When I woke up the day was clear and so was my head. I’d slept well and long. Got up at 6.30 am – had early breakfast, and off to the Macau Ferry. All my typhoon worries were – as usual – for naught.
I walked down to the ferry terminal and bought a ticket for the 9.00am ferry. I was trying to get a return ticket – the woman kept saying “Full, Full”. I asked for 5pm. “Full”. 6pm? “Full”. So I asked “What time can I have?” “7pm”. Ok, so off I went. Most of the way you can see land – then you lose sight of it for a bit. Suddenly there was an enormously long bridge connecting a couple of islands, and here was Macau.
Macau is a separate country to Hong Kong. So Immigration, Passport Stamps and so on. I found a gateway with hardly any people so I went through – I discovered later that it was for Diplomats, Disabled people and those over 65.
I found my nephew and his wife who are living and working here. . We went off wandering, through cobbled streets and little lanes – the Portuguese influence was obvious. So were the Casinos!! So many of them – including James Packer’s Crown Casino. Apparently there’s suddenly a number of Australians, now in Macau, working at the Casinos. There is the most amazing church which only has a facade - I didn't go behind to see how it is propped up. It's live a set for a stage-play!
We headed off onto one of the other islands – all by local bus. Had lunch in a lovely little restaurant – and then we walked around to a little church of St Francis Xavier. (With Chinese Lanterns.) Across the narrow river was mainland China. Funnily enough, with the same functional housing they have in Eastern Europe.
Finally a quick trip back to J & S's nice little apartment. Then back in a taxi to the Ferry Terminal and despite the “Full, Full” of the morning, I got onto the 6.30pm ferry. Lovely day.
