Macau

This will be a 2-day post covering our trip to Macau...

Macau is a separate Special Administrative Region from Hong Kong, so you have to go through Immigration and Customs on both sides and both ways. So we did! The Jetfoil is a hydrofoil-type boat (not a hovercraft), carrying 228 people and going at 47 knots. You "fly" above the waves and it is quite smooth. It has a jet engine powering the propellers, so it sounds like one. Anyway, smooth, fast (about an hour), comfortable trips both ways.

The MGM Grand in Macau is, in fact, Grand. First ever ***** hotel we've stayed in. (We were there on a package deal--transportation, hotel, breakfast for $C312 all-in total--they must be feeling the turndown!) 16th floor looking South over water to the other Macau Island, plasma TV, motorized curtain covering plexiglass separating the bathroom from the rest of the suite, big bathtub, twin sinks, etc. etc.. Main lobby had a Chihouly (glass sculpture) hanging from the ceiling, many examples around and a Chihouly shop too--sadly, way, way, WAY above our means, but we took pictures. The atrium connecting the hotel to the casino was 3 or 4 stories high and decorated to look like Lisbon--one end was, according to a Scot we spoke with, exactly like the train station in Lisbon--and he's seen both. The casino was huge. We had a very late and expensive dim sum lunch and after donating some money to "the cause", we left!

And went to the Venetian, another casino, that was the biggest casino we've ever seen. And above it, a shopping mall--think 4 or 5 times the size of St Vital mall--with all the most expensive stores you can imagine all set in a Venetian theme. Real canals, with gondoliers singing and taking folks on trips. We had dinner in the food court--really good Vietnamese. After donating a bit there, we came back to the MGM Grand, walked around outside a bit, got some wine and nibblies and rested for the remains of the evening.

Breakfast--a superb buffet. Then, we took a taxi across the peninsula to the Maritime Museum and the A-Ma Temple. Fantastic models of ships, important maritime events and fishing from Macau's history. A-Ma is the Chinese Protector of Fishermen and the Temple is a must see. We hopped a local bus and took a ride to the shopping area and wandered around the tiny, crowded streets. Back to the MGM Grand to pick up our backpacks and then the Jetfoil back to Hong Kong and here we are!

A most wonderful 2 days.