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An exciting aspect of overseas travel, dear reader , comes from grasping new opportunities that are presented on the road. I was learning to keep an open mind as a traveller and trying to make every post a winner when it comes to new travel adventures. I mean to say, how could I resist a visit to Macau when it is only sixty kilometres south west of Hong Kong, and can be reached in just over an hour on a high speed ferry out of Victoria Harbour? This proved to be an irresistable lure for me, and I climbed aboard the ferry for a weekend trip to Macau full of anticipation. It was exciting to have the chance to visit this unique country in the heart of Asia, which at the same time is a country that provides a glimpse into the culture and traditions of Europe.

Portugese settlers arrived in the far east in the sixteenth century. Although this proved to be a major irritant over the centuries to the Chinese, Macau still managed to establish herself as a unique part of the Asian landscape. I arrived at the ferry terminal after a relaxing sea voyage to find a vibrant and pulsating city, especially considering Macau is in the middle of North Asia. Known as the Las Vegas of the east, Macau is a legendary tourist hub and famed for it's gambling culture, which was originally legalized in 1850. The first priority for travellers is to go for a stroll around the old town, which has a distinctly European feel featuring colonial style buildings on the Lago de Senado and beautiful pavements that add to the mystique. I climbed the stairs to the ruins of Saint Pauls and really enjoyed the vibe of this fascinating city. Thus far I managed to resist the lure of the casinos, but I knew that it was just a matter of time before I was drawn into their orbit.

The casino figures speak for themselves and Macau is defined to a large extent by the gambling and tourist industries, and it is estimated that over 50% of the GDP in the country comes from gambling and related tourism. But where did that leave me as I have no interest in gambling, indeed I have misgivings about the morality of the gambling industry in general. No matter though, at least I could go in for a sticky beak and I discovered the casinos are not overly discerning when it comes to attracting new customers. I was dressed casually for my visit to Macau, but there were no dramas at all entering the casinos. I figure that the management are not too fussed, if you have money to spend, er,... meaning money to lose they welcome all comers into their lairs.

I met a Japanese man who insisted on taking me under his wing when he found out I lived in Japan. He took me to a Karaoke bar that was very reminiscent of the bars in Tokyo, including the Philippino hostesses. The more time I spent with my friend the more I started to think he was yakuza. He talked at length about his Japanese fighting dog and wanted to show me videos as if he were a proud parent. The dogs, however, fight to the death and are kept in cages where they can hardly turn around. Travel is about experiencing different things and meeting different people, but it was with a sense of relief that I parted company with my new friend. My brief visit to Macau was very enjoyable, and while strolling around the streets I can't help but think, basically all of you should be here now!

As I continue my travels, until next time it's signing off for now

Tom

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