IF YOU?RE tired of shopping trips to Hong Kong and want to experience something new, you might want to take a detour to Macau. While the former Portuguese colony cannot yet match HK?s glamorous shopping, dining and entertainment scene, it?s worth a visit if only to take a peek at what the Las Vegas of Asia has to offer. You?ll be surprised that there is definitely more to Macau than gambling.

But don?t take the Las Vegas comparison lightly ? sometimes, the two places look curiously alike, and we don?t mean the neon lights. Big-name hotels from the original Sin City can be found in Macau, with gaming havens such as the MGM Grand, Grand Lisboa, Wynn and The Venetian.

Even if you don?t like cards or slot machines, there?s a lot to do in the themed hotels and resorts. The Venetian has famous retail brands and shows such as Cirque du Soleil?s Zaia (a breathtaking aerial show that melds gymnastics and ballet). There?s also a gondola ride, which comes with a singing gondolier ? striped shirt and red scarf included.

There are free shows in St. Mark?s square, often starring Filipino performers in lavish costumes and with toothy smiles. While The Venetian?s offerings often border on over-the-top kitsch, it?s difficult to not smile and have a photo taken by the simulated Venetian scenery, anyway.

If you enjoy Venetian, drop by the Macau Fisherman?s Wharf. A family-oriented theme park that offers a wide variety of restaurants and shops, the Fisherman?s Wharf?s main attraction is its amusement park ? it includes replicas of Rome?s Colosseum (with gladiators brandishing plastic swords at the door), a giant volcano and a Middle Eastern village ? great for snapping photos with family and friends.

Sky Walk

Another thing you might want to try out with friends is the Sky Walk at Macau Tower. For people who want to try something extreme without the gut-busting feeling of bungee jumping, ?Sky Walking? is the answer. The tower has a transparent walkway which circles around the tower, so slightly less adventurous souls can stroll around the tower at 233 meters (safely tethered, of course). You can also do regular bungee jumping or simply take in the sights from a safe distance from atop the tower.

If it?s relaxation you?re after, try out a day in the spa at MGM Grand. Probably the most extravagant spa in Macau, the MGM Six Senses Spa has a variety of exotic treatments. Just how exotic is exotic? The spa has a ?Dead Sea? flotation pool that contains just as much salt as the Dead Sea, supposedly good for the skin, and a snow room where you can sit in chilly splendor as flakes of snow settle on you (which will supposedly give the same benefits as jumping into a cold plunge pool in a regular spa).

For culture buffs

However, while an exciting afternoon of extreme sports and theme parks may be great for large families, not everyone may want to spend their time in Macau hanging around faux coliseums or Venetian landscapes. Instead, culture buffs can head straight to the ruins of St. Paul. All that remains of the church is its façade, as a fire destroyed the rest of it in the 19th century. It doesn?t make the Unesco World Heritage site any less picturesque, though.

For more sights, head on to Senado Square, a butter-yellow cluster of buildings which house quaint boutiques and restaurants. The cobblestone-lined streets also lead to narrow alleys full of vendors selling roasted chestnuts, cold drinks, clothes and souvenirs, so spare a couple of hours for this busy square.

Should all the walking make you hungry, go on to Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro ? with vendors enthusiastically thrusting pieces of barbecued meat for you to sample, you probably wouldn?t even need to buy anything to snack on, but take home some to Manila. Instead, sip milk tea and munch on egg tarts as you walk around Macau.

Speaking of egg tarts, it?s impossible to talk about Macau without mentioning Lord Stow?s. While Lord Stow?s has been around in Manila for years, you should give the Macau variety a try ? there is a very subtle difference. A mixture of cream and eggs baked on a flaky crust, Lord Stow?s Macanese egg tarts are a regional specialty that should not be missed. Located on Coloane Island, the original store might be a little out of the way, but call them up to deliver a few boxes to the airport ? a pasalubong your family and friends will surely gobble up in no time.

E-mail the author at biancaconsunji@yahoo.com.