Another night of jetlag makes sure I manage to get 3.5 hours of sleep, before I wake up at 06:30 *groan* (some tour guide’s picking me up at 07:10), but I tell myself that today’s the last tour. Once I step into the bus, it appears I’m the second pick up. There are several more – a bunch of US Navy people (serving on the SS Ronald Reagan) rounding it off. One of the women sort of reminded me of Tasha of the L-word (season 4)…
At the ferry terminal we all get tickets to assigned seats at the ferry. Macau, like Hong Kong, is a semi-independent province, and roughly lies 65-70 km west of Hong Kong (“attached” to mainland China). And until recently Macau was ruled by the Portugese. Oh, by the way: there will be festivities on July 1st to commemorate the handover of Hong Kong by the British to China.It takes an hour to get to Macau by jet ferry. When its engines were start up it was convinced the whole thing would take off from the ground in a matter of moments ;p
The tour guide’s a cheeky man – his english is limited compared to the one who showed Lantau Island, but his sense of humor more than makes up for it. I learn that Macau’s really small: just 27 km2 and it currently has 25 casinos. (Yes, it’s the Atlantic City or Las Vegas of China. And a couple of new ones are being built as we speak!) There’s a group of assorted Australians and a few of the older women (two of ‘em retired) took a liking to me, joking with me and all :)
The tour starts at the Macau museum: History 101, people. It’s small, but interesting. Then it’s on to St. Paul’s church. Or: what’s left of it after a huge fire destroyed everything but the front facade. It’s currently being rebuilt. Right next to the church is a little temple; the Chinese do not have laws prohibiting any religion. Another interesting thing is that the Jezuits built the fort to keep the Dutch at bay (not really my ancestors, since I’m Dutch by birth and not by blood – the Dutch also invaded Indonesia).
Then it was time for lunch at the restaurant of some casino (no surprise there). The food’s good! I have fried rice, rice noodles, lots of fresh veggies, some chicken and several slices of watermelon to “fill up the holes”. The guide allows us some time to wander off (preferably to go and play at some casino), before going to Macau Tower. I walk around, wishing I could go back to the ancient heart of Macau with its narrow cobble stoned streets. It has a Mediteranean vibe. Walking back isn’t really an option: it’s on the other side of the Island, and I don’t have that much time. I suddenly see an almost perfect replica of some Dutch merchant houses, the kind you see in Amsterdam! Needless to say I took a couple of pictures of those :)
I didn’t go up CN Tower in Toronto, but I go up to the observatory level of Macau Tower – bracing myself. Once I step off the elevator and walk to the 360 windows, I notice the gentle swaying of he tower. I make myself look down throught the plexiglass floor (or whatever material it’s made of). The first few seconds I feel a little nauseous looking down, but it passes as I concentrate on taking pictures. And soon I feel confident enough to stand up (I actually sat down on some steps) and walk around. A Fillipino woman, visiting with her husband, has it really bad. I tell her not to worry, that I’m scared of heights too, and that the swaying of the tower is a good thing. It’s the moment it stops swaying you have to worry about, I assure her.I watch two girls bungee jump from the tower (!) and the retired Australian ladies are trying to get me to jump, too, thinking it’s totally up my alley. It’s so totally not! (I kept looking out for any male daredevils… But they were nowhere to be seen.)
I bought small presents for my mom and my brother (they’ll be getting them for Christmas) and two boxes of almond cookies – I know they’ll remind my mom of Indonesia.
***
I skip breakfast the next morning in favor of sleeping in. I do pop another Benadryl to help combat the rash in my neck and face. (I sleep for another three hours, solid.) When I get out in search of late brunch slash lunch I enjoy the sun – the first rays of sun I have since arriving here. This is exactly what my skin needs in order to make the eczema go away. I notice that now the sun’s shining it’s also stifling: humidity in the air is 85%, so there you go.
I pick up the pictures and I’m pleasantly surprised: several of time turned out really well. I decide to have lunch at “Light Vegetarian Restaurant” on 13 Jordan Road, Kowloon (my hotel’s around the corner), but the moment I step into the place and see it’s packed I change my mind. But then I opt for take out… Apparently, a few Buddhist monks frequent this, too, so I figure it can’t be bad. The fried rice with sweet corn is good – not the best I’ve ever had, but really tasty.Then it’s on to Pacific Coffee Company (it’s similar to Canada’s Second Cup or Starbucks) where they have internet terminals. They only thing one has to do is buy a beverage and/or a snack and you’re free to internet. A Candian couple from Calgary ask if I can spare a few minutes; they’re expecting an E-mail from their daughter. I understand that that’s important and let them have a moment at the terminal…
Later on I walk towards Mody Road near the harbor; during one of the drop offs at the end of a tour I noticed that there are lots of shops there. I really need a new pair of shoes (the soles of the pair I’m wearing now have worn thin, and it’s really a matter of walking another couple of miles before holes appear). And some clothes (so the ones with holes can be chucked away). Since I’m not a shopaholic myself I find myself switching modes, psychologically steeling myself against the drag that comes with shopping.
However, I’m very fortunate: the first shop I walk into (the sports brand with the three stripes – “Walk this way”) has a cute pair of skateboarder’s sneakers on sale. It’s the last pair and it happens to be my size, so I bought them. Woo-hoo! That was easy :) After that I had a look at the HMV, just to see the avarage price for a CD: about €10,- which is pretty much like in Canada and the US (= cheaper than in the Netherlands!).
On my way back to the hotel I decide to pick up some bread rolls at Yamazaki Bakery. It’s a Japanese chain that sells sweet and savory bread rolls and sandwiches. Pick up a tray and tongs at the entrance and you’re set to go. I picked up a French Garlic bread roll, a cheese bun and a chocolate and almond roll (€1,50 / $2). And back at the hotel I finish the last of my fried rice with the French Garlic bread. Yummm…
***
The next days I basically wander through the streets of Kowloon and Mong Kok, watching people, eating good food… And buying stuff.
I visit Yoshinoya again for another quick and tasty meal, before continuing my way north to Mong Kok. Fa Yuen Street is also called “sneaker street” and sneakers I did see! OMG… Unfortunately, I wasn’t as lucky as the night before. So after 2 hours of sneakers shopping I decide to head back to Kowloon. Walking back I notice some shops that appeal to me, and before I know it I walk back to the hotel with a bag of new clothes *LOL* I drop the bag off at the hotel freshen up and head out again. I walk south on Nathan Road, back towards the harbor, and decide to hop into some shops for more clothes. And about 2 hours later I sit down at The Spaghetti House (another chain) for dinner – with a couple of bags with clothes in tow. Dinner’s very yummie: “angel hair” spaghetti with two kinds of mushrooms, grilled green peppers and sun dried tomatoes.
I have another 2 rolls of film developed and, again, a couple of the photographs turned out just wonderful! I also have dinner at Main St. Deli, a restaurant in the sub basement of the Langham hotel. It serves delicious looking kosher food (Nuke!) and I consider coming back for a bagel. At that moment I decide to have a hamburger, no cheese. The dish came with non greasy French fries and super crispy onion rings. The hamburger and the fries were lovely, but, unfortunately, the onion rings weren’t tasty at all. Despite the crispy outside, the rings themselves were incredibly bland. I didn’t like those at all :( Since Main St. Deli is located in a more touristy area, prices are acordingly: €25,- (which is about $29,- I guess). Btw, by touristy area I mean the area near the harbor where all the big hotels (Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn etc.) and the expensive shops with the exclusive brand names (Fendi, Gucci, Versace, Louis Vuitton etc) are. In the end spent about €400,- and got 3 pairs of (baggy) pants, a pair of jeans and 7 (T-)shirts, a sleeveless vest and 2 pairs of sneakers :) It all barely fits in my backpack – there was plenty of room when I left home… I am a bit taken aback; "at home" I have trouble finding clothes that fit me, which makes shopping a nasty task.
***
The last day in Hong Kong I go in search of an internet terminal, so I can do the online check in in advance (I figure that’ll save me some time when I check in at the Airport). Since the post office is nearest by the hotel I go there. Only to find out it’s offline. Shucks. I hop into another Yoshinoya for a “beef bowl” (the beef is incredibly tender) before walking south to the Pacific Coffee Company. I enjoy being outside even more: the sun is shining, and it’s lovely out. I’ve been passing several hair dressers the past days and since it’s nice and warm outside I decide to treat myself to a haircut – mind you, I wouldn’t set foot in a “caucasian” hairdressers salon: I’ve done that a couple of time, but the results somehow have never been well. I get my hair washed (second time that day), conditioned and a heavenly scalp massage. All before the actual hair cut. A good looking young man, who barely speaks English, cuts my hair. We communicate using our hands *lol* I get another quick wash before he blow dries my hair, and sculps it into something… Sophisticated. OMG! I ask him if he could change it into something more spunky, gesturing him what I want. He laughs – I probably embarrass him a bit by asking him for a non-conventional hairdo – but complies. He even briefly molds it into some kind of Beckham faux hawk, which we both have a good laugh over. After paying my €7,- I leave the place contently.
Then it’s on to Pacific Coffee Company. It’s pretty packed and I have to wait a while till I get my turn at an internet terminal. I check my E-mail for the third and last time in Hong Kong and do an online check in, reserving a seat on the plane. I’m disappointed to find out that all the window seats were already taken, so I settle for an isle seat. I’m pleasantly surprised when I read an E-mail of a bass player I know who’s invited me to jam with her band :) Also, a Finnish friend of mine (“lumi”) wants to come and visit the Netherlands a couple of days before Queen’s Day.
After that I head for Kowloon Park for a few hours of relaxation – my last few hours in this vibrant place. The park definitely makes a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of Kowloon’s busy streets.
I check out in time, and wait in the lobby for my 20:10 airport transfer. One that never arrives. To make a long story short: I manage to get another ride to the Airport with the help of the young lady at reception and the bell boy. The latter makes sure I get on the right taxi (yes; TourAsia arranged a taxi to the airport) and tells me not to worry about the fare; it will be paid for me. (He also hands me a note with a name and cell phone number – just in case.) A cute Chinese girl is waiting for me at the airport and helps me to the right terminal. She, too, thinks I’m an American *gasp* (It’s probably my accent. Although, some Americans think I’m Canadian *lol* ). She’s then off again to help other tourists.
The flight back took a grueling 13 hours - I managed to sleep 3 hours. I watched another episode of "Lilo & Stitch" (tee-hee), "Running with Scissors", "Casino Royale" and episodes of "Missing", "CSI" and "CSI: Miami"...
Hong Kong is a wonderful place to be: friendly people and good food, and absolute heaven to shopaholics. It’s also known as a very safe place to be – single women can walk around at all hours of the day without being harrassed. Especially when one blends in like I do ;p
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