A-Ma-Gau

Macau's name is derived from its temple A-Ma-Gau or rather a corruption of its name by the Portuguese. As you can see from the picture above, when you find yourself at Largo do Senado you could be forgiven for thinking you actually are in Portugal. This week-end came as a good break from the shopping cities of the area (Singapore, Kuala, Jakarta) where apart from spending money on consumer's goods there is no much to do. In Macau you can surely spend as well (especially if you are a gambler) but there is more than enough to keep you busy for a whole week-end otherwise. The only downpoint was the extremely hot weather that made me sticky sweaty for two days but the other good thing is that you can easily catch a bus for 2,5 MOP (20 Euro cents) anywhere in the city.

Hong Kong & Macau

The picture above announces one of the ferries I took today between Hong Kong and Macau. All in all, in between all the Companies, there might be ferries linking both cities every 5 minutes.

When Hong Kong was British and Macau was Portuguese my preference and fascination were deeply going for Hong Kong. At the time the city just left me gobsmacked. But 10 years or so after I am amazed by the way Macau negotiated its new status. Of course, casinos remain the main activity (even more than ever) and since the market was opened a few years back, the major American Vegas companies are setting up offshoots here. But what is fantastic is the way Macau retains its identity. Overall there have been links with the Portuguese for over 400 years and, as everywhere they went, the Portuguese left some interesting features without forcing them to the local inhabitants (unlike the Brits and the Frogs). It is always interesting, wether you are talking about Brazil, Cabo Verde, Angola or Macau to see how the coloniser and the colonisee kind of mixed (incuding genetically) but always voluntarily. Each side only adopting what they were interested in. For example, the Macanese adopted some Portuguese ingredients in their food habits and vice versa to create a unique cuisine. I am now about to go and enjoy the city by night (but without gambling).