Macau - Day 134
Trip Start
Jan 31, 2008
1
93
254
Trip End
Ongoing
Where I stayed
Hospedaria San Va Guesthouse
Macau, China
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Found somewhere to stay in the old town called Hospedaria San Va guesthouse. Simple guesthouse in a good central location near to all the old Portuguese colonial sites. Macau has a very different feel to Hong Kong, you can see the old Portuguese colonial influence everywhere in the architecture, food and the numerous catholic churches. Had a brief walk around the old town and then headed for the Hotel Lisboa Casino. The Casino looks like a building straight out of Vegas, a massive gold tower lit up by thousands of neon lights. Went into the gambling halls and its packed full of Chinese gambling their lives away. Hardly saw any westerners in there, but I'm sure this will change soon. Construction is going on everywhere, hotels, Casinos and Resorts. I think Macau will over-take Las Vegas in the near future as place to gamble. Vegas better watch out, Macau is catching up quickly!!
In the Hotel Lisboa there's a massive flawless 208 carat diamond on display, a really beautiful wonder of nature. Two security men guard it around the clock. Thinking of doing an "Oceans 11" and hatching a plan to steal it, should pay for quite a bit of travelling :o)
Went to the new Venetian casino tonight on another island called Taipa. Lost a reasonable sum of money playing blackjack and roulette. Doh!! Nevermind, it was a nights entertainment. An expensive one though!
The Venetian is an enormous complex with its canals, boulevards and colossal gambling halls. Puts most of the casinos in Vegas to shame, but it did remind me a little of the Trafford centre but without the chaves with their tracky bottoms tucked in socks. I was strolling down one of the shopping boulevards and to my surprise, saw a Manchester United shop. I knew the mighty reds were popular in Asia but I didn't expect to find a shop in a casino dedicated to the European champions! Didn't see any Liverpool or Chelsea shops :o)
Comments
Hello Chris,
Thanks for your blog it helped a lot for my comprehension about Macau.
Actually I'm on the process right now of making my itinerary for my Hongkong & Macau escapade maybe for 5days.
I hope HK & Macau is more progessive these days which I think their would be more changes since you were there last 2008.
Fingers crossed that it would be a memorable and worth the money to be spent as I visit HK & Macau soon.
I hope you enjoy your trip! I certainly enjoyed my time in these diverse and intresting cities. Good food, great architecture and diverse people, what more could you ask for :o)