When it was time to pack up and head out of Guangzhou, there were still a couple of days left before heading back to Hong Kong to go home. We decided that Macau would be an interesting stop over. Like Hong Kong, Macau only recently came back under Chinese rule, though it still has sovereign rule over the people that live there, at least for the next 50 years. For hundreds of years, Macau had been under Portuguese rule, and the European style architecture and a now decrepit Catholic cathedral as well as an old Portuguese fort show the very strong European influence. Now, Macau has been taken over by Las Vegas style casino hotels, luxurious rooms, and food that is recognizable to any foreign travelers. While I did not gamble while I was there (I see no point in gambling) I did take a peek into one of the casinos. On the outside it looks like any casino you would see on the Vegas strip, and you can walk into them in wearing shorts and a t-shirt, yet inside they remind me of a casino in Europe, very quiet and subdued. There is some very rich history in this part on the world, and unless you like to gamble, Macau can be seen in a day. I still found it very interesting and I always enjoy walking the side streets and back ways to see what is out there. There the real Macau showed up, and it was very similar to Guangzhou and the culture there.
In the center of downtown it is easy to get the feeling you could be in Europe. The European feel is all around in the older parts of Macau.
Street signs in both Chinese and Portuguese.
What remains of the cathedral, now a tourist hot spot. A look at a couple of the old canons atop the Portuguese fortress.
The "real" Macau. The back streets. Small shops selling everyday staples to the people that live in the area.
Dried sardines?
Duck, chicken, sausage? All that anyone could need to survive are found on these little side streets.
I am not sure I would travel back to Macau. It's not that I didn't enjoy it; I loved it there for the day that I went exploring. But after a day, I had seen everything. Now, if you like gambling and casinos, then Macau might just be for you. I would have rather spent another day or two in Hong Kong; or traveled to Singapore or Taiwan for new and interesting adventures.
Remember to tread lightly and leave no trace.
Aaron
