Macau
An ex Portuguese territory until 1999, and now a ‘special administrative region of people republic of China’.
An ex Portuguese territory until 1999, and now a ‘special administrative region of people republic of China’.
Its an early start and bonus of a few messages this morning to waken to. All good at home! The streets are cleaned and the place is back to peaceful. A few cafes are starting to open but I’ve read my dim sum are best in Macau so a couple of Mums oatcakes do for now and I’ll get something when I get in. I did contemplate a mc Donald’s coffee but not ready yet. Maybe the ferry will have something. Check in and such were all very simple and straight forward although there’s a large queue at the counter for tickets so glad I’m organised! Pier 12, a seat and a catch up. What’s left to do: tram to top, sun still coming up so could be lovely tomorrow morning, cocktail in soho (was nothing much yesterday!) and the 101 Tower on the hit list. Maybe head for last 2 tonight. This means the potential of straight back to the island from Macau......
Boarding also simple and the nice man had given new window seat, sadly it’s not the cleanest view but hopefully will see the outlying islands etc on way over. I think it’s just over an hour so settle for the ride. Comfy seats a bonus. Its quite full already!
The window is perfect. I follow the island of Lantau most of the way. It’s mountainous and lots of beaches, quite inhabited with few built up areas so looks like a nice retreat.
1 hour later and we swing with a pull of the boat to the left!) into Macau. A huge bridge to the mainland is visible through the dirty window and the sun is blazing in so off with the cardi!
All through customs without a hiccup, still no stamp in the passport😔, and I’m off!
Leaving the terminal I feel like I’m back in the Caribbean, people trying to sell me tours of the country!! I decline at 1200HKD!!
I’ve flagged a few places to see and casino country it is!! I see skyline of names ahead of me! Most look dated and 70s styles!
Little things are amusing me as I walk: there’s stairs up to the escalator! Then rather than going down the stairs at the other side, the young girl waits for the lift! Later the man jogging also takes the lift in preference to the stairs i just climbed!!
He’s later twarted as the lift to the fort is broken and this is 120 steps!!
When I get there I’m surrounded by a swarm of runners if all shapes
and sizes and ages The Top is tai chi haven. Peaceful lots of space and good views. There’s chess tables and a kids playground also. It’s so quiet! I wonder how much running people get done as they are all stopping and starting to chat!!
Oh well back to the bustle and it’s 0930 and still no dim sum!
Boarding also simple and the nice man had given new window seat, sadly it’s not the cleanest view but hopefully will see the outlying islands etc on way over. I think it’s just over an hour so settle for the ride. Comfy seats a bonus. Its quite full already!
The window is perfect. I follow the island of Lantau most of the way. It’s mountainous and lots of beaches, quite inhabited with few built up areas so looks like a nice retreat.
1 hour later and we swing with a pull of the boat to the left!) into Macau. A huge bridge to the mainland is visible through the dirty window and the sun is blazing in so off with the cardi!
All through customs without a hiccup, still no stamp in the passport😔, and I’m off!
Leaving the terminal I feel like I’m back in the Caribbean, people trying to sell me tours of the country!! I decline at 1200HKD!!
I’ve flagged a few places to see and casino country it is!! I see skyline of names ahead of me! Most look dated and 70s styles!
Little things are amusing me as I walk: there’s stairs up to the escalator! Then rather than going down the stairs at the other side, the young girl waits for the lift! Later the man jogging also takes the lift in preference to the stairs i just climbed!!
He’s later twarted as the lift to the fort is broken and this is 120 steps!!
When I get there I’m surrounded by a swarm of runners if all shapes
and sizes and ages The Top is tai chi haven. Peaceful lots of space and good views. There’s chess tables and a kids playground also. It’s so quiet! I wonder how much running people get done as they are all stopping and starting to chat!!
Oh well back to the bustle and it’s 0930 and still no dim sum!
ii meander through the streets. Everything is written in Chinese so will be a gamble, well it is Macau after all. There’s very little open still, not the feeling of a breakfast society!!!
I’m heading to the cathedral in the hopes of a bit of the old town feel. I do test out a lift to a walk way!! It’s full of people despite the escalator and the stairs!
Finding the cathedral brings a sense of stillness and quiet. It’s in a much less busy area, small streets and definitely an old town feel. I enjoy the quiet!! On to Sendai square and again the small streets there have minimised the traffic and there’s space!!! The cars etc give way to cameras and lots of fellow tourists. The low old buildings preserved well and the shops show the tourist nature of it all. There’s a post office down the road, but I still haven’t seen post cards..... challenge for wander back!
I head away from there to the lake area. Again it’s quiet and the life guards are getting set up. The sun is hot so going to be busy I’d think!
I get WiFi and check my return options, it’s every 15 minutes it tells me, so that’s easy!
I’m going to head to cathedral parish and see if I can find post cards oh and dim sum!! The oatcakes have kept me going this long!!
I’m heading to the cathedral in the hopes of a bit of the old town feel. I do test out a lift to a walk way!! It’s full of people despite the escalator and the stairs!
Finding the cathedral brings a sense of stillness and quiet. It’s in a much less busy area, small streets and definitely an old town feel. I enjoy the quiet!! On to Sendai square and again the small streets there have minimised the traffic and there’s space!!! The cars etc give way to cameras and lots of fellow tourists. The low old buildings preserved well and the shops show the tourist nature of it all. There’s a post office down the road, but I still haven’t seen post cards..... challenge for wander back!
I head away from there to the lake area. Again it’s quiet and the life guards are getting set up. The sun is hot so going to be busy I’d think!
I get WiFi and check my return options, it’s every 15 minutes it tells me, so that’s easy!
I’m going to head to cathedral parish and see if I can find post cards oh and dim sum!! The oatcakes have kept me going this long!!
i wander through the casino area. It’s all bright neon lights and glitzy stuff with a huge array of watch shops. No postcards here!! I go down rue de Paris and then notice the shops and restaurants are starting to open up. There’s still a lot of shut shops on rue de Roma!! However I find a dim sum, I gave 10HKD and after a few finger gestures trying to indicate I think 40 I shrug my shoulders and she gives me a local 1 and a Hong Kong 1 in change. It’s got a ginger flavour to it but no idea what it was. Does the job though!! There’s a few interesting options for Dad to be intrigued with on the offal offerings!! There’s a post box and stamp machine.... but still nothing to put them on or put in it! The search continues!
Heading back to the ferry I pop into the harbour highlighted on the map, it’s a new build which is just opening and contains lots of European type shops and it’s own amphitheater roman style! It’s very out of character for what I’ve seen. A look around and no post cards, I’m off again. I cross the road at the last shopping bit on way back in hopes of a post card, but no luck so to terminal I head.
This time it’s busy and open, unlike my arrival!! I bump into mike (another one) who was on the boat over. He’s done similar to me and seen enough also. He’s heading to Hong Kong mainland so we say gooosbye and head on. I’m off to get my post card!
There’s a wee stall upstairs and she has post cards....5 designs saying ‘I love macau’ and 1 other, so that’ll be 4 of the other please!! She sends me down to her the stamps for the machine below. I’m not sure if I have the change so pop into the exchange shop next to it where the lady says I can also buy from. I do and write them there and then, she’ll post on appropriate box! Off to get ticket, loo stop and onto departures waiting. This time it’s very busy! Full boat with standby also! No messing. On time we’re headed onto the boat and off..... little bumpier this time 😬!
Hong Kong island and drinks in soho here I come!!
This time it’s busy and open, unlike my arrival!! I bump into mike (another one) who was on the boat over. He’s done similar to me and seen enough also. He’s heading to Hong Kong mainland so we say gooosbye and head on. I’m off to get my post card!
There’s a wee stall upstairs and she has post cards....5 designs saying ‘I love macau’ and 1 other, so that’ll be 4 of the other please!! She sends me down to her the stamps for the machine below. I’m not sure if I have the change so pop into the exchange shop next to it where the lady says I can also buy from. I do and write them there and then, she’ll post on appropriate box! Off to get ticket, loo stop and onto departures waiting. This time it’s very busy! Full boat with standby also! No messing. On time we’re headed onto the boat and off..... little bumpier this time 😬!
Hong Kong island and drinks in soho here I come!!
Outcome: 6.5 miles walked, 18,000 steps and a few hills! (29 flights my fitbit tells me!)
Thoughts:
Not so much to come back for
People like mechanical mobility
Post cards are impossible to new!!
Returnabity: 1/10!
Thoughts:
Not so much to come back for
People like mechanical mobility
Post cards are impossible to new!!
Returnabity: 1/10!