The High Life - in Macau

In previous posts (here and here), I related my brief forays into the world of high rollers, big spenders and gourmet diners - at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

More recently, I decided to take a trip to Macau to better appreciate the experience.  Not to mention entering a casino without having to pay $100 entry levy. Don't get me wrong.  I'm not a gambler, and don't intend to become one.  But I wanted (in my friend's words) to take the opportunity to increase my understanding of human psychology.  Well, I did indeed get to see the inside of a casino but since that was in no way the highlight of my stay, I won't waste any more pixels on it.

Indeed, I truly enjoyed my stay in Macau.  We spent three nights in the Venetian's "Bella Suite", where I had my very own canopied Queen-sized bed, plus living area with a great view of Taipa.    The Venetian itself was truly fun, with its reproduction of the Rialto bridge and the Campanile of St Mark's in Venice outside, by the man-made lagoon.  Within the resort, the streets and canals of Venice were re-created.  A food court in a main square, gondoliers (singing better than any in Venice) guiding their gondolas down the canals, troubadours walking the streets created a fun and distinctively different atmosphere within. MBS is nothing to it!

The current exhibition on at the Venetian was the "Ice World", featuring work by the Harbin ice sculptors.  We spent a happy hour or so here, marvelling at the ice huskies and polar bear, plus the Eskimo fishing with his little dog beside him.  Earlier, the sights of Macau (the Macau Grand Prix, the ruins of St Paul's and the Venetian) had also been reproduced in ice.  At a chilly -8 degrees Celcius, we were glad that free overcoats were available for use.  But I also marvelled at one gentleman who made his way through carrying his coat over his arm!

We quickly realised that the intense competition between the many casinos in Macau offered lots of opportunities for casino-hoppers to enjoy free entertainment.  Wynn's performing lake was not in operation (work was being done to "transform" the performance) but their "Dragon of Fortune" (see video below) and "Prosperity Tree" were going strong, every half hour, right outside the casino entrance.  The MGM entrance lobby housed a small globe containing a butterfly exhibition (with an incubation room in one corner).  Hotel Lisboa and Grand Lisboa across the road shone brilliantly across the road from Wynn.  Even the pawnshops in the area were brightly lit!

But one of the "high life highlights"  of my stay in Macau had to be the lovely and exquisite lunch at Robuchon   au Dome, on top of Grand Lisboa.  From the dome, all of Macau lay below us, and the ruins of St Paul's could be seen clearly from our table.  But the food! Aspiring gourmets get to choose their appetiser, soup, main dish (fish, meat, or both) and dessert.  The bread selection was extensive -  olive bread, cheese, walnut, a sort of ham pastry and maybe one more. The amuse bouche (lemon cream, over a light jelly with a basil pesto base) was refreshing and piqued the appetite.  My appetiser was a crab dumpling, with crab meat in a cauliflour puree.  Served cold, its combination of fresh flavours just made me want more. My main dish, of wagyu beef cheek, was also just right - tender, savoury and truly satisfying.  Dessert was a choice of two dishes off the dessert trolley.  I had an apricot tart (which I found tart) and a pistachio cake with smooth pistachio cream.  I  still can't believe my mother asked - "is this a pandan cake?"

All in all, a memorable visit to Macau.  But as I walked through resort after resort, I could not rid myself of this feeling of being in a very contrived and artificial environment.  Undeniably there was much entertainment and many distractions to pass the time.  But give me the hot and humid walks through the old village of Taipa, and in the historic centre of Macau- feeling the true heart and heritage of this charming little territory.

See more photos here.