Letters from Hong Kong - #22

Let's take a trip to Macau. Many of you are at least familiar with Macau as a result of Macau and Hong Kong being returned to China in 1999 and 1997 respectively. Since Macau is only about one hour Southeast of Hong Kong when traveling in a Jet Ferry, it is so easy to go.

Macau became the first European trading post under the Portuguese in in the mid 16th century. At first it was just that: a trading post with rights to dock ships and trade in China. Macau became a colony in 1887, a few years after England took Hong Kong after the First Opium War.

Macau is a mecca for the gambler with so many hotels and gaming casinos. Although Macau has less casinos than Las Vegas, some sources indicate that Macau has more than double the revenue of Las Vegas. It is big business for Macau!

This is The Venetian were we stayed.  It, of course, was modeled after the Venetian in Las Vegas. With 3000 suites, it is the single largest structure hotel in Asia.

Another shot of the Venetian.

Inside the Galaxy Hotel; it gets more gaudy than this!

Since our interest lies somewhere other than gambling, we took off to the Taipa Village to explore. As it happens the village is a short walking distance from our hotel and believe or not part of it is a moving sidewalk. Easy!

Shoppers on a busy street

Another side street; I'm amazed how one street a block away is packed with people and the next street I'm able to take a photo without anyone in it!

Our Lady of Carmel Church

We enjoyed going through four Taipa Houses Museum to view history and culture of the Macanese people during the nineteenth Century.

The family in the lobby of Holiday Inn; for those accustomed to staying at most Holiday Inns in the States, if you saw this Holiday Inn in Macau and most International Holiday Inn you would think it a different company! Very impressive!

There is lots more from Macau, so maybe I can post volume two at a later date.