MACAU, a Special Administration Region of China, abounds with fusions of all kinds: Macanese locals sprinkled with Caucasian tourists and Filipino overseas contract workers; local cuisine with influences from Portugal, India, Malaysia and Africa; roads filled with preserved buildings such as Taoist temples and hilltop fortresses and modern structures like casinos and theme parks; shops that sell authentic antiques alongside those that sell the latest digital camera and mobile phone models.

With its combination of the old and the new plus its East-meets-West vibe, Macau is truly teeming with food, leisure and activity options for anyone and everyone.

This abundance of places to see, food to taste and experiences to try was what three Filipino photographers wanted to capture in their memory cards during their recent five-day stay in Macau. Rosemarie Razon, Brigido Alcayde and Roger Tingle—all members of the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation Inc. (FPPF)—were flown to Macau by the Macau Government Tourist Office-Philippines and Cebu Pacific after winning a race-themed photo contest conducted by the FPPF in cooperation with the Miata Club Philippines and the Subic International Raceway.

Armed with several memory cards to fill with extraordinary images of Macau, the photographers are scheduled to share their snapshots in a forthcoming exhibit this first half of 2008.

The old

Most of the spots visited by the photographers are part of the Historic Centre of Macau, an urban area within the old city covering eight squares and 22 historic buildings.

Apart from being inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, this site is also currently the oldest, the most complete and the most consolidated array of European architectural legacy standing intact on Chinese territory today.

Rich in history and well-preserved, some of the sites they visited include the Barra Square and its ochre and charcoal-colored tile mosaic; the neo-classical St. Lawrence’s Church; the Baroque style St. Joseph’s Seminary and Church; St. Augustine’s Square with its cobblestones pavement; St. Augustine’s Church; and the Cathedral, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Apart from historic churches, Macau also has the Guia Fortress, the highest point in Macau which also includes the Guia Chapel and Lighthouse; the relaxing Camões Square filled with Chinese chess-playing men and tai chi-practicing women; Mount Fortress, which houses the Macau Museum; and the A-Ma Temple, the oldest temple and the longest-surviving building in Macau.

There is also the very famous Ruins of St. Paul’s, which refers to the façade of what remains of the Church of Mater Dei, after it was destroyed twice. It is not just a venue for musical and dance performances; the site also attracts countless tourists who want a picture taken with the landmark as background.

And then there is the always-busy Senado Square where many public events and festivities are held, plus St. Dominic’s Square, which is teeming with food, clothing and cosmetics shops.

Apart from the abundance of all sorts of shops, another reason why shopping can get even more addicting when one is in Macau is the fact that most luxury items are cheaper here than in other cities in the region.

When it comes to clothes, Macau has hundreds of functioning garment factories that manufacture clothing for markets worldwide. This explains why surplus and overruns are available in Macau’s shops and market stalls—but cheaper, of course.

Other popular items for sale are authentic antiques, fine reproductions, accessories, jewelry, Portuguese wines, digital cameras, mobile phones and other electronic goods.

The new

While many tourists explore Macau by going to its churches, temples and gardens, it also has a lot of modern attractions.

For example, there is the Fisherman’s Wharf, an exciting 24-hour area that combines entertainment, retail, food, hotel, marina, convention and exhibition facilities. It is divided into three themed sections: the Dynasty Wharf, a shopping paradise in a replica of Tang Dynasty architecture; East Meets West, an entertainment and functional area for children, complete with food and beverage outlets, rides and a themed environment incorporating both Eastern and western cultural elements; and the Legend Wharf, which houses restaurants and branded shops.

There is also the Macau Tower, which offers, among other things, exhilarating activities such as Bungy Jump, Skyjump (decelerator descent), Skywalk X (a thrilling walk around the outer rim of the tower, 233 meters above the ground) and Mast Climb (a climb on the world’s 10th tallest free-standing tower).

These activities are widely popular among tourists, and some of the interesting people who have tried them include Charlize Theron, who did the Skywalk X, and a 75-year-old man who enjoyed the Bungy Jump–five times!

Macau is presently experiencing a boom in the hotel/resort industry. Apart from having popular five-star hotels and resorts such as the Mandarin Oriental, Regency, Ritz, StarWorld, The Westin Resort and Wynn Macau, MGM Grand Macau recently opened last December 2007 and big names like Sheraton, Shangri-la and Four Seasons have reportedly also started their own construction.

If those aren’t enough, there is also Crown Macau, the only six-star casino resort in the city.

A major attraction in Macau is gambling and among the favorite destinations are the Sands Macau and the Grand Lisboa, the giant golden lotus flower-shaped casino boasting over 250 tables and approximately 770 slot machines.

The one with probably the most traffic though is The Venetian, which we ourselves got to visit. It is a titanic complex with a 546,000 square-foot gaming floor featuring 6,000 slot machines and over 800 tables, making it the largest in the world by far. The renaissance-themed complex also has replicas of Venetian landmarks, expertly decorated ceilings and even its very own canal network complete with gondolas and singing gondoliers. The Venetian houses the biggest fashion brands as well.

As if Macau doesn’t offer a lot, there are also nearby islands for side trips: Coloane, Macau’s countryside filled with beaches and a lot of beautiful dogs taken out for daily walks; and Taipa Island, where the Houses Museum—a row of five restored houses built in 1921 and now used for various purposes such as concerts and exhibitions—is located.

With all these attractions, there is no doubt that Macau will continue to draw in vacationers and sightseers, and definitely wow them with its old-and-new, East-meets-West and other beautiful fusions.

E-mail the author at ninomarksablan@yahoo.com