18 June 2014

During May 2014 I was lucky enough to visit Macau and Hong Kong courtesy of Cathay Pacific Airways and the Macau and Hong Kong tourist boards. Having not been to either in over 20 years I was very intrigued to see the changes. Our flight into Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific was very enjoyable with fantastic touch screen entertainment. The 11 and a half hour flight went very quickly with comfortable roomy seats, tasty meal options and great service. The snack galley was also an added bonus for some nibbles during the films. Arrivals into Chek Lap Kok Airport are very efficient and streamlined. I must admit I did miss the experience of landing at the old Kai Tak airport which is now a state of the art cruise terminal making Hong Kong an impressive gateway sailing point to the East. We transferred straight to Macau from Chek Lap Kok by a high speed ferry service operated by Turbo Jet, a journey time of 50 minutes; our luggage was checked through from London so the connection took no time at all. Currently a bridge is being constructed to connect Macau direct to Hong Kong spanning 29.6km; this is due for completion in 2016 which will make the transfer even quicker. Our three night stay in Macau was full of surprises; having reclaimed vast amounts of land since my last visit I didn’t recognise anything. Macau has become known as the Monte Carlo of the Orient, a gamblers delight with some old Las Vegas favourites; The Venetian, MGM and Wynn are standing tall and impressive on the Macau strip with more to follow. Don’t miss the House of the Dancing Water show at the City Of Dreams, a spectacular performance which will have your heart pounding. However Macau is not all about the casinos, being once a Portuguese colony the architecture of the old buildings has a European feel. Macau has many historic sites to visit such as the ruins of St Paul’s Cathedral, sadly destroyed by a fire during a typhoon, and is now a UNESCO world heritage site. The museum is open every day and the façade stands at the top of the steps overlooking the view of the city. Also not to be missed, A-Ma temple, St Lawrence Church, built in the 16th century and the Mandarin House which is being renovated back to its former glory. I would opt to take the walking tours suggestions which are offered by the Macau Government Tourist office, four in total each lasting about 90 minutes, this way you get to feel the atmosphere of Macau to the full. A visit not to be missed is a trip up the Macau tower. If you’re feeling adventurous (and brave) try out the bungee jumps from the top or, if you’re like me, then enjoy the views of the Pearl River Delta by day or the city lights by night. I would recommend you stop for a bite to eat, either lunch or dinner in the revolving restaurant. The selection of food from the buffet was amazing and very good value so you won’t be disappointed. In fact all of the food in Macau was delicious, it’s a bit of a foodie heaven. The mix of the Chinese and Portuguese cuisines - “Macanese” fusion had my taste buds buzzing and don’t miss out on pasties de nata (egg tarts) very nice. I was sad to leave Macau but Hong Kong was waiting so there was another smooth transfer back on the ferry. You do need to pay for your luggage which is around $40.00 per bag depending upon the weight so have some cash available and the correct amount. Upon arrival into Hong Kong we headed for more gambling this time at the Sha Tin race track which was the home to equestrian events during the 2008 Olympics. We had time to experience six races in a private box which was great fun and I even had one winner. We were looked after very well, buffet lunch and complimentary drinks were included within the package. Horse racing takes place twice a week, if you have time I would recommend an afternoon or evening out. Hong Kong was bustling and busy after the rather relaxed feel of Macau, we adjusted very quickly though and the MTR links makes life very easy to get around and explore. The system is spotlessly clean and very safe to use. The day passes are good value and you can travel between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, however at least one way you must travel on the iconic Star Ferry which has been in operation since 1888. Photo opportunities are great and it’s nice to sit back and admire the view. Another view point is the Peak which is located on Hong Kong Island. Ride the peak tram, one of the world’s oldest funicular railways, to the top and admire the stunning panoramic view of Hong Kong. One tip is to go early as the entry queues can build quite quickly. By night the city comes alive with bright lights and every night at 8pm along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront between the Avenue of the Stars and Hong Kong Cultural Centre watch the free Symphony of Lights display which is set to music and see the skyline change shape with dancing lights and rainbow colours. One more last vista point would be the sky 100 Hong Kong Observation tower. Ride up in the speed lift; 100 floors in 60 seconds. The panoramic view is superb. The night markets also come alive at night so get ready to barter for some bargains. If you feel like escaping the hustle and bustle then book the Tai O Eco Tour which is one of the tours offered by the Hong Kong tourist board. It runs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Wonder around Tai O fishing village located on Lantau Island and experience the local culture of the Venice of the East. In the afternoon you can head to see the Po Lin Monastery and the Tian Tan Buddha. Climb the 268 steps to get a closer view to see this remarkable statue which took 12 years to complete, very impressive. The ride back to our coach was by a 25 minute cable car ride, the views are spectacular and for all aircraft fans you get a bird’s eye view of Chek Lap Kok airport. Lantau Island is also home to Hong Kong Disneyland. If you can extend your stay, two Disney themed hotels are located on site. My whirlwind trip to Macau and Hong Kong was fantastic fun. I have had my eyes opened to both Macau and Hong Kong. Not just a stopover point, both worthy of more of anyone’s time to explore at leisure.

23 October 2012

I recently spent five days in Morocco. The country has a lot to offer: an amazing mix of culture, mountains and beaches as well as the smells and the colours of all the spices. The Riad Aladdin in Marrakech was our home for the first couple of nights. It is in a great location and is a very quaint hotel. We enjoyed a tasty tagine on the roof top terrace and watched the storks nestling in their huge nests whilst the sun set. Marrakech is a fascinating city; busy and bustling. Make sure you visit the El Bahia Palace - imagine yourself being whisked back to the 19th century as you hear the stories about the noblemen of Morocco. In the evening, head for the Souks; an Aladdin’s cave of goodies to be discovered. From the Souks wonder around the nearby famous square, Djemaa El Fna, and watch in amazement as the street performers, snake charmers and dancers perform. I would strongly recommend a few nights up in the Atlas Mountains, only 90 minutes from Marrakech and great to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Home was the village of Tamatert and a chance to experience the Berber life. Douar Samra is a wonderful guest house. The staff looked after us and we were made to feel very welcome. Sipping mint tea on the roof tops while admiring the view was heaven. We were escorted down into the village by the local donkeys that helped carry our luggage (please don’t be alarmed they were very well looked after). If you’re feeling energetic you can climb mount Toubkal. Unfortunately we only had time for the foothills, but it was still absolutely stunning. On the move again and this time we went to the coastal resort of Essaouira, with fantastic sea food available from this small fishing village. We stayed at the Riad al Medina in a great location within the city walls so you can wander around the souks and enjoy the sea views from the fort. Essaouira has a very relaxed atmosphere; locals are very friendly and the whole place has a certain charm. During our visit, we also spent time at Palais Sebban, a small boutique Riad in Marrakech with a French feel. It is a fantastic place to stay; very relaxed, quiet and calm. We were also fortunate to visit the Riad Elfenn (also in Marrakech) and the Kasbah Tamadot close to the Atlas Mountains, both of which are owned by Sir Richard Branson. Very individual in style and unique, Kasbah Tamadot was being set up for an exclusive wedding. It was a beautiful setting for one very lucky bride and groom! If you have time, I would also recommend a trip to a Moroccan Hammam which is a very relaxing experience. Also, don’t leave Morocco without some Argan Oil, fantastic for your skin and makes your hair lovely and shiny! Morocco is a stunning place to visit with some lovely, and very unique, hotels. There are also a vast option of tours to suit every traveller.