Fish Spa in Macau

Hello Fellow World Travelers,

I have tried many types of spa treatments but this one beats them all for an unique experience. Today I went to the Fish Spa in Macau, located in The Shops at Four Seasons. A small place, with a menu of services including chair massages, hot stone foot massages and the Fish Spa! Small fish, called Garra Rufa or "Doctor Fish" with a special diet of dead skin, nibble away the dead skin on your feet and lower legs. The first discovery of these special fish was in the waters of a hot spring near Kangal, Turkey and have been scientifically proven by several universities to help people with skin problems. The type of suction these fish have allow them to only take off the dead skin, leaving the live skin cells in tact and in a healthy state.

Here at the Fish Spa at The Shops at Four Seasons in Macau, there are three small pools, each with fish in them. You first clean your feet and then starting with the "Doctor Fish", the smallest of them, about an inch long, you submerge your feet and lower part of your leg. Dozens of the "Doctor Fish"immediately come to your feet to have a smorgasbord of your dead skin. When the nibbling begins your first reaction is to snatch your feet out of the water. The fish anxiously wait for you to re-submerge your feet. At first it tickles and definitely takes some getting used to. Then, you calm down and start to relax as the "Doctor Fish" focus on getting the job done. It gets more intense the longer you're there and you can really start to feel the suction. In between your toes, on the bottom of your feet, around the cuticles of your toenails, around your ankles and up your calves, actually all the way to the top of where your legs are in the water. It's strange and exhilarating at the same time. After about 10 minutes you move to the next pool with larger fish called Piranian. Our guide jokingly told us they were piranha. These fish are light brown in color and about 3 inches long. As you approach the pool they immediately come to the surface eagerly awaiting to doctor your feet. This time it feels more like pecking. It was hard to get used to the larger fish because you could feel them more individually then you could the "Doctor Fish". The third pool has the largest fish also Piranian and about 4 inches long. They are a bit more aggressive and come to the surface if you just look into the pool. Here is where I chickened out. I don't know why because they don't have teeth but their lips are larger and to me look like small human lips. They were just a little too big for me to try.

After all was done my feet did feel more smooth and actually silky. I put my socks and shoes back on and my feet were still tingling. This tingling sensation lasted for about an hour. This was truly a unique experience that I'd do again, with the smaller Garra Rufa fish.

Until next time....

Ja'Vonne Harley
Co-Host, The Traveling Eye
President, Advantage International

Having Fun in Macau - Day 2

Hello fellow world travelers,
Friday was a very long day for me. I called in to do my Live radio show The Traveling Eye @ 1am my time in MACAU/11am in Chicago. Needless to say I went to bed immediately afterwards. Joao Rodigues, the Media and Marketing Manager for Macau Government Tourism joined as our special guest.

Saturday morning I woke up with the sun and ready to start a new day fresh and rested. Starting with the most important meal of the day. Breakfast. I love breakfast when I travel internationally because they are always so lavish. Ignoring the omelet bar I went for a Chinese breakfast. Noodle soup made to order with Chinese cabbage and steamed dumplings. Dumplings are like wonderfully wrapped presents. I never know what's inside, I just bite and enjoy. I have to admit that I became weak for bacon, although I had to ask them to crisp it for me. It's an American thing.

Our first stop was the Camoes Garden Park, named after "the great Portuguese poet Luis Vaz de Camoes." Locals gather in the park for their morning exercise, family time and card games. The cards are not your typical cards and I'll have to get back to you on what they are and what game they were playing. The men and their card games, I have to say card players here are very serious about their game and did not want any interference. I tried to approach them but they gave me such a look that I decided to keep my distance. I even flashed my sweetest smile but that didn't work either. One gentleman did give me half of a smile, but it was by no means an invitation so I decided to leave them alone. In another part of the park we watched some beautiful senior ladies doing Tai Chi to music. They were very inviting and asked us to join in. I have to say these beautiful senior ladies gave me a run for my money. I tried to follow along as much as I could with their routine. It looks easier than it is. Tai Chi is about having great muscle control, balance and flexibility. The easiest one was a repetitious dance that I have named Chinese Tai Chi Electric Slide. We turned to the side and swung our hips to the right and then to the left, then you turn around and kick your left leg forward, then your right leg forward. You wave your hands left and right then swing your hips to the left then to the right and repeat. The next dance became more challenging. They added a large fan. Along with the Tai Chi movements you flick your wrist to open the fan with a POP. Throughout the process you open and close the fan, move front to back, side to side, forwards and backwards and up and down. At one point my legs were crossed as I knelt down all the way to the ground, then without any assistance from your hands you stand up, all while following the music and continuing on to the next move. These ladies do it so effortlessly, are very limber and in shape. It's beautiful to watch and a lot of fun to try. This experience makes me want to find a Tai Chi class at home.

After our fabulous Tai Chi we headed to the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Historic Centre of Macau. Boy this place was crowded. The Ruins of St. Paul are perched above the city center at the top of very steep steps. It’s a great vantage point to people watch and get a feel of the city. This part for the city is a great place to stroll and taste the local midday fare. Almond cookies, all sorts of jerky and other delights. A lot of the shops give samples.

These were the highlights of my day. The two things I enjoyed the most.

After lunch at the MGM Grand, some free time to explore and ZAIA, a performance of Cirque du Soleil, we went to the quaint, Michelin recommended Antonio Restaurant. Antonio’s is an authentic Portuguese Restaurant owned by Antonio, who greets each of his diners as if they are old friends. He does special orders; he’ll sit with you and make you feel like you are in his home and did I mention that the food is excellent! It is, along with the history of the restaurant and how Antonio came to Macau. He simply wanted a simpler and stress free life. Our special treat was having Champagne opened with a samurai sword and Antonio making crepe Suzette's table side. What a fantastic way to end the evening.

Until next time...
Ja'Vonne Harley, Co-Host, The Traveling Eye
President, Advantage International

First Day in Macau

Hello Fellow World Travelers,

Thanks to Cathay Pacific Airlines we have arrived safely in Macau. We flew from JFK to Macau via Vancouver. We had a 1.5 hour layover in Vancouver before we continued to Hong Kong. In total our flying time was 17 hours + the 1.5 hour layover. Cathay Pacific's economy class and business class is fantastic. The service is excellent!

Upon our arrival in Hong Kong, we transferred to the ferry to Macau (about 45 minutes). You can check your bags all the way to Macau and they are waiting for you at the Ferry station in Macau upon your arrival. It is very important to follow the signs for the Macau Ferry so that you can transfer from within the airport. If you don't and leave through baggage claim you will have to take a taxi to another ferry station because you cannot re-enter that section of the airport.

Macau is tiny, only 29.5 square kilometers. it consists of 2 islands (Taipa & Coloane) and the peninsula that connects it to mainland China. All of the bright lights are here along with several casinos and fabulous hotels. There are over 20,000 hotel rooms in Macau.

We are staying at the Madarin Oriental. By comparison the Mandarin Oriental is considered a boutique hotel with only 200 rooms. All rooms are suites with only the size of the living room varying. The higher the floor the larger the living room. The Mandarin Oriental does not have a casino, which I find pleasant. It's a nice quiet retreat to come back to after touring. From champagne bar to fabulous rooms a wonderful spa and an all high end mall, the Mandarin Oriental is a luxurious hotel.

On our first day weather is pleasant in the upper 60's low 70's.

We just finished a playful night and delightful dining experience at Nga Tim Cafe, where the owner is a lively man who is known to break out in song and visit every table. I'm told that while he was a bit more animated tonight because he and his wife were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, he is usually like this most nights. His restaurants are in a sort of courtyard with tables outside. It's very casual with the freshest seafood. The most dramatic dish of the night was the "Drunken Sauna Prawns". They arrive to your table alive! They thrashed about in a dish while marinating in wine and spices until they stop moving, then the waiter brings hot stones similar to the hot stones used in a hot stone massage. He pours the shrimp and the marinade over the hot stones, cover them and allow them to steam in what he calls a sauna and in minutes the shrimp are done. This dish is fun, dramatic and tasty!

What a fun evening!

Until tomorrow
Ja'Vonne Harley
Co-Host, The Traveling Eye
President, Advantage International

TAKING MY OWN ADVICE

Hello Fellow World Travelers,

I am off on another journey. This time to Macau. That tiny island next to Hong Kong. This is an unknown adventure for me & my first time to Macau. I've been to Hong Kong so I'm hoping there is a difference. I am part of a press trip and have already arrived at JFK but I have not met the others yet. Fortunately, the organizer arranged lounge passes for us, which allowed us to bypass a very long security line. Note to self, Terminal 7 @ JFK only has a Starbucks & Subway sandwich shop before security.

So far today was a great travel day. I took my own advice and packed one carry on bag, pictured here. This is a 7 day/5 night trip. That's right, we cross the date line making Macau 14 hours ahead of Chicago, thanks to daylight savings time. For the trip, which has a packed schedule with activities morning, noon and night, I packed 3 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of leggings, 6 tops (all interchangeable), 4 dresses and 2 pairs of shoes. Neatly and tightly packed I headed to the airport on this very clear day without a hitch.

My flight left and arrived on time giving me plenty of time at JFK's airport, taking my own advice. 5 1/2 hours to be exact. As I walked through the airport in search of the Airtrain that connects the terminals I realized that when you give yourself enough time and uncontrollable things don't get in your way, you easily stroll and pay more attention to your surroundings. I like to see others hurrying through the airport, some frantically, some confused and some just busy. You see couples kissing hello or goodbye, children crying, business people in their own world on their blackberry's, Iphones or laptops and the people who work there doing what they do each day. The airport has its own sound or as I like to think of it, it's own music and rhythm. You hear different languages, announcements, push carts and my favorite joy and laughter when loved ones see each other. I wonder... where is everyone going? so I asked a couple I sat next too while I waited. They were flying to Barcelona to take a 14 day cruise. The cruise will take them to the Mediterranean, Africa, Bermuda and finally Miami. One more thing before I get back to taking my own advice. People were helpful. I initially thought Cathay Pacific, the airline I'm taking to Macau, was at Terminal 4 so as I approached the Airtrain I asked if this train was going to Terminal 4. After I was told yes, I boarded the train and then saw on the directory that Cathay Pacific is in Terminal 7. (This is also a taking my own advice point. Double check information.)The next stop was 7 so I got off and at least 4 people hurried to tell me that I had gotten off at the wrong stop. Who said New Yorkers were rude? Yes, they were New Yorkers!

Back to taking my own advice. Limited to only one carry on bag and one additional bag, which is my laptop bag, I had a dilemma, what about my purse? I packed a small purse with a shoulder strap for the evening and a tote bag for day time and extra stuff. I packed them both in my laptop bag so I could get through security without being stopped. I was stopped anyway. Not because I had too much luggage or liquids that did not fit requirements but because of my underwire bra. Can't help that! Since I had given myself plenty of time (taking my own advice) I joked with the TSA agent as he had suggested I take off my jewelry, that the item that is setting off the machine I cannot or should I say will not remove. LOL! Anyway, they called for a female agent to come and frisk me. Up and down my arms and legs with the front of her hand. She explained that this is the new procedure. I know this to be true because I reported the story on "Travel News" on our show, The Traveling Eye. I enjoyed the rub down and went on my way.

One piece of advice I didn't take was "no alcohol". Since I'm in the lounge and it's free and Ganesh, one of the lounge attendants, keeps bringing them to me, I indulged in a couple of glasses of Malbec. No body's perfect so don't judge me!

Until Friday, when I arrive in Macau. That's Thursday for you!

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page" St. Augustine
Ja'Vonne Harley
Co-Host, The Traveling Eye
President, Advantage International