hey, wanna go to macau?

Macau skyline with the Macau Tower in the background (8th tallest free-standing structure in the world!)

Although I had not yet recovered from my illness, I also had apparently not learned my lesson, because I got up on Saturday morning, showered, and packed a backpack for a night in Macau. If it seems strange that I can simply wake up in the morning, grab a bag, and jump on a ferry to an apparently differently world - well, I totally agree. And now that I have my official "Resident's Permit for Foreigner in the People's Republic of China" I am allowed to come and go as I please. Weekend trips, begin!

Andy and I got off the ferry at the Macau port without the slightest idea where were in relation to the rest of the city. However, even in the dumpy district where the ferry docked, it was apparent that more than an arbitrary border separated Macau from Shenzhen. Macau was a Porteguese colony from 1557 until 1999, one of the longest colonial reigns of all time. (Another fun fact: it's also the most densely populated region in the world - ask Wikipedia!) So all of the signs are in traditional Chinese characters - since the majority of the population speaks Cantonese - with Portuguese translations provided below. I actually enjoyed this, because my Spanish/French background means that Porteguese is easily decipherable, whereas the English translations in Shenzhen are often so poorly done that they are not.

Anyway, modern-day Macau is a pretty unique and colorful place, thanks to its huge casino scene (it's often called the Vegas of the eastern hemisphere) and funky mix of Chinese and Porteguese architecture/art/cuisine. Although most of the tourists are from Asia, the ethnic diversity is above anything I have scene since arriving in China. No one even stared! Such a nice break from what has become routine in my everyday life.

Views of/from the ruins of St Paul's cathedral, built in 1602

The Grand Lisboa, our very classy hotel - I'm thinking upside-down Christmas tree?

A few highlights of the Macau trip:

• An amazing Italian dinner, which was surprisingly inexpensive given its location in a casino, down the hall from Chanel and Louis Vuitton.
• Andy coming out 1100 Hong Kong dollars (~US$160) ahead at the casino. I didn't gamble, but I take full credit for the moral support.
• Trying to pay for an ice cream cone at McDonalds - yes, they're everywhere - and realizing I had five different types of currency in my wallet: from Hong Kong, Macau, China, US, and Thailand. Which is pretty absurd considering I only had 16 coins total... Also indicative of the amount of energy I put into financial organization. Oops.
• The first bed I have slept in since arriving in China that had a softer-than-rocklike consistency. I slept incredibly well but then had a backache all day on Sunday. Guess my body is learning to adjust...? Maybe I'll have to get a bamboo cover for my mattress at home. (Ha.)

Yet as always, even after a fabulous trip, it was great to come home. I guess I knew it would happen, but it is still amazing how comfortable and familiar my surroundings have become; I arrived 5 weeks ago in what was evidently "the other side of the world" and I am now beginning to feel that China has always been in my backyard.