Phil, Al and I are going to Macau today on the 8:00 am ferry -- Deb has laryngitis.
Breakfast at 6:30 am then out the door to walk to the ferry. On arrival at the ferry terminal we discover super class is all that is available -- so be it -- it's about $80 round trip.
Passports are required to get into Macau as it is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) -- similar to Hong Kong -- until 2049. Macau was under Portuguese control from the mid 16th century until 1999. This is the only place gambling is legal in China and the Chinese love to gamble. When Phil and I were here eight years ago -- Harrah's was the only casino -- now there are thirty-three casinos.
The woman at the Information desk suggests Bus No. 3 to get to the Portuguese section --- which is where we want to go. We get off the bus and walk around --- passing lots of storefronts that are fun to peer into -- I am a real voyeur. There might be a mechanic next to a hair salon next to a plumbing supply store next to a restaurant. These people are all entrepreneurs.
After about an hour -- it starts raining --- a deluge that will not let up. I have on my hooded raincoat -- but the boys are in shorts and shirts. We spend about 45 minutes going from awning to awning to finally get to see the ruins of St. Paul's. After lots of dodging to and fro -- we make it to a casino hoping to get their shuttle to the ferry terminal. Alas -- they won't let us on the shuttle without proof that we have gambled in their casino.
We take a cab to the ferry terminal --- get on the 12:30 Ferry -- arriving in Kowloon about 2:00 pm just as the rain subsides. Oh well--- we've had a little adventure.
I leave Phil and Al to their own devices -- and stroll the streets of Kowloon. I pop in and out of stores -- nothing appeals. I wander -- watching the goings-on -- noticing the variety of people rushing here and there. I love this city as much for its variety of people as anything else. I arrive at the hotel about 5:00 pm.
We (Phil, Al and I) are scheduled to meet Jimmy at 6:00 pm --- we have invited him to dinner at a restaurant of his choosing. He picks a restaurant close to the hotel which does not cater to tourists.
We have a lovely meal with Jimmy. It is nice to enjoy his company without his official "Viking Hat" on. Jimmy orders for all of us and Al brings "home" some leftovers for Deb.
This is a fitting end to a wonderful trip -- one of our best. Viking did a great job -- everything went off without a hitch. The hotels were all five star -- the meals were all very good. Each day we learned something new and interesting.
I cannot believe how ignorant I was about China --- its history and its people. I will pay more attention now when I hear about what is going on in China.
I'm so glad that you were able to come along on this trip with us. Even though it was touch and go at the very beginning -- we made it. Now we just have to make it home tomorrow.
Thanks for Reading!
Pat
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