The Venetian Act

The good thing about being in a foreign place like Macau is that you can be whoever you want to be. You could play rich goldilocks in the House of Gold, wide-eyed tourist at the Ruins of St. Paul’s, or lucky star by the Dancing Fountain. Indeed there’s a different act for every stop. And when it comes to trying your hats on, you couldn’t ask for a grander “stage” than The Venetian Macao.

A short walk from the City of Dreams, The Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel on the Cotai Strip inspires different lives. It is home to a menagerie of characters and opulent “sets” that evokes the spirit of Venice. Tagged as the world’s second largest building since opening in 2007, there you’ll find stunning replicas of famous Venice landmarks such as St. Mark's Square, the Grand Canal, Marco Polo District as well as 3,000 boudoirs, a colonnade and a vibrant metropolis teeming with clowns, tango dancers, living statues and singing quartets. The more you explore, the more fantastic the characters and sets, it’s almost surreal. When I stayed there, I half-expected a director somewhere to suddenly call out “CUT!” and bring me back to the world I knew. But as they say in every play: the show must go on.

Act One: Camwhores at the Colonnade

Like it or not, camwhoring is becoming phenomenal. As the Urbandictionary.com defines it, it’s the act of taking pictures of yourself and/or with your friends excessively. Granted that we don’t take lewd pics or stare blankly into our cameras every single day, but somehow, somewhere posted in the web, we do have a collection of self-portraits that rivals the number of our MP3 and MP4 files put together. And walking through the colonnade of The Venetian, the visual onslaught of ceilings painted like the Sistine Chapel, beautiful chandeliers made out of Murano glass and fabulous old world frescos that decorate the walls – are enough to turn any camera-shy gal into a struggling camwhore.

Let’s take our cue from Boys Over Flowers (yeah, the Korean soap), shall we? No doubt the cast had a grand time filming their best episodes at The Venetian. Some poses to try on at the Colonnade: 1. The Jun Pyo "Emo" picture – hold the camera high, purse lips, look down with sullen expression a must; 2. The Jan Di "Oooh, Ahhh" pose – hand over open mouth, eyes as big as saucers pointed up and to the side; 3. The “I can’t get any cuter than Ji Hoo” pose – an attempt to be coy and mysterious: lean at a pillar, stare broodingly at the camera then release that half smile. Click!

Act Two: Lovers at the Gondola

If you’re a couple playing honeymooners, there’s nothing quite like experiencing the romance of Venice and gliding along the waters of San Luca, Marco Polo or Grand Canal aboard a beautifully crafted Venetian gondola. Or if you’re playing The Brokenhearted like Jan Di, then there’s no finer place to cry than aboard a gondola while being soothed by a singing gondolier. By the time you’ve gone through the calming canals and underneath bridges alongside cafes, you’ll be charmed enough by the romance of it all that once more you’ll be prompted to say life is truly "Bellissimo!"

Act Three: Jesters on the Streets

Funny how you can be fooled by an artificial 6:00 pm sky inside The Venetian. Here you will discover time will stand still for your amusement. It’s easy to immerse yourself in the “Streetmosphere” of Renaissance Venice and follow the acts of a unique troupe of Artiste Del Arte or Carnivale characters wandering the cobblestone walkways that twist and turn through the Grand Canal Shoppes. Play along with numerous street performers of all shapes and sizes – from Italian opera singers, musicians, magicians, stilt walkers, jugglers, hilarious jesters, acrobats and living statues dressed in authentic and elaborate Venetian costumes. For the ultimate act of daring, get to know ZAIA, the resort’s signature show by Cirque du Soleil.

Act Four: Explorer at the Grand Canal Shoppes

It is said the design of The Venetian Macao is inspired by the travels of Marco Polo, the Italian explorer who educated the western world concerning the cultural sophistication and treasures of China during his travels. So I guess, in the spirit of the world-renowned traveler, we explore Asia's most unique and opulent shopping mecca. With more than 330 internationally renowned stores offering the best in fashion, jewelry, accessories, authentic masks and other Venetian gifts all under one blue sky -- you will definitely find a treasure to bring back home.

Act Five: Joker with a “P” at the World’s Largest Casino

Can you keep a straight poker face? Then get ready to meet dealers with talking hands, people with walking money and jokers with clinging honeys. Owned by the Las Vegas Sands, The Venetian Macao houses the largest casino in the world, operating over six hundred gambling tables in addition to a luxury hotel. You don’t have to be a player to appreciate the pings and wheels of the games. No doubt there are stories unspoken in every table. The “No Camera” policy also holds true in this arena, making it a challenge to capture the vibrancy of the place. But while they say “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”, Macau, if you’re creative enough, is a whole different card game.


-- SunStar Weekend, 20 March 2010

A Disney Ride

When Aladdin invited Princess Jasmine on a magic carpet ride to see “A Whole New World”, I bet he was talking about Disneyland. Where else can you find a place as magical as this, where every turn’s a surprise, there are new horizons and a hundred thousand things to see?

My very own magic carpet ride to Hong Kong Disneyland was no less than shining, shimmering and splendid. Let me share this whole new world with you with these 10 reasons why I heart Disneyland:

1. Oh My Princesses!
When I was a little girl, I used to wonder what it would be like to meet the beautiful fairytale damsels in distress in the flesh. Would I swoon? Do I ask them to introduce me to Prince Charming? Should I ask for their beauty secret? Meeting Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Mulan, Cinderella and Snow White at 31, I realized two things: one, with proper make up, beauty is ageless; and two, you’re never too old to pose with them.

2. Festival of the Lion King
For 30 minutes, you get to experience this inspiring Theater in the Wild where Timon & Pumba sing “Hakuna Matata (No Worries)” and the Lion King teaches about the Circle of Life. It’s a Musical Spectacular in a Greek-inspired revolving stage with excellent lights, color and special effects, plus a talented cast including Pinoy performers, who wink and shimmy to our code, “Mabuhay!”

3. 3D Magic in FantasyLand
What child has not dreamed of flying with Peter Pan, or tumbling into Alice's Wonderland, or dancing with the Little Mermaid Under the Sea? These fantasies were brought to life in my first ever 3D experience. I would never forget, as I put on my yellow-rimmed 3D glasses, how I popped Donald Duck’s bubbles under the sea, whooshed in the air with Peter Pan, and the best yet-- soared, tumbled and freewheeled on a magic carpet ride with Aladdin and Princess Jasmine to the splendid tune of “A Whole New World”.

4. Main Street U.S.A.
Disneyland is more than the park and rides. It’s the smell of roasting chestnuts on Mainstreet. It’s the street sweepers, the wandering characters, and the new (sometimes unexpected) discovery around every corner like puttering motorcars, horse-drawn streetcar, jitneys, quaint shops and other bits of memorabilia along the boulevard reminiscent of America’s Victorian period.

5. High School Musical, Live!
As soon as the drums roll and the Wildcats call out, “What time is it?” you’ve got a party with dancing on the streets!

6. Jungle River Cruise in Adventureland
There was a long queue to this trip into the heart of tropical jungles. As you journey into the unknown, you will find hippo-filled rivers, wonder at Tarzan’s tree house, and discover exotic adventures around every river bend. Was it worth standing in line for so long? Absolutely.

7. Riding the Carousel
For the longest time, I’ve been skittish around merry-go-rounds. Something about wooden horses going round and round to a scary tune makes me dizzy. But as I stood before Cinderella’s Carousel in Fantasyland, I thought, what the heck, if she can do it, why not? And this time, it didn’t make me dizzy at all. Like riding a unicorn, it made me fly!

8. Tomorrow Never Dies
In Tomorrowland, you literally got the world (at least a version of it) in your hands. Here, you can rocket through outer space, blast at warp speed and glimpse near-future technology. Like our dreams, this place is timeless. Inspired by hope for a peaceful and prosperous future, Tomorrowland is home base to many futuristic ideas and is a tribute to history’s visionaries who have dreamt of a better world.

9. Spectacular Fireworks: Disney in the Stars
Like the rest of the crowd, I squatted on the cobbled street before Sleeping Beauty Castle to see Disney in the Stars, the nightly fireworks show. Pretty soon, the street lights went off. A hush fell as music flowed, then in a heartbeat, the night sky exploded in colors. Speechless, I got the chills. Not because it was 12 degrees cold in Lantau, Hong Kong. But for the first time, I saw elaborate fireworks synchronized to orchestrated classic Disney songs following – get this-- a story line! Simply spectacular.

10. You Gotta Believe in Magic
Being in Disneyland, “The Happiest Place on Earth”, is just like being handed a magic lamp with a genie inside it. Whether you wish for love like Beauty, seek out a thrilling adventure like Simba, or chase a whole new world like Aladdin-- anything is possible—all you have to do is believe! Disney’s magic isn't just that thrill of riding the space shuttle, seeing Mickey Mouse surfing on top of a whale’s fountain, or getting up close and personal with Tarzan (oh my, the muscles baby). The magic also comes from the laughter, wonder and memories of spending time with family or friends. It is the realization that a dream has been brought magically to life for the young and (ahem!) young at heart. A day in Disneyland equals a lifetime of inspiration. Once you’ve experienced the magic, you’re never the same again.


--SunStar Weekend, 06 March 2010