Success only runs one direction....
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Macau
Found this open front shop nestled between two high priced jewelers on the main street in Macau. Only thing more interesting (in fish terms) was the shark fin shop seen earlier that day.
Tasty, I’m sure.
Wisely, we opted to meet Isaac at the hotel so the three of us could go to dinner in Causeway Bay. After a fair bit of searching (odd, given our location), we found a Chinese restaurant just before they closed.
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Thursday, May 1, 2008
Macau
While walking the steps up to the old fortress next to St. Paul’s, we happened upon a frequent site in China—groups of men gathered for chess, poker, or a simple afternoon chat. Here, you can see their bird cages hung from the lower branches of the tree, something common on these types of afternoon outings.
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Thursday, May 1, 2008
Macau
Built in the late 1500s, then burned to the ground in 1835, this is the most sought after site in Macau. The stone wall is only the beginning; you can see the original footings, some of the crypts, and other remains of the old cathedral while walking what was the original interior. You can’t help but feel the chills when seeing this monolithic facade standing in defiance of what destroyed the rest of the church.
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Thursday, May 1, 2008
Macau
Pretty sure the sign written in Mandarin says “Wet Paint,” but could just as easily imagine it saying “Watch to see if some silly tourists touch this wet paint.”
Thankfully, I put my hand down on the platform before Sarah sat on it…in her white linen slacks. We did have a chuckle about the fact (a) the paint had set up enough to be tacky, not wet, and (b) whoever owned it would return to find my handprint and her purse indentations on the top.
Oops.
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Thursday, May 1, 2008
Macau
This pretty church sits on St. Augustine’s Square, notable for its black and white mosaic paved plaza and sidewalks. One of the oldest churches in Macau, it’s known for the gorgeous statue of Christ on the cross that’s carried through the streets of Macau every year on the first Sunday of Lent, with Stations of the Cross set up along the entire route.
In the 1700s, the anti-Catholic government of the time expelled the Augustine friars, and banned the Passos procession. Ironically, there was a sudden food shortage that the locals immediately associated with the action. After a loud outcry to resume the parade of “the man with the cross,” the government gave in, and reversed their original decision…and the food shortage ended.
Now, who can argue with that?
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Thursday, May 1, 2008
Macau
Isaac decided to search Hong Kong Central for a Snow White costume (the sole request of his young daughter in Mexico City), so Sarah and I struck out for more distance environs, via the TurboJet ferry to Macau, an hour away.
This is an interesting city. The Portuguese influence is pronounced, given their presence centuries ago. From the beautifully tiled streets to Wedgewood-like building facades, it’s almost as if you travel from Asia to Europe in the span of a block or two…right before you run head long into Las Vegas. The number of American casinos that have sprung up on the island (where, unlike Hong Kong, this types of gambling is legal) is enough to make your head spin.
China celebrates Labor Day on May 1st, so the streets were jammed everywhere with holiday revelers. Must admit, it certainly added a party-like spirit to the day.
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