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