17th July!!!
Wakie up to a bright (abit of rain feeling) day. Head out to China Hong Kong Ferry Terminal to start our trip!
Bought tickets quickly (left with 30mins to the departure time) with return at a corner booth. Date on ticket was Monday then cancelled with pen O_o. I was erm.. But not scared lah, cos their shop is right there only. They can't runaway.
Dashed through custom and walked quickly to Berth 13 right inside. A whole pool of people waiting and it was only 11.15. So we walk all the way out to check out some stalls for food. Bought bread from 7-11 n ate along the way n on the ferry as our breakie.
Onboard. Happy with our seat. 2 by the side. I think they upgraded all their seats to cushion sofa!!! Woohoo! Cos it makes a difference sitting on tiny chair n a sofa on an hour rocky ferry ride. Cam-whored again with my new straw hat. Darling wanted to sleep, but we started chatting about UNI days and Freshman camp! That got us awake the entire ride. =) So happy. We reminised about good old days. And whether at some point back then, we met before in the camp. Haha.. Neither of us remember any common person / event / thing.
Reached. Walked out to wait for Holiday Inn bus. It arrived sometime after darling called up the hotel. Luckily, darling saw the holiday inn logo which to me, was fading into white background of the bus.
Fast bus ride on the mini bus to Hotel. Was taken aback slightly by the surroundings of Holiday Inn hotel. It's mainly grey building with rough finishings, dotted with coloured signboards. Hotel lobby was stuffed with smoke in the air. =*( I think my lungs turn alittle blacker after this Macau trip.
Asked by Darling to go check out the concierge for directions around Macau. It was his trick to get me away from earshot while he checked on the cake with the receptionist. It was good surprise!!! Heeheee…
I had a good time talking to the very friendly conceirge who dished out good advice. Told us we can take public bus to Macau Tower for only MOP 3.20 instead of cab. where got good porridge - at Kuan-Ye Street Taipa. N even dog racing way up near Zhu Hai.
They also upgraded us to the newly renovated rooms on higher floors, which we had to wait for a long time for them to clean it up. We waited for like a good 20-30 mins. Preciously time wasted. I am poor with waiting n nothing to but be surrounded by smoke. So I decided to check the outside.
We walked around. A little hungry and thus grumpy faced. Saw some small noodle shops, but din't want to waste my stomach space on unknown food. Ok, hanged out at the 7-11 for a bit and back for a ready new room.
Blocked the lift to get up asap.
Our room number : 2517.
As we turned to the corridor, a hotel staff was standing there. Heehee. With a cake in hand!!! A big cake!!! *Surprised!*
Happy with the surprise!
Entered the room to be greeted with a roomy space. He left the cake on the table and vanished. I am with all smiles!
Nice hotel room. No more crappy hostel style. Big bath tub with glass window, so one can soak in bath tub and watch tv n be watched by the one rolling on bed. *wink*
Like the arrangement of the hotel room a lot. It's big and good for a hotel room.
Sat on the space where people put their luggage bags, and at the far end, there is a glass shelves where we can place our camera.
So good. We video the entire process of song singing, cake cutting. Just my daddy's style!
Cake was delicious too. Hazelnut Chocolate Cake topped with big strawberry, gooseberry and a half kiwi.
We literally gorged into the cake cos we were famished. It was about 2.30 then. Just at the time when I was borned 27 years ago!
After the cake, we freshened up abit and left for our 233m high adventure!
Went out to the bus stop behind the building in front of Holiday Inn. Waited for a long long time for bus 32 bringing us straight to Macau Tower.
Right at the entrance of Macau Tower, there were billboards of AJ Hackett Bungy Jump, Sky Walk, Mast Climb, Sky Jump. N a promoter to explain the differences.
There n then, we have to make the decision of which to go as we have to buy the tickets there. No chance of waiting till I am 233m higher to decide.
Since I have a one-year-once compeling reason to do this on that exact day, I had to do it right?
It's my birthday present to myself.
Bought our tickets for mop588 (skywalk) + mop30 (observatory) = mop618 each.
Turn right down 2 escalators for the lift. Along the way was Gundam exhibition n Darling took photos with all those Gundam billboards.
Went toilet before going up as I was feeling jittery and starting to get cranky.
Took the lift upwards. But as compared to Sydney Tower or Hiroshima Tower, this lift is not interesting. There is no speedometer to capture lift speed.
It brings us up to the 61st storey which is nothing to me cos I ascend 58 storeys everyday in CKC. Nothing to be scared about when u do it everyday.
Walked out to be greeted by the AJ Hackett gift shop. Headed out to register.
Signed a form that I can't remember what's the content. Darling was doing the proof-reading. I was merely filling in the blanks n snapping photo of the date and my birthday together on one page.
I always think that in such situation, AJ Hackett stuffs or wherever requiring a person to write his/her DOB signing a form, not possible in a restaurant unless special arrangement was made cos waiter won't ask for your bday when u place your order, they should have a step to check if that's the person's bday. N then surprise him/her with a song or better still a little keychain or what not souvenir. Make sense right? This will help etch the person's positive memory of this place and spread it by word of mouth.
If I have a company / business, I will definitely keep that in mind and make special arrangement for the person celebrating his/her bday at my place!!!! I mean they must have made a special decision and effort to come spend bday at wherever it is mah…
Well, they din't. Neither did they bother to check. Not a single happy birthday wish. Fine. I was estatic with the upcoming event that no cold water can dampen.
Took our t-shirt to change. I lup-over my orange t-shirt. So did darling.
Locked our bag in the locker, walked out. Then I need to go toilet again. Hahaha.. From my last toilet trip, in between that to now, was less than 15min, yet I feel like I desperately need a pee. Hahahaha.. Fine, I went. When I come out, I saw the platform outside, my throat went dry. I desparately need a sip of water. Hahahaha.. From my last sip of water to now was less than 5min. Hahahah… I can only conclude that bodily functions go hay-wired when faced with a mounting task in front of me.
Well, patient darling went to open the locker for me to get my waterbottle. Ok, fine, now no more excuses to delay the walk. I am ready!
Went to the harness booth. Flipped my nike golf pant skirt to confirm to them that it's a pant inside then they spared me from wearing the orangy jumper suit. Lucky me don't have to put that on. Imagine the amount of sweat (and maybe pee - who knows which weak bladdered had worn it before me and leaked pee into it right?) yucks.
Then the harness. The person putting it on for us were quite chin-chai. Wahpiang. It's my life out there leh. He just asked me to step in, pull up, tighten, clip clip. Done. Din't even bother to ask if it fits me or do I feel comfortable in it. Boo!
Well, I don't care lah. I adjust it myself.
Our guide, Ryan, a young teenage looking boy, picked us up and urshered us to the opening deck door.
With his key, he unlocked the door to 233m freedom!
Stood by the crib section waiting for him to close back the door. I started getting cranky. I held on to the railing and started yelling for mummy n asking myself what's wrong with my brains to want to do this?! Actually, I am not really terrified. Just enough to scare the crankiness out in me!
Ryan clipped us onto our safety belt. Arranged our order for him to be in front, me second and lastly Darling. Opened the gate to platform and there we were. Argh! Shivery legs!
After he closed the gate, he told us now's the time to tell you the usage of safety belt. I was like "oh pls, pls say tell me the regulations and safety precautions!!!"
He told us that there are 2 safety cods. The one infront functions like a car safety belt. If you jerk it, it will be locked. Steady. Immediately I jerked it try and got it locked! Safe.
The one behind is standard fix length safety cod.
So happy that the car safety belt can be locked. So much safe than an extendable flimsy belt. Never did I so appreciate a jerk-locked car safety belt!!!!!
That was all the safety regulation. Erphs… fine.
We started walking.
I kept leaning forward on the safety belt to push it forward and imagine myself doing the entire walk this way. Serious. That thought went thru my head n I was prepared to spend the rest of the walk this way. Hahahah..
Ryan continued talking, asking where we stay at n whether we can see it from there. As he was talking, I said "can I take a seat while u continue talking?" The wind was strong and I am scared (small times!)
Then he suggested to do stunt #1 - sitting by the edge with dangling legs! He demo to us, I was curled up in the centre of the platform. Darling gamely tried it and did it.
My turn. Oh no. I inched out bit by bit n managed to get 1/2 of my lower calves out and that was the limit. Photo time.
Crawled back to centre n carried on walking.
It was facing Lisboa direction, we can see Dai-San-Pa. Saw Ryan's house. Saw Lisboa Hotel.
It got better as we walked as the wind gradually reduce in strength because its blocked by the tower itself.
We also saw a funny black structure by the lake. What's that? Ryan said when Portugeese returned Macau to China, they decided to leave their imprints on this tiny place, dotting their past presence in this city. So throughout Macau, there are funny structures left behind by the Portugeese. Last time, long ago, Ryan thought the Black Structure was tall. But now tiny in comparison to Macau Tower.
Time for Stunt # 2 - Lean Back at the Edge!
Wah piang!!! I don't dare lah! One has to walk out to the edge, turn back, jerked the safety belt given allowance for leaning back. Step the sole of your feet on the pointed edge and lean back 45degree.
OMG!!!
Darling again quickly get it done. My turn. I din't dare to lo. No no no. It seems fun, but I am not sure if I will fall off.
Well we moved on.
Sang Birthday Song!!!! It was a quick one thou! But super special!
Stunt # 3 - Dash forward, Sit on Harness and Swing forward!
Well this seems more fun and I can do this. Thou I was a little scared. I managed to sit and swing forward a small distance. When darling come to us, Ryan suggested for us to race back to the end point by doing this stunt. I din't acknowlege his suggestion. It was getting windy again n I told him I wanna do Stunt # 2, but wanna do it back there where there is less wind.
Initiated Darling to run back again. So did I n Ryan.
They helped me with Stunt # 2.
In the end, I (only) got my big butt out. Looking back at our photos, it's only the butt jutting out. Hahahah.. At that point, I thot I was really brave and butt out lor!
It really takes a lot of me to dare to lean backward. Omg! I am game to try it next time I am up on 233m.
Photo time.
Afterwhich, we dash back to the end point again.
Now, we saw a girl getting ready to bungy jump off. We asked to watch it. N was given ok.
At some point of negotiating where we stand / sit to watch, Ryan wanted to dish us inside. But I said I wanna sit outside to watch. N his colleague agreed to it.
It was then I asked Ryan a question n got the million-dollar answer back!
How long have u worked here? -my second day!-
With a brilliant smile, I joked. Had u told me at the start of the walk it's your second day of work here, I would not have accomodated to do those stunts u said!!!!
Well, it's done and we are safe or feeling safe.
So, we sat on the platform watching the girl leap off. This time I dare to sit at the edge with dangling legs. Cos I don't I can't see the girl fall down jump off.
N I can't stop my mouth gaggling how scary and fast she's falling n fortunate for her or otherwise, my comments were recorded into the video wholesale.
It's around her bday time and this is her bday present too.
Then back/in we went.
As we were walking, I saw people snapping photos of us. Hahahaa… N Ryan signalling for them to join us! Hahaha..
Took off our harness, the shoes, put back my teva, took our bag. Continue snapping photos while Ryan is processing our certs and photos.
Hang around the observatory deck. Walked around inside. Checked out the view.
Photo with Ryan. Getting hot. Took off the orange shirt finally. Glad we wore the blue Arsenal jersey out with us! It's memorable!! :)
Made friend with the girl who leap off. Got her email address cos I want the video of her jumping off. Cos for a selfish reason, I wanna rehear what I said. I can't remember. It must have been my jibberish… hahaha… poor her, having my jibberish commentary to her maiden jump. Sorry.
After we got in, there was a bunch of people waiting to leap off. They are a group of friends and I guess giving encouragement & peer pressure to jump off together.
Saw a few jump off and oohh ahh together with every other fainter hearted chicken spectators. That include me. Only now. I will jump one day!
A girl even back off. Omg.
Went to 58th floor observatory deck. This is air-conditioned with seats and a tiny café.
Ate a Dr Stanley favourite Ice Cream favour. It tastes like coffee. N we both like it a lot. The lady was generous with her serving. The tip of the cone will packed full with ice cream. Unlike Mac ones. Empty bottom. Empty Vessel (is the loudest) - it's so true. Mac is so loud with its ads but not good value for $$.
Well, we took more photos and see more people leap off.
We too jump on the glass panel. It give a jittery feel when u see and wonder how thick the glass is and whether it can take the force. Hahahaha…
After the skywalk, I feel so safe up there. I dare Darling to jump and we both jumped together.. So funny…
Lounge around more. See the sky change its hues. Cos when we came down to the air-con deck, it started pouring outside. Had we been on the upper deck 61st floor, we will be drench, because there is opening on the top for air ventilation.
Lucky us and Darling said I was the sunshine girl that Lao-Tian-Ye loves! I bring sunshine everywhere I go. I pray for good weather! Heehee..
The sky turned very misty and foggy. Hotel Lisboa becomes hidden by the fog, so is the friendship bridge. The brige already looks like a thin line during clear weather, now it's just hidden.
Lucky lucky us to have done our Sky Walk in good good weather!!!!! We even imagined we saw HK island somewhere in the horizon.
Now whoever 's out there walking will have to imagine seeing frienship bridge somewhere. In fact, they have to imagine everything out there.. Muahahaha…
*sneaky laugh*
Shortly, when the rain clears off, we went up to the 61st floor deck again. We wanted to go to the rotating restaurant. But it's not accessible by this lift. Fair enough. Otherwise, there will be a lot of onlookers staring at diners munching on their food all the time. The ambience will be broken with every 'ding' open lift door. I m sure I will be one of those shameless onlookers. Heehee.. Hey, we did our fair share of 360degree Observatory Tower Restaurant in Sydney! Thanks to DxB!
Back up on 61st deck to witness the wet wooden decks and sultry faced to-be bungy jumpers. Hahaha… boohooo~! I can imagine if I am set to jump off, paid and wore my harness. But had to wait for the rain to clear. WTFish! How mood dampering!!!!
Well, we walked around again. More photo snapping.
Decided to leave this deck back to 58th for aircon. Cos after the rain, the outdoor feel on 61st is sticky and humid. Not to Darling's liking.
More goofying around on 58th waiting for rain to clear off. Laugh heads off when I suggested the lift guards are the same person.
When the rain clears away, we took the lift down.
Asked the guard how we can get to Venetian. He suggested for us to take the shuttle bus to City of Dreams (COD). Yeah, this is a good reason why I love Macau. Free n good transport everywhere! We also asked where to get water. No 7-11. Only at pastry shop. So we bought instead of a regular bottle, we got a "peringo" gassy sparkling water cos the price is about the same. Well, sparkling water tastes good only when cold or with ice and lemon. Not when it stays out of fridge for long time.
Took bus to COD. Nice, fell gently asleep on the bus.
It was pouring at COD, skies darken.
Birthday dinner is an important thing. Initially I wanted to have Bday dinner at a whatever restaurant buffet in Venetian. But they are all expensive and nothing interesting.
Darling insisted we have to find the Crab Porridge cos he is sure I will feel happier eating Crab Porridge than a crappy expensive restaurant in venetian.
After hanging around in COD, went in to collect more COD bottled waters. N stopped to watch people play Texas Hold'em in the new corner with hot babes. Wonder are the men playing the game or drinking more water. Cos the babes are waitresses to come collect and take drink orders. I bet some are eagerly drinking to get the hot babes over to get a good close look.
Well, my darling watched on. Fine. Need to learn from Glamum (Kingston's wife) blog that she allows him to watch all and everything he wants. Good.
Then we moved on to catch the bus to Taipa, again a free shuttle mini bus.
Alighted beside a big sports stadium and followed the crowd into the main heart of Taipa.
Asked around for directions to Kuan-Ye-Jie.
It is a small alley. As it was after rain, residual water droplets are dripping everywhere. We queued and finally was served our table in the adjecent smaller alley. That's their other branch seating restaurant. Guess it's so popular, it need a 2nd branch in the same place to direct traffic elsewhere.
Looked at the menu n ordered the big pot of Crab Porridge (we were both famished!! Only had roti on ferry, birthday cake n an ice cream cone) and a plate of fried squid.
Crab Porridge is a good idea. It mixes the carbo and the main meat together, so diners don't have to separately order a fried rice or noodle, which end up unfinished and wasted and worst of all, sinfully take up stomach spaces, defeating the purpose of that meal to eat CRAB.
Glad that Darling and I had the same taste - we both love squid as our second choice. Imagine a couple, one love squid another love fish. Wah lah, very difficult to finish both dishes lah. Good for us. Heehee..
We shared the table with two uncle friend. Initially I found the one sitting diagonally in front of me weird. Cos he keep stealing glances at me. I hate it. After the whole dinner, I told Darling and he mentioned that I am always very wary of old uncles. True. Need to hold my guards up whenever facing old uncles.
Well, so we ate. They spoke in Cantonese which I can understand. They are friends from Hong Kong, very friendly to each other, keep getting for one another and the other one will politely reject and ask himself to eat more. Ok, fine I am a little less defensive over polite old uncles. At least they are polite. Not some crazy hungry carnivorous.
They ordered small pot of crab porridge, prawn and eel fish/catfish. They ate and finished earlier than us. They are left with 2 pieces of catfish and the one sitting next to me, picked up a conversation with us and politely asked for my chopstick to pick up the 2 remaining pieces of catfish for us!
So we din't want to be impolite to reject and keen to try. Open for new fresh stuffs mah, so we took the challenge to eat it.
The meat was ok, but I dislike the skin. It's rubbery and I din't dare to pui out in front of their face. Forced them down my throat in the name of Collagen! I have an idea that anything skin rubbery must be Collagen packed. The sauce is not bad, so all in all it's good to eat, but not something we will order.
At least good to have met friendly polite uncles.
Oh, back to Crab Porridge. It's nothing less than the BEST! On par with Melbourne Crab Mee-Hoon. It's water Crab. Darling love the porridge more than the crab. Indeed, porridge taste superb. Sweet and brim-packed with seafood taste. Drizzled with crab egg roe. Wonderful. I love the crab. Always a crab lover mah. It's a little too small, but they are not called water crab for nothing.
Squid. Fried. It's drizzled kok-koks which I add them to my porridge.
Total up to only about SGD 40 or something lesser. Thumbsup to Value for $$!
When we were done, it started drizzling. We headed out under our umbrella. Queued for cab to go back to Venetian.
Happy to arrive at Venetian at the granduer décor massive 3 lanes cab alighting arena.
Went shopping at Zara. Tried a few tops but size too big.
Then to casino. To watch our fave Sic Bo = Big Small.
Left at about 11.30pm. Last bus to Ferry Terminal from Venetian was at 12mn. Queue was messy and Cina ppl doing their feign queue-cutting stunts again. I stared at a man trying to feign queueing in front of us, Darling outrightly tap his shoulder asking him to get back.
Got on safely and snooze abit.
Reached the Bus Stop. Almost all buses are gone. Left with that few with past midnight last bus.
We asked a bispectacle lady who wasn't really sure where we wanna go and where we should drop. Her first time on that bus too. Boo~!
Anyway, we boarded the bus 10x heading for Zhu Hai gateway. It route to a maze of grey buildings which look somewhat familiar. But the lady only ask me, huh why din't u drop? It should be around where u want to drop. Bang! The bus had moved on. We wanted to alight at the next bus stop, but bus driver cut short of all stops and headed up to the highway bridge. Oh no! It feels wrong to be on a highway. I was a little freaking out. But no choice have to cap my emotions and use my brains to get out of this mess.
Bus turned out of highway into a factory area. It was car garages everywhere. Bus stops. The bispectacle lady told us, u better get off here, otherwise, it's going straight for the gateway from here on. Fine. We dropped. Stood around the bus stop prying at the bus route. She came to say, oh no more buses lo. Better take a cab. Wah piang. Fine.
It's an entire factory area. Lucky for us, a cab stopped nearby. People alighted and we boarded. He turned back up the highway, go past Ferry Terminal then to the hotel. Hahaha.. Ok, we spent more $$ combined vs hopping onto a cab straight at ferry terminal. Oh well, little adventures along the way. We are gamed for them. As long as they end us up safe and sound.
Happy to be back in the hotel. Checked out the surrounding as I was a little hungry again! But wasn't ready for sit down supper, so bought cup noodles from 7-11. *happy. Am I happy for too small things? Happy over cup noodle?!?!
One cup noodle after bathing puts me to good sleep.
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