The Beauty of The Venetian Macau

While it took me a while to think of an opening statement for my Macau vacation posts, I still didn't come with a fitting one. So I dug deep into my thoughts and finally just told myself to be honest. And so here goes:

Would it be shameful to admit that my three-day tour to Macau two years ago was my first out of the country? At first, I didn't want to admit to friends who keep asking me if I've already been to this country or this tourist destination, or worse, if I've traveled abroad. I either change the topic just so I won't lie, or I just return the question. But later on, when some true friends who don't measure me up by the number of countries stamped on my passport told me they haven't traveled abroad or even boarded an airplane yet, I felt grateful and proud. Small feat for some. Big feat for me.

The Venetian Macau from the City of Dreams entrance

My high school friends and I came to Macau via Cebu Pacific. Though it was my fourth plane ride already, I was excited for the tour because I was also anticipating our travel to Riyadh two months after. That Macau flight was the first of the many international flights I took in going here and will still take as we go on vacation to the Philippines.

I am so awed by The Venetian, though I haven't even set foot on it.

Our Macau-based high school classmate Jingo served as our tourist guide and photographer. Upon his suggestion, we went to The Venetian Macau on Day One. It was a smart thing to do for tourists. When you are in a country or tourist destination, go to the popular spots first before your energy burns out or your resources runs out. Or your tourist guide will leave you for work, which happened to us on Day Three. Or when it will rain, which happened on Day Two.

The lovely facade of The Venetian Macau

Big on beauty. Beautifully big.

The famous sky painting of The Venetian. Awesome.

The shops at the The Shoppes Canal

The gondola singer.

After taking pictures and shopping for some items, we didn't linger anymore and proceeded to The City of Dreams.


Just asking (and not counting your country stamps), what is the first local or abroad tourist destination you've been to?

Tea: I Like, I Dislike

Though loaded with work and sometimes forget to enjoy a decent lunch (which results to bingeing later in the night, but that's another story), there's a whim I enjoy every work day. I can have tea or coffee anytime I want to without making one. That's because we have a tea boy who makes them for us. He also brings us glasses of water whenever asked and buys our snacks from the nearby store.  I know we're pampered, to a fault. The office isn't the same without our teaboy. We can live without him, but it's just different when he's there.

A cup of green tea made by our teaboy

Although I dislike tea because I don't like the bitter taste of dried leaves, I asked our tea boy to make one for me one day. Maybe, it's in the lemon. Or maybe it's in the time of the day. Or maybe it's in the brand. But I decided that day to start drinking a cup of green tea everyday. I need to be healthy again, start exercising, and eat healthy foods. I'm not getting any younger and I need to take care of myself, even if it meant doing (that's exercise!) and taking in something I don't like.

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Scent Spray given by a friend

To welcome that healthy outlook, a friend gave me this Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Scent Spray. I was only asking her the best store or place to buy perfume here in Riyadh but she instead gave me this spray. Its clean, fresh, light scent perks me up and kind of energizes me, especially at the office. The scent just doesn't last long, though.

Cute teabag holders I found here and here

And to seal that just blossomed love for anything tea related, a client asked me to design his tea variants for his coffee shop. So I searched online for free images of tea and found these creative teabags. Pure genius, especially the penguin teabag holder with timer. The Royal teabag holder is a good conversation starter for guests, right? I am so raring to make a personalized one. One that has the face of Fred and me. Really.

But for the meantime, I asked Gabby to make me a well that will hold and lift my teabag when I'm done steeping the tea. So he immediately made one for me out of his bricks and came out with this. I so like it. 

Teabag holder made from bricks and Lego parts

It's a fun way to steep your tea

I'm beginning to believe that tea has its good effects on me, even if I just started drinking and smelling like it. If bonding with my son while creating that well is one clear proof, then steep on I will!

Bible Verse #9: God's Riches and Provision

Bible verse on God's riches and provision