Ah finally, some sightseeing. Friday morning I head to the port of Shekou and hop a ferry over to the island of Macau. This island was occupied and claimed by Portugal in the 1700's. It wasn't until 1999 that it was handed back to China. Currently there is a 50 year transition of ownership underway. It happens to be the most densely inhabited city in the world if you believe wikipedia. This picture shows me in front of the remains of an old mission. It sits on a hillside overlooking the cities narrow streets below.
The ferry ride was smooth. We arrived to a packed ship and only super class was available. So for an extra $15 we rode in high style with the top deck of the ship mostly to ourselves. Riding across the Pearl River Delta you could see Hong Kong in the distance and boats everywhere. Most people slept while I sat glued to the window taking in the scenery. A little over on hour later we dock and go through customs.
Gambling is the big money maker here. Macau is the Vegas of the orient. We hop a shuttle to the Venetian to have lunch and to consider our tourism options. Along the way we pass a giant statue of Matsu who is a goddess of the sea, cross a giant bridge, and roll past the Grand Lisboa Casino. All picture worthy places but unfortunately last Tuesday I left my camera in the van with Mr. Lee. So many photo-ops were missed. The Venetian here is twice the size of the one in Vegas. The gambling floors are immense. This is quite a spectacle. I manage to lose $200 Hong Kong dollars in two plays of Sic Bo. This is a dice game similar to craps. I have no idea what I did nor will I bother trying to figure it out. That's about $35. So I'm content to watch everyone else. After a tasty lunch we hop a shuttle to the Sands. It's located back near the ferry and is across the street from the Fisherman's Wharf. Shuttles are free to take as long as you go into the casino for a bit. So who needs taxis?
The ferry ride was smooth. We arrived to a packed ship and only super class was available. So for an extra $15 we rode in high style with the top deck of the ship mostly to ourselves. Riding across the Pearl River Delta you could see Hong Kong in the distance and boats everywhere. Most people slept while I sat glued to the window taking in the scenery. A little over on hour later we dock and go through customs.
Gambling is the big money maker here. Macau is the Vegas of the orient. We hop a shuttle to the Venetian to have lunch and to consider our tourism options. Along the way we pass a giant statue of Matsu who is a goddess of the sea, cross a giant bridge, and roll past the Grand Lisboa Casino. All picture worthy places but unfortunately last Tuesday I left my camera in the van with Mr. Lee. So many photo-ops were missed. The Venetian here is twice the size of the one in Vegas. The gambling floors are immense. This is quite a spectacle. I manage to lose $200 Hong Kong dollars in two plays of Sic Bo. This is a dice game similar to craps. I have no idea what I did nor will I bother trying to figure it out. That's about $35. So I'm content to watch everyone else. After a tasty lunch we hop a shuttle to the Sands. It's located back near the ferry and is across the street from the Fisherman's Wharf. Shuttles are free to take as long as you go into the casino for a bit. So who needs taxis?
The Sands is decrepit. Old Vegas but worse. old Laughlin is more like it. We walk in one way and out the other. Hit the wharf and look around. It's a newer looking place built in a Mediterranean style. but it's like Disneyland, cartoonish facades, no historical significance. We leave for the other side of town to find the mission pictured above. Now that place was great.
Heading downhill from the mission we find ourselves in a narrow corridor of a street. At around 4 in the afternon a light mist is falling from the approaching typhoon. The sky is gray. The streets are packed with Chinese sightseers. All walking downhill as if gravity was their guide. They are here for almond cookies which are sold by the vendors who's shops line the street. this district is famous for them and they are a special holiday treat. There are also peanut candy sellers and beef jerky booths. Out of nowhere a whistle blows and a school bus comes down the lane. It is filled with kindergartners all in uniform, happy. Back pressed up against the wall of a storefront I'm a foot away from the bus's windows. Staring face to face with these little kids. They are adorable, making faces, smiling, and waving at me. The bus lumbers on. The crowd fills the void left by the bus and we continue tasting samples from every store.
More streets are explored and stamped into memory. We make it back in time to take the 6:15 ferry back to Shekou. Super class again. It's worth the hassle seeing the regular class packed like sardines on the bottom deck. As night falls we head out into the delta. Lightning from the incoming storm blinks in the distance. Arriving in Shekou we enjoy some tex-mex along the restaurant row. Out on the patio in the cool breeze cheersing margaritas. Another great day is in the books.
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