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06 September 2007
Short Talk:
Why do I get addicted to computer games like Railroads when I don't even have enough time to sleep, blog or exercise?
The Venetian Macao
A fortnight ago I was in Macau, enjoying luxury like I've never experienced luxury before.
I was one of about 1,250 invited media guests flown in from all over the world to witness the grand opening of the Venetian Macao, an expensive and ambitious project spearheaded the Las Vegas Sands Corporation.
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
These are the same guys who had won the lucrative bid to open the first casino in Singapore, The Marina Bay Sands Resort in 2009. They also operate several casinos and convention halls around Las Vegas, including the original Venetian of which the Macao one is based on.
Throughout my stay here, I could not help but to be in constant awe of the sheer size and enormity of the project.
It was monolithic. Truly unlike anything I have ever seen before.
The hotel lobby
The Venetian Macao is the second largest building in the world and the biggest integrated resort in Asia.
The entire complex boasts a total floor space of 10.5 million square feet. They call it the first true integrated resort in Asia, featuring 3,000 hotel suites, 1.2 million square feet of convention and exhibition space, 1 million square feet of upscale retail space, 550 thousand square feet of casino space, a 1,800 seat theatre and a 15,000 seat arena, all housed under one single roof.
Frankly, I don't know exactly how big "10.5 million square feet" is either, but imagine this.
Imagine the most luxurious hotel suites in Mandarin Oriental, the largest convention halls in KLCC, the biggest upmarket shopping mall in Starhill Gallery, the entire Genting casino (times two), the whole KLPAC theatre and the whole Bukit Jalil Indoor Stadium ALL COMBINED under one single building.
Give it a classic Venetian makeover and put it at one minute drive away from KLIA, you'll get the Venetian Macao.
The man behind all these is Mr Sheldon Adelson, the chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Sheldon Adelson also happens to be the sixth richest man in the world and third richest in the USA according to Forbes Magazine. He ranks in after Bill Gates and Warren Buffet; but way ahead of Steve Jobs, Google founders and all those Hollywood A-list celebrities.
You gotta hand it to him.
Here's a guy who was born into an immigrated family, started out dirt poor selling newspapers at the roadsides to earn a living when he was 12.
Through hard work and determination, he made his first big break selling exhibition space for a computer convention. Now he owns and runs one of the biggest integrated resorts in the world.
At 74 years of age, Sheldon Adelson shows no signs of slowing down. His first Asian project, the billion-dollar Sands Macao Casino broke even in just one year. Over the next few years, Las Vegas Sands Corp will continue to invest heavily in Macau, China and Singapore.
Here's a guy who predicted that revenue in Macau will soon surpass that of Las Vegas, famously saying that "Las Vegas should be called America's Macau"
As amazing as the Venetian Macao already is, it is only the first phase of development among a much more grandoise scheme. They build the resort on a reclaimed land, by filling up the sea with enough sand to build the Egyptian Pyramids.
The new land is called Cotai, and The Venetian Macao is the crown jewel of a stretch of road nicknamed the Cotai Strip - the stretch of road that will bring Las Vegas to Asia.
In the years to come, Cotai Strip will be populated by seven other famous resort hotels, greatly expanding the casino, convention and retail space.
At the moment, Macau is mostly a side-excursion when people go to Hong Kong. Travellers to Macau rarely stayed for more than a day. But the Cotai Strip is gonna change that, and Macau is gonna radically transform into a place where people would stay longer and spend their big money at.
Have you ever seen escalators that curve?
Despite the sheer magnitude of the resort, somehow they managed to keep everything within close walking distances to each other.
This is my hotel suite.
From here, I'm only a lift ride away to the entrance of the World's Largest Casino.
As huge as the casinos are, they are only a tiny part of the entertainment they have on offer. There are so much more things to do there besides gambling.
If there's something going on at the convention halls or the Arena, I'm just a few steps away to watching it live.
Already, Roger Federer vs Pete Sampras and an NBA basketball match are scheduled in the Arena.
Like on the Grand Opening night, we were treated to several surprise performances by well-known Taiwanese and Hong Kong singers.
But that event deserves an entire post on its own, another day.
If I feel like a bit of retail therapy, the Grand Canal Shoppes are close by on the second floor, carrying everything from affordable brands like Bossini all the way to cutthroat expensive ones like Tiffany's.
The retail space at the Venetian is larger than any shopping malls in Hong Kong. Considering how big shopping mall already are in Hong Kong, that's saying a lot.
The resort has gone through great lengths to actually fool you into believing that you are shopping in old time Renaissance Venice, Italy when you're not.
It's beautiful. They even went as far as to have artificially hand-painted blue skies onto the ceiling. I kid you not.
So even if it's pitch dark or raining heavily outside, you'd still happily think its cool and sunny inside.
Of course, the fake skies can cause a bit of problem when it comes to stray helium balloons though. :P
The signature of the Grand Canal Shoppes is three 490 long water canals along the cobblestone walkways. They even have Italian gondolas and serenading gondoliers to transport you around.
It has become quite a trend of newlyweds to take the graceful and romantic glide down the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy and here they have faithfully re-created the experience.
Yes, I know there are Venetian gondolas in Genting too, but these ones are so authentic, they make the gondolas at First World Plaza looks like some cheap 20 cent children's ride.
What I love about the Grand Canal Shoppes are not the shops, but tireless street performers present all day long to entertain the shoppers.
As much as this whole "Disneyland for Adults" is artifical and man-made, you gotta love their elaborate costumes and attention to detail.
There are opera singers, stilt walkers, jugglers, and my favourite... a human statue.
The purpose of the human statue is to just stand there and not move at all.
Like a statue.
After 15 minutes.
After 30 minutes.
1 hour.
I swear I heard him snore.
Such an easy job.
When I grow up, I wanna be a human statue too.
:: Posted by Kenny at 7:06 AM | Link | Facebook It
:: Categorised as 'Macau'
99 Comments:
nice ler... make me feel like going on holiday again~!!~!!!!
Posted by: Aaron Tan at 06 September 2007 12:29 PM | Link to comment
Hehe, the balloons do kinda look like they're floating in the air...if you don't look too long, that is :P
Posted by: WP at 06 September 2007 12:31 PM | Link to comment
OoO wah...I will make it in my list to go there soon...One day
Posted by: helen at 06 September 2007 12:32 PM | Link to comment
WOW.
Posted by: pep at 06 September 2007 12:35 PM | Link to comment
Impressive.
Posted by: Caydensmommy at 06 September 2007 12:36 PM | Link to comment
ME WAN GO THR SOMEDAY!!!
Posted by: dneez at 06 September 2007 12:40 PM | Link to comment
5th
Posted by: simon at 06 September 2007 12:40 PM | Link to comment
tat human statue sure feel very hot...
maybe he wanna laugh when someone taking pic like kenny with him...posting like him
Posted by: rawpotato at 06 September 2007 12:43 PM | Link to comment
WALAU ~~ I WILL BE BORED TO DEATH IF I STAND THERE THE WHOLE DAY = =
Posted by: I'm A Chicken With No Name. BWAK BWAK BWAK! at 06 September 2007 12:43 PM | Link to comment
Have you ever seen escalators that curve?
Yes I have. At Orchard Point next to Centrepoint.
Dunno if it's still there though.
Posted by: Miss Loi at 06 September 2007 12:46 PM | Link to comment
wow...nice... i just went to macao early this year, how come i did not notice the venetian huh?? ehhehehe.... i guess i shall visit macao again... Nice post kenny!!
Posted by: princessladyjane at 06 September 2007 12:53 PM | Link to comment
Have you ever seen escalators that curve?
They've been all over Las Vegas shopping plazas/casino resorts for years now.
The Venetian Macao looks like a huge ripoff of the original Venetian in Las Vegas (I could have sworn those pictures at the shopping area were from the Venetian Shoppes in Las Vegas, except for that large horde of Asian people). Except bigger and with Chinese guys as gondoliers rather than Mexican guys...
Posted by: Lao Lao at 06 September 2007 12:56 PM | Link to comment
My dear, That was one nice post of magnificent Venetian Macao. What else can I say. I don't know how to express them in words but if I were the one who's invited there instead of you, perhaps I don't even want to think of coming home to Kuching anymore and forever.
Posted by: jane aka kepo at 06 September 2007 1:08 PM | Link to comment
Cool report! But what's with the buttoned up Batik shirt?
Posted by: runwitme at 06 September 2007 1:13 PM | Link to comment
wow... the ceiling looked so real...i thought..oh, well haha
Posted by: slowcatchupkuan at 06 September 2007 1:19 PM | Link to comment
For Macau to compete with Las Vegas...way to go! But its probably just the begining, and hopefully it will turn out to be better than Las Vegas.
I can't say ASIAN PROUD here cos its not owned by ASIANs.
Btw, about the fake skies I think they are copying the Caesar Palace in Las Vegas.
But anyway, MACAU is definitely now one of the-must go places in my list.
Thanks Kenny for another great post.
Posted by: nerdz at 06 September 2007 1:23 PM | Link to comment
Take The Venetian Macao only and times TEN = LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
SERIOUSLY, no kidding.
Posted by: Viva Las Vegas at 06 September 2007 1:26 PM | Link to comment
LOL!
Posted by: Maddie at 06 September 2007 1:33 PM | Link to comment
wow thats such a nice hotel!
Posted by: evelyn at 06 September 2007 1:34 PM | Link to comment
OMG... unbelievable.... i wan to go Macao liao...
Posted by: Senel at 06 September 2007 1:35 PM | Link to comment
nice nice .... i will ask DAD to bring me there :)
Posted by: misha at 06 September 2007 1:37 PM | Link to comment
nice batik shirt. insipred by the blue sky?
Posted by: tatt at 06 September 2007 1:48 PM | Link to comment
the after 30min and 1h picture has the same man in a blue shirt! wahaha.
Posted by: :D blah. at 06 September 2007 2:01 PM | Link to comment
good stuff kenny, you sure looks smart in the blue batik! haha
Posted by: kahseong at 06 September 2007 2:02 PM | Link to comment
kenny, ur post and pictures are great!!!
but please can you kill the blue batik shirt?
it's ..... [fill in the blank]
Posted by: vss3t at 06 September 2007 2:03 PM | Link to comment
Impressive. The blue sky nearly had me fooled! Waiting for ur next entry about the celebs!!
Posted by: Kelly at 06 September 2007 2:05 PM | Link to comment
Cannot say anything other than "WONDERFUL PLACE" =)
Posted by: HaR at 06 September 2007 2:07 PM | Link to comment
are you guys brothers?
Posted by: Salamahafifi at 06 September 2007 2:17 PM | Link to comment
Wahh.. Why Casino must in Gold Color?
The room in yellow,the casino ceiling is silly yellow, the entrance is with stupid gold and the Lobby crazy gold also..
Posted by: Aco at 06 September 2007 2:20 PM | Link to comment
I like that human statue. question, that guy job duty is stand there and not moving. when he need a toilet break...=.= wearing aldult pampers?
Posted by: steven at 06 September 2007 2:24 PM | Link to comment
i tot it was outdoor
the sky are so real until i saw the balloon.
Posted by: simonyeow at 06 September 2007 2:27 PM | Link to comment
i want to be kennysia when i grow up...
Posted by: benjamin and yus at 06 September 2007 2:54 PM | Link to comment
woohh,i though it evening when u took da pics, its actually FOREVER evening in dat place, every1 is like a king/queen der, definately going der when i hav da cash~!
Posted by: JuN jUn at 06 September 2007 2:55 PM | Link to comment
"WHEN YOU GROW UP"???Kenny you'd better start learning how to become human statue lor. you don't hav much more "growing up" to do....
Posted by: MUNkey at 06 September 2007 2:55 PM | Link to comment
yay i'm the first!!
Posted by: proud at 06 September 2007 3:07 PM | Link to comment
yay second!
Posted by: simonpeeinpants at 06 September 2007 3:08 PM | Link to comment
Wow... It's such a wonderful place.. So hope I'm there too!!
Posted by: cool at 06 September 2007 3:25 PM | Link to comment
they oredi have a curving escalator in times square, causeway bay, hong kong...
Posted by: sue at 06 September 2007 3:29 PM | Link to comment
u use nikon D40? at AUTO mode?
Posted by: new at 06 September 2007 3:36 PM | Link to comment
the place look so unreal, it's just like the old century. looks very luxurious. i wanna go there one day.
Posted by: omg at 06 September 2007 4:12 PM | Link to comment
I swear u saw the statue peeking at you when you were taking a photo beside him
Posted by: dk999 at 06 September 2007 4:36 PM | Link to comment
Wow.. Can't believe it.. You're so lucky to go there.. One day i will make a trip thr.. !
Posted by: Flower at 06 September 2007 4:42 PM | Link to comment
I wonder what would happen if you kept using the camera flash on the human statue, it would surely make that person move their eye lids by abit
Posted by: didi at 06 September 2007 5:14 PM | Link to comment
The statue dude is HILARIOUS!
Posted by: I'm A Chicken With No Name. BWAK BWAK BWAK! at 06 September 2007 5:23 PM | Link to comment
funny la de statue man..i wonder wat hapen if de nature calls???? pee in his pants eh?
de painted blue skies fooled me entirely..wen u finally mention tat its fake, i hv to scroll up again n viewing it few times....look so real la.
kenny, why u button up ur batik? looks so nerdy...good boy image is it?
p/s: by de way, who are de 2 person u took pic on de gondola, wearing de native sarawakian attire? i mean de headress....
Posted by: El at 06 September 2007 6:14 PM | Link to comment
it is just like a fake venice city, like in malaysia we also hv, kampung france in bukit tinggi there, and the kampung japan... ~~
Posted by: spookygrace at 06 September 2007 6:21 PM | Link to comment
they have curved escalators@wheelock in singapore, kenny.
Posted by: passerbyyy at 06 September 2007 7:14 PM | Link to comment
Gud! Must have been so fun!!
Wow, ur wearing batik!!!
Posted by: ffxmadman at 06 September 2007 7:40 PM | Link to comment
I love your post and the pictures of the Venetian. Pretty much sums up the magnificence of the place!
Posted by: Natasha at 06 September 2007 8:22 PM | Link to comment
The sky looked so real in that pic, I thought it was open air =_=
Posted by: Karyn at 06 September 2007 8:32 PM | Link to comment
Must been an experience of a lifetime!
I like how they paint the ceilings to resemble the blue skies :)
Posted by: Going crazy anytime at 06 September 2007 9:39 PM | Link to comment
Such a nice event that you have covered. What's getting better is that you are fully sponsored on the trip.
Keep it up :)
Posted by: 思斌 at 06 September 2007 9:45 PM | Link to comment
got one curved escalator in singapore. at borders.
Posted by: I'm A Chicken With No Name. BWAK BWAK BWAK! at 06 September 2007 10:00 PM | Link to comment
what a fun trip you had.
i wish i could go so many places like you.. :)
Posted by: hOcmun at 06 September 2007 10:46 PM | Link to comment
You wore a blue batik shirt... a touch of Casino de Genting to bring to your hosts??
Posted by: Suertes at 06 September 2007 10:51 PM | Link to comment
i seriously like this post kenny....well done...
Posted by: clement at 06 September 2007 10:52 PM | Link to comment
is that Ah Mei performing? as for the venice city, it's looked kinda familiar...
i also like the architechure of the buildings, drawings, etc.
Posted by: kcin at 06 September 2007 11:24 PM | Link to comment
woow the fake sky look real, if not mentioned above no 1 will know. Amazing
Posted by: Darren at 06 September 2007 11:42 PM | Link to comment
Wow... such a nice place.
Escalator that curves... Singapore also have wat...
Wheelock Place at Orchard rd...
Posted by: choongkeat at 07 September 2007 12:09 AM | Link to comment
GO DIE KENNY.
JUST GO DIE
Posted by: skim at 07 September 2007 12:11 AM | Link to comment
I have been to the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas this May. The pic you took in Macao is 90% similar to the one in LV. It is like identical - the lobby, the canal, the room, the shops, the sky ceiling and all that. Seems like the designer have saves lots of time there. And also, I think the room rates at LV is cheaper than you mention at Macao, what a rip off by Macao.
Posted by: Deric at 07 September 2007 12:35 AM | Link to comment
haha.. i love the human statue too.. but i dun wanna be one.. :P
its a really cool place, u r so lucky, kenny.. :)just that i don't really like the colours.. like someone said, almost everything is gold and yellow.. but i guess they don't have much choices coz they wanna make it look luxurious (oh, ok.. it IS luxurious.. hehe)
nice post by the way.. :)
Posted by: lyn at 07 September 2007 1:05 AM | Link to comment
why only when u grow up? come to me and i'll help u paint up and TADA! the kemmy statue:P
Posted by: bjk at 07 September 2007 1:45 AM | Link to comment
I live in the US and I've been to the Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada a few times. The pictures you took of the Venetian in Macao looks almost the same as the one in Vegas. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Missie at 07 September 2007 6:09 AM | Link to comment
Actually, Las Vegas is TWENTY times (I would say) of Macao. The room rates aren't even as expensive as what was mentioned at Venetian Macao.
Look, any chances, visit Las Vegas, your legs will kill you first if you want to visit all the casinos 'cos It is a 14 miles stretch full of casinos,shopping, Ferraris are parked like Toyota, Hammer Limousines all over, great and cheap food and it does not end there. Each casino is appx 2 to 4 square miles and that is on both side of the Strip and lined up one after the other.
You check it out.
Posted by: I'm A Chicken With No Name. BWAK BWAK BWAK! at 07 September 2007 12:00 PM | Link to comment
oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
NICE!
Posted by: tom at 07 September 2007 12:02 PM | Link to comment
kenny i taught the singapore's casino bid won by our genting group?
Posted by: DrumNbass88 at 07 September 2007 12:20 PM | Link to comment
Won't the human statue's hand ache from holding it out like that for so long? O.o
Posted by: Christyna at 07 September 2007 1:19 PM | Link to comment
Feel like wanna go also.
Kenny, you are just so damn lucky >.
Posted by: Teng Foung at 07 September 2007 4:32 PM | Link to comment
Hey Kenny, just wondering how did you get yourself invited for such a grand event?
Posted by: Alex at 07 September 2007 5:00 PM | Link to comment
I wish I could travel as frequently as you do :(
Posted by: Natalie at 07 September 2007 11:00 PM | Link to comment
The last pic is cute! =)
Posted by: Ying Bin Sousa at 07 September 2007 11:40 PM | Link to comment
hahaa. funny to see
so many people cursing kenny to die...
what have you done kenny?
apparently there are some loyal readers who
really hate you... :p
Posted by: hOcmun at 08 September 2007 2:08 AM | Link to comment
Hi Kenny, hope you can post some pictures of the Grand Opening Night where I know you must have been delighted by the surprise performance of David Tao (and other stars :) Cheers!
Posted by: fei at 08 September 2007 9:59 AM | Link to comment
Very good coverage! Learn a lot about Macau in less than 5 minutes. They sent the right guy to Macau. You deserve your trip :)
Posted by: DK Boy at 08 September 2007 11:39 AM | Link to comment
I love your fashion sense!
that cowboy-esque shirt really goes well
with the backpack straps
Posted by: Andy at 08 September 2007 3:02 PM | Link to comment
the statue looks cute lol
Posted by: miss p at 08 September 2007 4:46 PM | Link to comment
"When I grow up, I wanna be a human statue too."
I just couldn't help laughing when I read that!
=D
Posted by: Justine at 08 September 2007 7:10 PM | Link to comment
aduhai..we already have a curved escalators at wheelocks place, singapore =) check it out one day can. =P
Posted by: I'm A Chicken With No Name. BWAK BWAK BWAK! at 08 September 2007 8:04 PM | Link to comment
whats all of this luxury for when there's people suffering without money
Posted by: I'm A Chicken With No Name. BWAK BWAK BWAK! at 08 September 2007 8:32 PM | Link to comment
Oh.. this post is great! The place is so beautiful. And.. wah... you wore batik..? Truely Malaysian... *applause*
^^
Posted by: curryegg at 08 September 2007 8:44 PM | Link to comment
si peh song la u Kenny....oh by the way if I'm not mistaken the Venetian is not the largest casino in the world,its the 2nd largest :) cheers mate!
Posted by: Allen at 09 September 2007 5:09 PM | Link to comment
I booked! going during Christmas this year. Yeah :)
Posted by: wind-rider at 09 September 2007 8:44 PM | Link to comment
The statue man is so STILL! If I was there, I would have tickled him to see his reaction!
Posted by: Chocolatelf at 09 September 2007 9:49 PM | Link to comment
Opulence... I would prefer to visit Europe for once. I don't think I'll like the recreations leh. I prefer to see reall aged buildings :P
Anyway Singapore's Wheelock Place has curved escalators :P
Posted by: barffie at 09 September 2007 11:09 PM | Link to comment
have you been to singapore's wheelock? we have curved escalator but kinda slow though haha
Posted by: aki at 10 September 2007 5:31 PM | Link to comment
underneath the statue there is a tiny stool (comfy bikeseat) and a membrane tube piped in to the bowel regions, complete with a cloak that is charged with a 10V/1mA electric shock.
Posted by: theo at 11 September 2007 10:32 AM | Link to comment
great to see you were wearing batik kenny! so proud of u..
Posted by: maniesa at 11 September 2007 8:27 PM | Link to comment
Have you ever seen escalators that curve?
Yes!! :) some mall in HK! and i went like, wah, it curves!
Posted by: lsf at 14 September 2007 12:27 PM | Link to comment
it looks like Dubai's Ibn Battuta Mall..
Posted by: Adeline at 15 September 2007 6:58 AM | Link to comment
eh kenny how the hell u get invited laaa..tell me laa...dun be kedekut
Posted by: bb lala at 15 September 2007 10:50 PM | Link to comment
jz back from macau...
i was there on 28-30 september
really a nice place...
Posted by: enghwa at 02 October 2007 8:48 PM | Link to comment
hehe..i was there few days ago..
Posted by: tauyik at 14 October 2007 1:42 AM | Link to comment
i wanna go there too
Posted by: I'm A Chicken With No Name. BWAK BWAK BWAK! at 10 November 2007 9:13 PM | Link to comment
yeap. ive seen the escalators that curve, they have it in hong kong timesquare. btw, love ur blog kenny!
Posted by: Alia at 12 December 2007 5:41 PM | Link to comment
i am going in May! so excited! google the hotel and found your site. =D
Posted by: Jeslyn at 16 April 2008 5:01 PM | Link to comment
Fellow tourists,
Beware some of the retail shops at Venetian, who will tell you their prices are duty free, when i clearly asked in english and chinese. Cheats!
Lacoste shop was one of them, the same shoe i bought there was MOP160 cheaper at Wong Kok!
You have been warned...
Posted by: Kitty at 18 April 2008 12:34 AM | Link to comment
Hi everyone,
If you are planning to come over here, let me know. I work in Venetian and can get cheaper rates compare to the ones offer by your tour agent. Email me!
It is good to keep in touch with people who also read kenny sia blogs.
Posted by: Vincent Ungko at 18 April 2008 11:31 PM | Link to comment
ungkovincent@hotmail.com
Posted by: Vincent Ungko at 18 April 2008 11:32 PM | Link to comment
com
