Accidental Travel Writer

Macau: Bands Battle for Cash at Venetian Mardi Gras on Cotai Strip

Entertainment

Twelve jazz and blues bands from around the world were flown to Macau to battle it out for a cash pool of HK$500,000, or US$64,000, in the second annual Venetian Carnival, which was held 25 through 27 May 2012 at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel on the Cotai Strip in the former Portuguese enclave.

Macau: Celebrating Thailand's Water Festival in Five Star Luxury

Festivals and Holidays

The consul general of Thailand in Hong Kong as well as several journalists and bloggers from Hong Kong and Macau celebrated the Thai New Year in style at the Banyan Tree Hotel in Macau on 13 April 2012. Michael Taylor was among them.

Known sometimes as the Thai New Year or the Water Festival, Songkran is celebrated throughout Thailand from 13 to 15 April. It is also celebrated in other parts of South and Southeast Asia as well as parts of Southwestern China.

Macau: Portuguese Café Serves Authentic Dishes at Reasonable Prices

Hidden Treasure

As Michael Taylor revists Macau, the city he once called home, he discovers yet another Hidden Treasure. This time it is an unpretentious little eatery serving simple dishes reminiscent of the types of places he frequented during his summer in Portugal a few years earlier.

Macau: Regency Hotel, Five Star Ambience at Bargain Basement Prices

Hidden Treasure

Twenty years have passed since I called Macau home, but despite all the changes that have taken place in recent years, one of my favourite spots continues to be the Regency Hotel, Macau, which used to be known as the Hyatt Regency, Macau.

Macau: Wine Bar to Chill Out at in the Shadows of St Paul's

Hidden Treasure

Macau Soul – known as Alma de Macau em português – is one of those places you either stumble upon by accident – or somebody in the know takes you there.

Macau: World's Largest Holiday Inn Opens on Cotai Strip

Hotels and Resorts

Last week's grand opening of the Holiday Inn Macao Cotai Central and the Conrad Macao, Cotai Central, was billed as Asia's largest Launch Party of the year.

Hong Kong: Best of Bordeaux to Be Featured at Le French GourMAY

Festivals and Holidays

Every year, one of France's wine producing regions is showcased during Le French GourMAY, which is part of the month long celebration of French culture in Hong Kong and Macau known as Le French May.

This year, Bordeaux is the featured region. A press conference was held at the French Window in the ifc mall in Hong Kong on 14 March 2012 to explain this year's programme to the media. Several vintners and purveyors of foodstuffs from Bordeaux were on hand, with samples of their wares.

Pictured: Ponte de Pierre. in Bordeaux, France.

Macau: Sky21 Bar and Restaurant Is City's Newest Hot Spot

Daily Indulgence

A luxurious MOP $20 million rooftop bar and restaurant has opened in the former Portuguese enclave of Macau.

Sky21 Bar and Restaurant is the city's newest tourist landmark.

The double decker 20,000 square feet complex features Pan-Asian and continental fine dining outlets, a lounge, an area to club, and a shopping counter for luxury goods.

Entertainment and Dining

“We want to build an entertainment and fine dining complex outside of the casinos and hotels environment that is up-scale, sophisticated, and with a spectacular harbour and fireworks view, a chic lifestyle scene that is on par with the most glamorous cities of the world,” says Saree Xongmixay, Managing Director, Sky21.

“Whether you're looking for an affordable yet chic harbour view restaurant to take your date, a warm, inviting lounge to play and chat with your friends, or an unpretentious happy hour spot, Sky21 has something for every visitor, local and foreign.”

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Macau: Holidays and Festivals in the Year of the Dragon

Daily Feature

Macau's most important festival of the year, Chinese New Year, might now be history, but a full schedule of holidays and festivals await travelers and tourists in the Year of the Dragon.

From the Feast of the Bathing Buddha to Catholic processions to the Lusofonia Festival to the 59th Macau Grand Prix, there is something on offer every month of the year in the former Portuguese enclave.

"Whether they are of Chinese or Portuguese heritage, the people of Macau truly like to celebrate with a festival," says Helen Wong, General Manager of the Macau Government Tourist Office in Australia and New Zealand.

"Prepare to feast on another year of song and dance, colourful religious parades, street markets, spectacular fireworks and plenty of sporting events. There's no shortage of reasons to visit Macau throughout the year."

Pictured: St Augustine's Church (a Igreja do S. Agostinho) in Macau. Photo Credit: Abassa via Wikimedia. Commons.

Macau Calendar of Festivals and Events

• Feast of the God Tou Tei – 23 February 2012
• Procession of the Passion of Our Lord, the God Jesus – 25 – 26 February 2012
• Feast of Pak Tai – 24 March 2012
• Macau International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition – 29 – 31 March 2012
• Ching Ming – 4 April 2012
• Easter Holidays – 6 – 7 April 2012
• A-Ma Festival – 13 April 2012
• Feast of Buddha (Feast of the Bathing of Lord Buddha), Feast of the Drunken Dragon, Tam Kong Festival – 28 April 2012 Labour Day – 1 May 2012
• 23rd Macau Arts Festival – 1 May – 2 June (tentative dates)
• Procession of Our Lady of Fátima – 13 May 2012
• International Museum Day – 18 May 2012
• 12th Macau Lotus Flower Festival – 9 – 17 June 2012
• Macau International Dragon Boat Races – 16 – 17, 23 June 2012
• Dragon Boat Festival – 23 June 2012
• Feast of Na Cha – 6 July 2012
• Macau Franchise Expo 2012 – 6 – 8 July 2012
• International Youth Dance Festival – 20 – 26 July 2012
• Feast of Kuan Tai – 11 August 2012
• Feast of Maidens – 23 August 2012
• Feast of Hungry Ghosts – 30 August 2012
• FIVB World Grand Prix – August (dates to be confirmed) 2012
• 24th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest – 8, 15, 22, and 29 September and 1 October 2012
• World Tourism Day – 27 September 2012
• Mid-Autumn Festival – 30 September 2012
• The Day Following Mid-Autumn Festival – 1 October 2012
• National Day of the People's Republic of China – 1 October 2012
• The Day Following National Day of the PRC – 2 October 2012
• 26th Macau International Music Festival 5 October – 4 November 2012 (tentative dates)
• Lusofonia Festival – 19 – 21 October 2012
• Festival of Ancestors (Chung Yeung Festival) – 23 October 2012
• 10th Macau A-Ma Cultural & Tourism Festival – October (dates to be confirmed)
• 17th Macau International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) – October (dates to be confirmed)
• All Souls Day – 2 November 2012
• Macau City Fringe Festival – 9 – 25 November 2012
• 59th Macau Grand Prix – 15 – 18 November 2012
• Macau Food Festival – November (dates to be confirmed)
• Macau International Marathon – 2 December 2012
• Feast of Immaculate Conception – 8 December 2012
• Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day – 20 December 2012
• Winter Solstice – 21 December 2012
• Christmas Holidays – 24 – 25 December 2012
• Macau International Kart Grand Prix – December (dates to be confirmed)
• Chinese New Year Holidays – 10 – 12 February 2013

Macau Travel and Tourism

For more information on Macau tourism, getting to Macau, accommodation, tourists attractions, sightseeing, entertainment, dining out, and shopping as well as holidays, festivals and events, please lick on the following link:

Macau Government Tourist Office.

 

Macau: Three Tier Tourism Development Plan Announced

Travel Destinations

The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has announced plans to reposition the former Portuguese administered enclave into a World Center of Tourism and Leisure.

Policies and measures will be adjusted to give priority to the development of a comprehensive tourism development plan. At the same time, MGTO will devote efforts in regional cooperation, quality tourism, tourism product mix, and innovative promotion to build Macau into a quality tourism destination.

The plans were announced at a press conference in mid January.

Pictured: taking place every November, the Macau Grand Prix is one of the most important events in the former Portuguese enclaves tourism calendar.

Three Tier Plan

The comprehensive tourism development plan will be implemented on a three tier basis.

• Medium to long Term Global Plan: to suggest a medium to long-term development plan for the tourism sector from the global perspective, aiming to develop a comprehensive development plan for the tourism industry and tourism authority that is in line with the positioning.
• Medium Development Plan: to timely make adjustments in regard to tourism development indicators and the existing tasks of MGTO while developing special plan for the tourism sector targeting the positioning.
• Short Term Individual Action Plans: in response to the immediate needs and existing problems of the tourism sector, short term individual action plans will be carried out to make immediate improvements through cross-departmental cooperation with the views of the tourism industry.

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