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Just back from a two day weekend trip in Macau and didn't really get rich in a casino... well to be honest, i lost 15 euros in the only game that I actually understand (which is the wheel that spins and you just choose a number, no idea how to call it and its NOT roulette). Took me about 15 minutes to get rid of my money so I guess it was worth it and at least I can say I gambled in the worlds most money making casino strip (take that Las Vegas!)

Now, what I realized is that Macau in general is a nice change from my daily routine in Hong Kong and 1 hour by boat is not too far.. once in a while I might be back. What I mean with a nice change? Well, Hong Kong is of course a megalopolis and one of the worlds 5 most dynamic cities! People in big cities like to get away from it all for at least a couple of days once in a while (or at least thats what they say, I come from a place where people take 3 hour buses to go to the nearest shoppingmall, crossing 2 national borders!)

And especially in the backwater of Italy where I grew up, when people come back to their countryside hometown after 1 day of shopping in Milan or Munich they are as happy as ever, realizing they could never ever stay in such a big place.. It kind of feels good for me to be on the other side of the wheel by now! Dont get me wrong, I would never call Macau a backwater area, it is developing as fast as only Asia can pull it up with, but contrary to most of the Hong Kong urban area Macau still offers some small alleyways, Portuguese town squares and all in all has a relaxed mediterranean atmosphere.

And this relaxing part of Macau is related to the title of this entry. Macau is actually a peninsula connected by a huge bridge to an island and the islands two villages, far away from the hustle and bustle of Macau city. Taipa and Coloane used to be small Portuguese fishing villages infested by pirates and other happy people quite a while before the casino boom has transformed the north of the island in a money making disneyland of lady luck. So far the south of the island is relatively uncontaminated by the development and looks more like Portuguese country side than an Asian tiger on the run. So basically this time we have been to Macau without ever going to Macau city, which is more than just allright for a couple of days.

Intersting to notice that from the cosy south of Macau about 500 meters of sea separate the special region from mainland China... which has put and is still putting up a very threatening skyline of grey block buildings giving the Portuguese villas a staredown and an impression of the future to come!

Concluding, nice to get away from the megalopolis from a day.. but contrary some people I love to be back here and feel the energy of Hong Kong flowing through my veins in dozens of shiny neon colours :) Happy to be here and lucky for having got this opportunity to live on top of the world!

Have a great day everybody!

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