Category Archives: Asia Guides
Macau: Like Las Vegas but…Better!
The West has Las Vegas. The East has Macau. Vegas’s hotels are found on the “Strip.” Macau’s hotels are found on the “islands.” Las Vegas takes in $6.2 billion annually. Macau takes in nearly four times that amount ($25 billion). If Las Vegas is the “kid sister” of the World when it comes to gambling, then Macau is surely the big brother of the East, and it is all grown up now.
Similar to Hong Kong, Macau is what is known as an “administrative” area in China. It’s not really outside of the country, but it’s not really inside either, which makes it the perfect spot to serve as an international gambling haven.
It works geographically as well. Macau is a peninsula, which means it is near-surrounded by water (and in recent past it was actually still an island.) So, there is no shortage of beachfront property on which to erect some of the world’s most luxurious resorts and hotels.
In short, Macau is like Las Vegas…but better.
Staying
The Macau Peninsula is home to a number of noteworthy hotels, mostly built by the same management responsible for the stunning casino-resorts that line the Strip in Vegas—but with a grandiosity that makes the Nevada gaming counterpart look like a total dump.
For example, the Venetian Macau, a cavernous triumph of architecture, is not only an oversized replica of the version found on the Strip in Vegas, it actually holds the record for the biggest casino gaming floor in the world.
Other hotels in Macau that are also in Vegas include the Wynn and The Hyatt.
The Wynn owner, Steve Wynn, loves Macau so much he has vowed to build a replica of the Las Vegas Strip itself on a pier that connects two of the main islands in Macau. Talk about a direct comparison.
Gambling
One of the truly great aspects about Las Vegas is how cheap it is (in theory). Even if you go absolutely insane the first night and blow all your money at the Tao, you can drink for free and walk the Strip the next night fairly easily.
In Macau, things are a little bit different. There are no deals, there are no sales, and if you’re the type of person who is looking for the minimum bet gaming section, you may be disappointed to find that the minimum bet per hand for table games comes averages out to be around $35-60 USD depending on where you stay.
(Not surprisingly, Macau makes more money from its table games than it does slots, which is the opposite in Vegas.)
With prices like that, you had better hope that your win streak begins quickly or you might find yourself taking out a second mortgage just to make it through that dinner on your second night in Macau!
Entertainment
Similar to gambling, going out in Macau for entertainment is more of an investment than a savings. That said, however, Macau is home to some of the most impressive entertainment shows on earth.
If you have the chance, check out the “Tree of Prosperity” exhibit at the Wynn, whereupon a tree “grows” out of the floor amidst a light show to meet one of the most majestic chandeliers you’ll ever witness majestically hanging above.
If you are more the Cirque de Soleil type, head on over to the Venetian to sit beneath the big top to take in the already infamous “Zaia” show, a spectacular mix of high-wire acrobatics and choreographed dances.
This was a guest post by Simon who is a writer and content specialist…and he’s addicted to being on the front page of anything. A graduate of Dalhousie University, he specializes in using the em dash too often. Currently, Simon rests his typing hands in Vancouver, Canada.
Cool Things Compliments of The Philippines!
This archipelago on the Southeast portion of Asia, composed of more than 7000 islands is known for a lot of things, such as the world renowned Tubbataha Reef, the tasty dish adobo, the poker game with a twist called pusoy, and the most popular is the picturesque waters of Boracay.
The Tubbataha Reef is a natural wonder in itself. Located in the Sulu Sea, there “lies an underwater nature reserve that is considered both as a mecca for scuba divers and model for coral reef conservation,” as described by the reef’s website TubbatahaReef.org. Not only is the reef an ideal location due to its beauty, but it also boasts of a rich marine biodiversity. According to the same website, there are “600 species of fish, 360 species of corals (about half of all coral species in the world), 11 species of sharks, 13 species of dolphins & whales, 100 species of birds, and also nesting Hawksbill & Green sea turtles.”
The delicious dish adobo, on the other hand, is unique because the marinade (of garlic and vinegar) used in the meat will also serve as its sauce. It’s quite an easy dish to make; you even have the option of using pork, chicken, or tofu. Marinate your choice of meat for about a couple of hours. Heat some oil in a saucepan, then cook the garlic (from your marinade) on it until brown. Stir-fry the meat, and after that add the rest of the marinade and some bay leaf. Let it simmer for a few minutes, then serve with steamed rice.
Meanwhile, the Filipinos are known as a creative bunch—so creative, in fact, that they managed to twist the traditional poker game into a variant called pusoy. Sure, we’re used to the customary poker weekend, or participating in online tournament, so maybe after learning the rudiments of this local card game we can squeeze in a round or two of it just to deviate and avoid boredom. So, how is this played? BicycleCards tells us the basics. The goal is to get two or three winning hands out of the dealt thirteen cards. “To win the bet, two out of three of a player’s hands must beat the three hands of the dealer. If all three hands beat the dealer’s three hands, the player wins double the bet. If only one hand wins, the player loses the bet. If all three hands lose to the dealer, the player loses double the bet,” as provided by BicycleCards.com.
Boracay is an island in The Philippines that TripAdvisor.com advocated in this way: “As long as you visit during dry season, you’ll agree this is one of the best beach destinations in the world.” By day, the island is the perfect paradise for your getaway—pristine seas, white powdery sands and friendly locals. When night falls, Boracay is the ultimate party place; you can dance or listen to acoustic music all evening. One holiday spent here is never enough.
Photo of the Week: The Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Philippines
One of the last great frontiers on the tourist circuits in South East Asia is The Philippines. Named for King Phillip of Spain, The Philippines are an amazing collision of cultures as a result of over 300 years of Spanish colonial rule, Japanese and American occupation and an influx of people from other local nations, namely China. The nation, which is comprised of over 7,000 islands is very affordable and offers everything you could want for a vacation from sprawling metropolises to nature so untouched, you might be the first human to lay eyes upon it in years.
The above picture is from the island of Bohol in the Visaya region of the country. Bohol offers some of the most pristine beaches in the whole world as well as bountiful beautiful landscapes including the Chocolate Hills seen here. They are a geographic wonder known as conical karsts that result from the dissolution of limestone after rains, tectonic processes and ground water. There are over 1,500 of these hills that average in height from around 98 to 160 ft in an area of about 50 sq km. They get the name “chocolate hills” because in the dry season, the vegetation that covers them turns brown, i.e. looking like chocolate kisses!
There are plenty of tours that will take you to see the hills from the beaches where most people stay, but a more fun option is to just rent a motorcycle or scooter and make the scenic drive at your own pace!
Photo of the Week: Pai, Thailand!
If you’ve checked out our Thailand Travel Guide, you’ll see more mention of the south of country where the beaches reign supreme, but the north of the country offers some amazing mountains, pine forest, and a much cooler climate which is a nice break from the heat and humidity.
This photo comes from Pai, Thailand, in the Mae Hong Son Province, northwest of the popular city of Chiang Mai. It has become a backpacker and hippie haven for its laid back vibe, slow pace of life and stunning landscapes. A few popular sites people visit near Pai are the Japanese WWII Bridge, hot springs and Pai Canyon which is pictured above. You can rent a motorcycle or scooter in town for a few bucks and explore the region for a few days.
There are wealth of guest houses in and around Pai, so finding a place to stay should never be an in issue!
By: Jeremy Albelda
Welcome to Home Town Travel Guides.com , your source for travel guides written by locals and those who've been there and done that! ~Jeremy