GALAXY MACAU RESORT HOTEL: OPENING OF ASIAN LUXURY HOTELS & CASINOS. CHINA TRAVEL, BEST ASIA RESORTS.
Did Seba and I get beamed up to a spaceship? Not quite, but close: we were invited to stay overnight at the new Asia resort, Galaxy Macau, before it opened to the public!
The 2 billion dollar vacation paradise has three hotels, an artificial beach, wave pool, more than 50 restaurants and 450 gambling tables. As you can imagine, we were like kids in a candy store — and even got into a spot of trouble. Read on to see what went down.
Macau’s an hour from Hong Kong, if you take the iconic red Turbojet. The former Portuguese colony (handed back to China in 1997) has become Asia’s Las Vegas, with a similar Strip of mega hotels and casinos.
The word “pandemonium” was invented to describe the ferry port — what a lineup. Seba’s shirt and scandaloso white pants are from Mongkok, Hong Kong (our favorite district for inexpensive fashion).
A shuttle whisked us to the gargantuan, gold-plated Galaxy Macau — wow!
After the media check-in, we raced through the hallways to our room (there are 2200 in total). Seba’s undies and my dress are gifted from Iron Fist.
The first event: test-driving the Chinese food at Laurel Restaurant. Can you guess what was in the soup?
Chicken feet! For those who found it too hardcore, there was a wide sampling of Cantonese specialities.
Sebastiano and I forgot to wear our media badges, and got lectured. We went back to our room to put on our passes. Now, I’m prepared when someone asks to see my media pass!
Do you dare to look closely at Seba’s badge?
The Grand Resort Deck had a man made beach and the world’s largest skywave pool (with pulsating waves).
Alone in a golden, tropical paradise.
The resort has three hotels, each with a different theme and staff greetings. As you can tell from the first photo, Galaxy Hotel is all about intergalactic indulgence. The Thai-themed Banyan Tree was possibly my favorite. The lobby’s sweet scent and the nature-infused spa made me feel Zen calm.
In the Banyan Tree lounge, we nommed on sweets and grappa (a grape-based liquor from Seba’s region in Italy). My silver crucifix necklace is gifted from CB Designs — New York designer Chelsea makes eye-catching jewelry.
Slightly tipsy, we resumed our explorations. The Japanese Hotel Okura has a tea ceremony pod, where guests are guided by an expert. (Seba, a Toni & Guy model, shows off his chic Galaxy Macau photographer’s vest.)
We ate yummy bits of bread, meat and cheese at Terrazza Mediterranean Ristorante (you can reserve the outdoor glass box for special occasions). Then we sampled a drink from the whiskey bar.
Dinner was served at Festiva, a glutton’s paradise with every type of food imaginable (fresh juice bar, Indian naan, sushi, gelato, you get the idea). Seba and I always get in trouble… when we tried to have breakfast in our bathrobes, we were denied entry!
We wrapped up the media preview with a laser light show and cocktails outdoors. I did an interview for TV, and then we retired to our 5-star room. (What happens in Macau stays in Macau…)
With Galaxy Macau, the Chinese gambling-town has expanded into a ritzy resort destination. There’s something for every vacationer, whether you’re a bambino (kid’s water park) or a Sebastiano (full gym and sauna). Thank you to the organizers for taking us on this interstellar journey!
What are your impressions of the new resort? Do you think Macau will reach and surpass Las Vegas as a casino/tourist destination? Asia’s booming, my friends…
PS: Seba and I were on Italian TV news show TG2! They did a story about Luisaviaroma Firenze4Ever. Will blog pics soon. Til then, here’s a pic of us, Bryanboy and Nitrolicious at the special dinner, surrounded by animal bones!
Song of the Day: Emilie Autumn – Ophiliac (Here, you can stream her entire album. You’re welcome.)
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MINI CHE GUEVARA, BSX CLOTHING STORE IN HONG KONG. REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY LEADER, KAWAII DESIGN.
I walked into this Hong Kong clothing shop and thought, “Hmm, this cute, Lego-like mascot looks familiar. But who is he?”
I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. And then it dawned on me. Hontou? Could it be?
Believe it or not, the brand is called Mini Che by BSX (Giordano’s Bluestar Exchange). And the chibi mascot represents… revolutionary military leader, Che Guevara!
Che Guevara doing a Riverdance? Posing in Burger King, Starbucks and Nutcracker tributes? I think the Marxist guerilla is rolling around in his grave, wherever that may be.
I wonder: did the brand get permission from Che’s estate to turn him into a cute pirate cavorting with a bunny? I’m guessing not.
In Hong Kong, you’ll see a lot of “fudging” of trademarks and likenesses. China and copyright are not exactly friends. Yet the designs and concept are strangely appealing… What do you think of Mini Che?
PS: Can you spot La Carmina and Seba in this Luisaviaroma video, of fashion bloggers arriving at the Firenze4Ever event? We finished our second shooting today — I wore a leopard print dress! You can see previews on my Twitter, and tons of photos to come on this blog.
Song of the Day: Che Guevara Song (the real deal is quite different from the cute version…)