I think the most appropriate word to describe Macau is eclectic. It is an utter confusion of Portuguese, Chinese, American, English, Catholic and Buddhist influences. As you turn the corner of a street or enter a square it is difficult to predict whether you’ll be immersed in the hustle and bustle of traditional shops, overwhelmed by the magnificence of a Catholic church, confronted with a Buddhist temple, dazzled by a Vegas-style casino, or faced with a combination of all of the above, standing alongside a Starbucks or McDonald’s.

Now a Special Administrative Region of China, Macau was under Portuguese rule for 4 ½ centuries until 1999. It’s relatively small and I was able to cover the main sights during the six hours I was there. Beginning at this picture-postcard edifice, the ruins of St Paul’s, gives you some idea of the splendor on offer in Macau. I suppose you could describe it as the “Acropolis” of Macau, but strangely enough it quickly gets lost once you descend into the hustle and bustle of the streets below.

I wandered around, visited a few of the temples and went inside several splendid Catholic churches, the main Cathedral and a couple of other notable buildings. It was rather comforting to be amidst European architecture again – the architectural detail on some of the buildings was incredible and the warmth of the yellow facades against the blue of the sky was a very pleasing combination.

Perhaps one of the prettiest places was the Largo do Senado or Senado Square. Chinese writing and shops aside, you could have been in Seville or Granada. The square is cobbled, guarded on either side by elaborate buildings and at one end host to an imposing church. I sat and ate an ice-cream on the fountain… green tea flavored Hagen Das. It’s not unpleasant, but it’s, um, interesting.

There are some very pleasant gardens around the centre of Macau, sections of the old City walls, Moorish barracks, and then out of nowhere a large fortress and lighthouse. Perched on top of a hill, this is the largest lighthouse on the Chinese coast. Due to land reclamation, the lighthouse now sits away from the coast and is a distinct symbol of the Macau of yesterday. It’s incredibly peaceful location and affords spectacular panoramic views across the entirety of Macau and away towards China in one direction and the South China Sea in the other.

Moving away from the architectural and cultural delights, you are faced with an entirely different scene: the casinos, the grand-prix race track (which I walked along) and the plush hotels. A mini Las Vegas - think Ocean’s 11, neon lights, fountains with sparkling lights, lots of gold, lots of red carpet, women dressed in cocktail dresses and stilettos, and money. An utter contrast from the remainder of the City – the delights of Asia never cease to amaze.