Hong Kong left behind, we're currently hidden away at the southern end of Coloane Island, one of three major islands making up the former Portuguese colony of Macau, situated just of the coast of China and only hour ferry ride from our last berth on the Kowloon side of HK.

Macau is now independent but retains a great deal of its colonial architecture and character. In rambling about the hilly, narrow streets of old downtown you run across plazas (or more acurately, largos) that closely resemble the squares, and fountained alcoves of Barrio Santa Cruz in Sevilla, Spain (apologies, as my travels haven't led me to Portugal yet, so this would be my closest first-person comparison). Standing close upon these squares (and European-style churches, government buildings, etc.) we found a bustling array of Chinese adn Maccanese shops and foodstalls as well as high-fashion joints selling fancy furniture and country club attire.

Curiously, the place feels much more overly Chinese than Hong Kong, which we found more akin in feel to sea-side New York City or London, with global brands dominating everthing almost completely except dcuisine . The one thing that thoroughly places Hong Kong culturally is food, where local, dodgy looking noodle and dumpling shops compete cheek and jowl with all the big international chains. However, that said, I can confess to having been the only foreigner in a crowd of enthusiastic locals grabbing a quick bite at a conveniently located KFC. DON'T JUDGE - I was desperate. And fried chicken is good in any language.

Macau is also a more hopping gambling locale than Las Vegas, with some $6 billion spent here on gaming last year. The country is currently going through the family-friendly, mega-resort changes that Las Vegas has already experienced, with twins of popular Vegas attractions like The Sands, The Venetian and The Wynn popping up alongside local joints like The Golden Dragon or the Lisboa. You can also take in the dog track, go-karting, Grand Prix racing or the new Fishermans' Warf complex, which, with the paint not even yet dry, feels like a Disney attraction - an Epcot Center for Asia with mini versions of ancient Egypt, a volcano, Portugal, New Orleans and Miami (how these particular locations came together, I'll never know - continental drift, perhaps?).

Frankly, I love it here. Macau is the most charming spot I've seen accross three countries and ten thousand miles or so of travel. Getting around the islands is easy, the people are generous and kind, the scenery - both urban and rural - is amazing; the food, exceptional. And today, I (poorly but enthusiastically) winged 120 golf ball into the Ocean, walked on a black sand beach and also, found a family of wormy, germy, bedraggled beach cats with which to be friends. These are things vacations are made of...

Catch you again back in Hong Kong.

-- MDT

Labels: China, Macau, travel