure Sports Operator
1) Advertising space on my site through banners, links and posts
2) Would be happy to review your adventure service offerings and share my thoughts with my readers

Email me if you think this could work for you. I would be happy to discuss details with you.

If you do not fall under any of the above mentioned brand types, but still think that there could be a potential partnership, please drop me a mail and I would be happy to talk more.

For my blog accolades, traffic stats and more, look up this page.

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Backpacking to South East Asia

The day is fast approaching. Cometh the morning of Nov 23, 2012, I will start my exploration of South East Asia. I am thinking that this trip will last 5-6 months and may be longer if everything pans out well.

This was not a planned decision, but rather an impromptu one. It just struck me one day at work and the plan has been forming ever since. During the course of this plan, I have left my corporate job and jumped in full time into travel writing and travel photography. I really hope I am able to turn this into a successful career as I am really passionate about adventure travel. This passion ensures that I wake up every day before the morning alarm goes and I hope I can channelize this happy energy into something fruitful for myself and others.


Image Copyright: Latitudes.nu

Trip Itinerary
Here’s how the high level plan looks like. Once I land at Bangkok, I plan to explore mainland SE Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Burma (Myanmar)) in that order by road, i.e. by bus or train. Then the island countries by plane or ship, depending on surrounding conditions. I have planned the below high level itinerary based on visa regulations and there is a good chance that I may re-visit certain countries if I find them real appealing or if I feel that I can explore some more.

Thailand: 1 month
Cambodia: 3 –4 weeks
Vietnam: 1 month
Laos: 1 month
Thailand: 2 weeks
Burma (Myanmar): 3-4 weeks
Indonesia: 1 month
Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines: Depends on access to visa from non-host country
Papua New Guinea and East Timor: May be, if I feel too adventurous and if I can generate the required cash
Hong Kong and Macau: 1-2 weeks to do some gadget purchases

Goodies for you
Since I am planning to make a career out of this, you can expect quite a bit of information from me. As of now, I am thinking of writing about:
1) the different places I visit
2) visa regulations for Indian citizens
3) hotel/hostel reviews
4) how to survive if you are a vegetarian in SE Asia (coz I am one)
5) unique SE Asia Cuisine (through my friend who loves to experiment with his food)
6) do’s and dont’s
7) best sightseeing spots
8) logistics of covering this mainland journey over land
9) currency / language / culture / commute information
10) random tips and more….

Since this is going to be an adventurous trip, I will also share the best adventure activities in SE Asia, be it, scuba diving, caving or spelunking, rock climbing, trekking, tubing, kayaking, rafting, kite surfing, wind surfing, snorkeling and more.

If you’d like me to write about something more, do let me know and I will happily write about it. In addition to all this, I want to write a day-to-day diary that acts more like a memory box for me. People who like personal stories will like it hopefully.

Join Me
One of my close friends is giving me company for the entire trip. About 15-17 people are joining me in different countries for different durations. These are either friends or friends of friends. If you too would like to join me, do drop me an email with details so that I can bring you up to speed with my plan.

Follow Me
If you would like to follow me as I weave across South East Asia, you can bookmark this page on my blog as it will have all posts related to this trip and/or follow me on my facebook page where I plan to share regular updates.

You also have the option of reading updates by country.
Burma | Cambodia | East Timor | Hong Kong | Indonesia | Laos | Macau | Malaysia | Papua New Guinea | Philippines | Singapore | Thailand | Vietnam 

Advertise
If you are a travel advertiser and would like to increase your brand visibility/coverage by reaching out to my fans and readers, do look up this page that talks about partnership options.

Daily Travel Photo
Once this trip begins, my blog home page will get a new look as I will upload a new travel photo every day from my trip. This will go up right into the landing page as a full size photo.

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