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

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

January 28, 2012
 Started the day with a breakfast in the hotel, buffet but it is a bit expensive if you only have toast and coffee and fruit for breakfast, will give it a pass for the rest of my stay.
 Started a tour of Hong Kong Island at a Monastery in the heart of the city, due to the New Year holiday it was very crowded and there was lots of persons burning incense and paper money so it was very smokey, so just took a quick look around and went out to wait by the tour bus.

 Then we were off to the tram and Victoria Peak, awesome view  from the top, but was quite hazy so did not get a spectacular view as had hoped.  Spent a hour just walking around and enjoying the sites.

We then boarded the bus for a tour of a jewellery manufacturer, very nice but was overpriced, did not buy any. Off again this time to board a Junk for a trip in the harbor and then to the Jumbo floating restaurant for lunch.  Lunch was dim sum and was very good.  Lunch was late in the afternoon and it was after three when we finished.   From there took a short ride on a ferry to the dock and boarded the bus for a trip to Aberdeen and the Stanley market.  The market is a couple of blocks long and is quite crowded and the shops are small. Bought a bag to carry my camera and a pair of sun glasses, already lost one pair. 

Hope tomorrow is clearer, weather has been nice, warm and sunny but have been told that it is going to change by Monday.

View from Victoria Peak, hazy

view for Victoria Peak

Hong Kong form the water

This building is being repaired and the scaffolding is all bamboo, work safe BC would have a coronary.

Jumbo Floating restaurant

Tomorrow is an early start, no more civilized tour times, must be ready for tour at 7:30 AM., off to Macao for a full day.

January 28, 2012
 Started the day with a breakfast in the hotel, buffet but it is a bit expensive if you only have toast and coffee and fruit for breakfast, will give it a pass for the rest of my stay.
 Started a tour of Hong Kong Island at a Monastery in the heart of the city, due to the New Year holiday it was very crowded and there was lots of persons burning incense and paper money so it was very smokey, so just took a quick look around and went out to wait by the tour bus.

 Then we were off to the tram and Victoria Peak, awesome view  from the top, but was quite hazy so did not get a spectacular view as had hoped.  Spent a hour just walking around and enjoying the sites.

We then boarded the bus for a tour of a jewellery manufacturer, very nice but was overpriced, did not buy any. Off again this time to board a Junk for a trip in the harbor and then to the Jumbo floating restaurant for lunch.  Lunch was dim sum and was very good.  Lunch was late in the afternoon and it was after three when we finished.   From there took a short ride on a ferry to the dock and boarded the bus for a trip to Aberdeen and the Stanley market.  The market is a couple of blocks long and is quite crowded and the shops are small. Bought a bag to carry my camera and a pair of sun glasses, already lost one pair. 

Hope tomorrow is clearer, weather has been nice, warm and sunny but have been told that it is going to change by Monday.

View from Victoria Peak, hazy

view for Victoria Peak

Hong Kong form the water

This building is being repaired and the scaffolding is all bamboo, work safe BC would have a coronary.

Jumbo Floating restaurant

Tomorrow is an early start, no more civilized tour times, must be ready for tour at 7:30 AM., off to Macao for a full day.