Sunday January 29, 2012.


The day started off in grand style, locked myself out of my room, good thing that I was dressed, just popped out to get the South China Morning Post and let the door slip as I bent down to pick up the paper, then had to go to the lobby by the elevators on my floor and call down to have someone come up and open the door, but not having my glasses and there being small print on the phone did not know if I was calling to report a fire or getting the kitchen or front desk, but finally got someone to open the door and the day continued without any further delays.

The ferry from Hong King to Macao takes one hour and is a catamaran and takes 300 plus travellers , no vehicles.  There was a lot of marine fog and you could not see very much on the journey.  Pick up at 7AM, ferry Hong Kong at 9AM, arrive Macao at 10  AM. The new casinos that are being built in Macao are actually on the two Island that are part of Macao, and one has to drive over a bridge to the peninsula that is Macao. Macao has 33 casino, the people do not pay taxes, have free medical etc, the revenues from the casinos provides for social welfare and housing for those in need.

 It is not that big and in 1998 was turned over to China from Portugal, but the system in place remains the same for the next 50 years.

Again the weather was not being cooperative and it was hazy. First stop a Taoist temple, did not venture in today as the incense burning cause a minor allergy problem, today the temple was very busy and they were burning fire works and one could not hear over the roar. It being New Year and the celebration continues for a couple more days one was hard pressed to make it through the crowd to get in, if one wanted to.  We also visited a bakery for egg tarts, and tried several other Portuguese/Chinese cookies and different meats, then several stops and then lunch at a Portuguese restaurant and off to the Macao Tower338 meters, up to the 68th floor  with views of Macao, mainland China and Taipa and Coloane Islands which are becoming one due to land reclamation.
The rest of the day was spend walking thought the back allays of the old part to the city, then a very short stop by the casino owned by Jackie Chan then back on the ferry and on to Hong Kong again.

 This evening was a lot clearer so have taken some photos of the city at night, like  most cities when clothed in a mered of lights  Hong Kong is very beautiful.

Statue of Kun Lam

Older European part of Macao

Home to the Administrator of Macau.

Macau Tower

Taoist Temple

sign inside Macau Tower

Streets and alleyways of old Macau

Ruins of St. Paul's destroyed by fire

lunch

Back in Hong Kong and the lights of the city from around the hotel and across the horbor