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Why? Because there's just so much to see here.
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A giant outdoor museum, the Senado Square is the centerpiece of the extensive historic center of Macau,
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inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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If you look around, you'll find an architectural ensemble
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that perfectly exemplifies East meets West,
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a product of over 400 years of the Portuguese rule over the city.
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One of the structures that will catch your attention is the two-story neoclassical Leal Senado building.
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Today, while the Portuguese-style monument still stands proudly around the square,
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it is now often adorned with festive Chinese lanterns and other installations that match the season.
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When you walk deeper into the area, you'll pass by lanes of shops,
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punctuated by other smaller prasa like this one,
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St. Dominic's Square with St. Dominic's Church overlooking the area.
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Follow the wave-patterned mosaic floor and it will lead you to another popular tourist spot,
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the Ruins of St. Paul's.
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Probably the most iconic landmark in Macau,
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the Ruins of St. Paul's attracts droves of tourists all year round.
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This is perhaps the most crowded part of the city.
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Like the Senado Square,
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it is also part of the city's historic center.
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Built in the 16th century,
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this used to be a complex with a cathedral and an academic institution.
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The church itself was added later in the 17th century.
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But today, only the façade remains standing after being battered by a typhoon and three fires.
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The structure stands atop a steep 68-
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The structure stands atop a steep 68-step stair-
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The structure stands atop a steep 68-step stair-
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The structure stands atop a steep 68-step stair-
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The structure stands atop a steep 68-step staircase.
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Whew! What a tongue twister!
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Okay, let's do that again.
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The structure stands atop a steep 68-step staircase
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that also gives a great view of the surrounding areas.
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A guard is usually stationed by the main door of the façade,
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but there is no entrance fee here.
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Just walk right in.
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Beside it is an area where you can catch a glimpse of the church's original parts.
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Also worth your time is the Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt at the bottom of the ruins.
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It presents religious artifacts including Sino-Portuguese crucifixes.
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And it's also free admission.
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Just beside the ruins of St. Paul stands a small single-chambered Chinese temple called Natsha.
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Often overshadowed by the neighboring church ruins,
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this site is often not crowded at all.
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But it is still a part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Center of Macau.
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Located to guardian deity Natsha,
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it is said that it was built so that the protector would finally put an end to a plague
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that was spreading in the area at the time.
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And yes, you can also visit it without paying an entrance fee.
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Another must-visit temple in Macau is this,
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Actually, if you could visit only one temple in the city, make it this one.
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Not only is this the oldest temple in Macau, but it is also one of the oldest temples in Macau.
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Not only is this the oldest temple in Macau, but it is also one of the oldest temples in Macau.
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Not only is this the oldest temple in Macau, but it is also one of the oldest temples in Macau.
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Built in 1488, it is also believed that the city got its name from this temple.
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It is also believed that the city got its name from this temple.
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According to accounts, when the Portuguese first set foot in this part of the world,
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they actually arrived here where they spotted people worshipping at the temple.
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When they asked them for the name of the whole area,
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the worshippers thought that they were asking about a specific site,
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so they answered Amagao meaning Bay of Ama.
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Amagao eventually became Macau.
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Amagao eventually became Macau.
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Ama, of course, refers to Chinese sea goddess Mazu or Ama.
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Legend has it that the goddess helps seafarers and guides them on their journey, especially during a storm.
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Located at Largo de Pagode de Barra, in the southeastern tip of the peninsula,
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it is a bit isolated, making it a tiny isle of silence in the bustling ocean that is the city center.
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Okay, let's step away from the historic center for a bit and head over to Kotay's trip
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and take a look at the city's more modern attractions.
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Macau is best known for its luxury hotels that provide not just five-star accommodations
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but also a wide range of attractions.
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And yes, many of these attractions can be enjoyed free of charge.
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As you approach Wynn Palace, I bet the very first thing that you'll notice is the line of cable cars that hang above it.
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This is called Sky Cab.
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And yes, you can ride it for free.
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A ride here lasts 10 minutes.
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Each cable car is air-conditioned and can accommodate six persons.
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It soars above the hotel vicinity with a fantastic view of the vast fountain that fronts the main building.
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This is actually called Performance Lake because it shoots mesmerizing plumes.
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And at night, they dance in sync with the lighting and music, which has become an attraction in its own right.
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Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the water show at night.
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Years ago, I was able to witness the Dancing Fountain at its sister, Wynn Hotel, in the Macau Peninsula.
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But I'm sure this one at the Wynn Palace is much grander and bigger.
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If visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris isn't feasible for you right now, well, there's another Eiffel Tower here in Macau.
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At roughly 160 meters tall, it's just half the height of the real thing.
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But still pretty captivating.
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Nonetheless, especially at night, every 15 minutes from 6.15 p.m. to midnight, every single night,
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the iconic landmark is covered in dazzling lights, creating an awesome show that bathes the surrounding area in various colors.
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The tower has two observation decks, one on level 37, which charges 75 patacas per person,
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and the other on level 7, which is open to everyone free of charge.
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we decided to just stay on the ground,
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admire it from afar,
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and snap countless photos with a vibrant structure as backdrop instead.
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This London-themed hotel and entertainment complex officially opened on the 25th of May, 2023.
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This was the site of the Sands Kotai Central before.
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But it wasn't just given a simple rebrand.
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It's more like a complete British makeover,
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from the exterior to the attractions housed in it.
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The first thing you'll notice is its stunning façade,
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a look-alike of the Palace of Westminster and Houses of Parliament,
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and a replica of the Big Ben,
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trying to compete for attention with the Parisian's Eiffel Tower just across the street.
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It chimes every hour, but it's most spectacular at night.
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At the main lobby, you'll find this replica of an iconic London fountain.
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And from here, you could get lost in mini-London,
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and take unlimited selfies at the many UK icons scattered around,
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including this double-decker bus,
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and a statue of Sir Winston Churchill greeting everyone at 10 Downing Street.
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You can also hop into this taxi for what they call Black Cab Escape,
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where you'll get to enjoy a virtual drive with David Beckham.
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These are just some of the many attractions inside.
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We were told there's also a changing of the guards, but we didn't get to see it.
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And all these can be accessed for free.
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There's also a Harry Potter exhibition, but this one collects an entrance fee.
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Okay, let's head back to the peninsula to explore the quieter and less-visited spots of Macau.
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Macau's oldest part, the Camoes Square, was named after a legendary Portuguese poet.
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It is also the largest, covering an area of 20,000 square meters.
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Three separate areas comprise the square.
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The Camoes Garden, where the poet composed many of his sonnets.
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The Casa Garden, a parquet built in 1770 in front of the residence of Portuguese merchant Manuel de Pereira,
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and is now an art gallery.
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And the Protestant Cemetery, which is the final resting place of some prominent figures,
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including the first Protestant missionary in China and Sweden's first Consul General in China.
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We don't have videos because it has been years since we last stepped into the square.
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So, here are some pics instead.
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But I remember how peaceful and quiet this park was,
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and I can totally imagine how this park inspired poets to write their best works.
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Another quiet spot in the city is the Jardim Lulim Yok.
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I'm not sure if I'm pronouncing it correctly.
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Forgive me if I'm not.
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But yes, I was also so in love with this relaxing place.
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We stumbled upon it by accident because it was clear that it was a quiet place.
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We stumbled upon it by accident because it was clear that it was a quiet place.
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We stumbled upon it by accident because it was clear that it was a quiet place.
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We stumbled upon it by accident because it was clear that it was a quiet place.
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Completed in 1906, it used to be a residential garden of Lu Can,
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a local merchant, until it was donated to the Macau government.
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Today, it is a public park that has become a sanctuary for locals
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looking for some peace of mind or just spending some idle time.
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Victorian and traditional Chinese structures stand in between ponds
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that are carpeted by lotuses all over.
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One thing I noticed that time, again, this was years ago,
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is that there were no other tourists there.
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and that there were no other tourists there.
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Most people here were locals just, you know, passing the time
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or meeting friends or spending time with family.
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It was absolutely lovely and I hope it's still this way.
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Macau harbors dozens of museums and most of them can be accessed for free.
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Yes, no entrance fee at all!
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For a complete list of these historic houses,
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visit this website and just look for those tagged with free admission.
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visit this website and just look for those tagged with free admission.
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visit this website and just look for those tagged with free admission.
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These include St. Dominic's Church Museum, the Maritime Museum, Fire Services Museum, Macau Museum of Art, and many others
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Even the Macau Museum can be visited for free if your timing is right
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Normally, it charges 15 patakas, but on Tuesdays and every 15th of the month, entrance fee is waived
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If your visit falls on either, lucky lucky you!
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The Macau Museum lodges significant artifacts narrating the history of Macau as a small settlement, as a Portuguese colony, and now as one of the two administrative regions of China
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Its content isn't the only thing worth admiring here
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The location itself is of historical significance
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The museum is set inside Mount Fortress, Macau's most important defense
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Seated regally atop Mount Hill, the fortress affords gorgeous panoramic vistas of the city in all directions
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Actually, there are more free attractions in Macau, such as the historic Guia Fortress, and we haven't even touched Colo 1 yet
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But that gives us more reasons to return to the city and maybe create a part 2 of this video
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If you don't wanna miss that, you know the drill, tap the subscribe button and the bell icon beside it now if you haven't yet so you're always notified whenever we have new uploads
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By the way, Philippine Airlines offers direct flights from Manila to Macau
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So if you haven't booked a ticket yet, consider flying with Paz!
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One thing I love about PAL is the generous baggage allowance that automatically comes with each booking
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For Macau flights, check-in baggage can weigh up to 25 kilos for economy passengers
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That's on top of the 7-kilo carry-on baggage allowance
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Another reason we prefer PAL is its 4-star service and delicious in-flight meals and unlimited drinks on board, which are already included in the booking
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Visit PhilippineAirlines.com to search for flights to Macau
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You can also follow us on Instagram
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Just search at The Poor Traveler, single L
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We also have a podcast
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Follow The Poor Traveler podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
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That's all for now
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Remember, plan smart, travel safe, and make every trip worth it!
