Macau: A Destination Fulfilled!

(First of three parts)

During my last two trips to Hong Kong last year, last minute attempts to cross to Macau for a day or two, never realized. First, my two companions and I agreed to do it on the last day of our four-day sojourn, leaving for Macau at eight in the morning and come back right after dinner. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to make it since the night before we had a grand time bar hopping and continued to party in our hotel room till around five in the morning. After all, we were there on a vacation, to relax and have a break. So, it was ”better luck and sleep early next time” for us. The second time was last December when I decided to get a Macau junket for a day as I was in Hong Kong already, a last minute decision.  I tried to rebook my Hong Kong – Cebu flight a day later than my original schedule, but to my dismay, all the flights back to Cebu or even to Manila were already fully-booked since it was already the 23rd of December, apparently the ultimate peak season in the airline industry. I was told to try my luck to be a chance passenger on the 24th but I didn’t take the risk since I cannot imagine spending Christmas alone, away from my family. So I figured, 2007 wasn’t a visit Macau year for me. But of course, after all those unsuccessful attempts, I was challenged and I promised myself that I would really make it there in 2008.

Two months later, February 25, 2208 to be exact, while maneuvering the two-and-a-half-hour trip by land with my sister, brother in law and some cousins from Zamboanga City to Zamboanga Sibugay Province to make it to our beloved uncle, Governor George Hofer’s birthday on the 27th, my mobile phone rang and it was a call from Cathay Pacific’s Passenger Sales Supervisor Connie Sta. Ana-Cimafranca inviting me to a media familiarization tour to Macau in less than two weeks. Without batting an eyelash, I excitedly accepted her invitation! Who wouldn’t? Especially after my “failed” Macau trip attempts, never will I miss this chance! Even if it meant giving-up the once in a lifetime Earth, Wind and Fire Concert which happened the night of our scheduled departure.  Such an irresistible invitation from Cathay Pacific in cooperation with the Macau Government Tourist Office, indeed!

The exciting journey started with the warm smiles of  our tour escorts Connie Sta. Ana-Cimafranca and Charina Puno, the Deputy Director in the Philippines of the Macau Government Tourist Office, welcoming us at the Cathay Pacific Office at the Mactan International Airport where they readily assisted us with all the check-in procedures and accompanied us to the Cathay Pacific V.I.P. Lounge while awaiting for our 12:45pm flight to Hong Kong. We had fresh fruit juices, coffee and some canapés ‘til it was time to board the plane.

The whole fam tour group was composed of some of Cebu’s well-respected society columnists, such as Sunstar Cebu’s Nelia Neri, Chinggay Utzurrum and Cebu Daily News’ Jaime Picornell, Zee Lifestyle’s Editor Cybil Gayatin, The FREEMAN’s Entertainment Editor Nathalie Tomada and yours truly.   We were accommodated on the business class, pampered to the fullest as expected in all Cathay Pacific flights regardless if you’re in business class or in economy. The very moment we were settled at our designated seats, we were then offered  

by the very pleasing flight attendant with a choice of Cathay Pacific’s signature drinks matched with mixed nuts, the Oriental Breeze, a sour-plum tea and cranberry juice based, a non-alcoholic concoction of honey, fresh lemon juice with a hint of rose water or the Cloud Nine, a very refreshing one, indeed, which is a combination of vodka, cointreau and sprite with a refreshing touch of lemon. I opted for the latter and it was really refreshing!

A little after the “fasten your seat belts” sign was switched-off, the cabin crew politely distributed the business class menu for the day which consisted of authentic Chinese favorites and international cuisine which was complemented with a variety of fine wines and beverages. Mixed fresh fruits was the starter while braised pork with preserved vegetable steamed rice and Chinese mixed vegetables or sweet potato and leek agnolotti with tomato concasse were the main course choices. We had baked blueberry cheesecake with raspberry compote for dessert. Not to mention the Hagen Das ice cream which Cybil and Nathalie had the whole time, (literally! well, good for you diet-free girls!) while I had freshly brewed coffee and some pralines, instead.