Pages

Monday, September 21, 2015

Lighting Up for the Mid-Autumn Festival at Portas do Cerco

large lantern display for the Mid-Autumn Festival at Portas do Cerco in Macau

The above scene at Portas do Cerco shows a bit of how Macau is sprucing things up for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. I share the photo also because I will not need to cross the border between Macau and Zhuhai as much as I have been for the past several days, reflecting improved conditions regarding my recent injury. I think I will have a story about that to share soon. Whatever the case, I look forward to returning to some pieces I had hoped to post last week.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Standing Firm at the Macau-Zhuhai Border

girl wearing a backpack with the words "Stand Firm" approaching Porta do Cerco in Macau
Approaching Portas do Cerco, the Macau side of the immigration checkpoint on the border between Macau and Zhuhai

Thanks to an incident earlier this week, I have been crossing the border between Macau and Zhuhai far more than I had ever expected. Many other events were unexpected as well. More soon . . .

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Fun at the Sewing Machine and an Unfortunate Encounter With Metal in Zhuhai

two kids at a sewing machine outside at night

Last night after doing my best to make the most of a buffet dinner, I saw two children outside amusing themselves around a sewing machine. Fear not, it was not an example of child labor. There are numerous people who offer inexpensive sewing services in this part of Zhuhai. They always look much older.

I share the photo in part because it reminds me of a happier period last night. Not long after seeing the children, my shin made contact with a metal object firmly connected to the ground. I wish I had noticed it earlier, because if I had I would have chosen to avoid gashing myself. Since then, life has been interesting in a number of unexpected ways, some of which I could do without. After two trips to Macau in a single day, too much blood, and too little sleep, all is now OK.

And yes, the post I keep delaying will be delayed further. Really, I have a good excuse and a story to tell as well, if I can motivate myself to relive it. In the immediate future, I simply look forward to following the doctor's orders and get some rest.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Peace from Zhuhai

Despite earlier claims, I will not be posting anything tomorrow. In an act of atonement, and reflection as well, I offer a peaceful scene from today at Jingshan Park in Zhuhai.

water lilies at Jingshan Park in Zhuhai

Friday, September 11, 2015

One Wheel May Be All You Need in Zhuhai

A piece which I had initially planned to post yesterday and then said I would post today won't make its appearance until Monday. The delay is entirely fitting given the topic of the piece — a rather long bridge currently under construction that has been delayed to a far greater degree. So instead I will unashamedly share something else today connecting to the transportation theme.

While walking past a shopping market today in Gongbei, Zhuhai, a man on an electric unicycle fortunately zipped by me.

man riding an electric unicycle in Zhuhai, China

I say "fortunately" mostly because he wobbled during his approach, and I wasn't sure whether a collision was imminent. He achieved more stability just before he passed.

After taking the photo, I remembered the girl I saw riding an electric unicycle in Changsha and considered the frequency with which I have also seen them in Zhuhai — not an everyday sight but not rare either.

So I was not entirely surprised when just 5 minutes later I saw a store selling electric unicycles and similar powered vehicles.

store selling electric unicycles in Zhuhai

What most caught my eye was the example on the sign of a British-themed electric unicycle. Scooters are banned in Zhuhai, yet the unicycle offers people something similar in spirit to British-themed scooters common in cities such as Shanghai and Changsha.

And yes, they had one in stock. No, I did not buy it. Perhaps I will see one in use soon though.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Not a Deep Thought From Today: A Bit of Las Vegas in Zhuhai

A more substantial post I had planned to finish today will appear tomorrow. So instead, I will follow yesterday's photos of "deep thoughts" I saw in Zhuhai with a photo of a not-so-deep thought I recently saw one night also in Zhuhai.

Man wearing shirt with words "Las Vegas Girls Direct To You In 20 Minutes" on back

I didn't ask, but I would guess the shirt's appearance simply relates to the rather large gambling industry in nearby Macau and its connections with Las Vegas. I doubt this offer still stands in Zhuhai, though offers of a similar nature are readily available at a nearby street frequented by tourists.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

A Dinner Break in Zhuhai With a View

Two men squatting as they eat dinner with a view from Zhuhai of Macau across the Qianshan Waterway
View in Zhuhai of Macau across the Qianshan Waterway (water not visible; much more visible here)

Today I saw some of the construction occurring in Wanzai, Zhuhai. More about that later.

Monday, September 7, 2015

A Casino Resort, Taipa Village, and a Garden: The Photographed Portion of a Sunday in Macau

I have been to Macau many times, and planned to simply enjoy myself there for much of the day yesterday. Below are some photos. They don't cover all of my day. In fact, they don't cover what I would most want to share here from a more "local" part of the city less visited by tourists. But something unexpected occurred shortly after taking the last photo below.

My camera's battery ran out. Actually, that wasn't unexpected.

After putting in a second battery, I discovered it had no power left either. Now that was most unexpected. This has happened perhaps once before during years of photographing China.

So here is a light story for the first part of my day, which offers a somewhat unconventional look at Macau:


Yesterday morning I walked to the Gongbei Port immigration checkpoint in Zhuhai so I could cross the border to Macau. Since a work day had been shifted to Sunday to allow three consecutive days off for the recent holiday, I hoped there wouldn't be much of a crowd. Indeed, although it often takes around an hour, I made it through Chinese and Macanese immigration in less than 15 minutes.

Once in Macau, I bordered a free bus operated by the Galaxy Macau — a hotel, shopping, and casino resort. The already large complex had recently finished a major expansion I wished to see, partly due to interest in whether there will be sufficient demand for the still-growing number of shopping and entertainment options in Macau.

Before boarding the bus I was handed a pamphlet about the Broadway Macau, also owned by the Galaxy Entertainment Group, promising "hot girls with fire heating up the atmosphere", pedicab singers, a uni-juggler, and stilt walkers.

pamphlet for the Broadway Macau promoting PediCabs Singers, Girls on Fire, Uni-Juggler, and Stilt Walkers


The bus took a highway down the east side of the Macau Peninsula and over a bridge to Taipa. Soon I was at the the Galaxy Macau in neighboring Cotai.

Galaxy Macau


Once inside, I found an ATM and withdrew enough Macau patacas to hopefully get me through the day. I then walked into the new east portion of The Promenade, basically a large luxury mall. I noticed a message on one of the walls, but I could not decipher it.

symbols on a wall at The Promenade in Macau


The mall itself was just like a mall, most reminiscent of a luxury mall or two in Shanghai. I noted one of the signs included a possible reference to The Hobbit. Gollum himself would have recognized the significance of placing the word "Precious" near a man's hand in his pocket.

sign with the word "precious" near a man's hand inside his pocket at The Promenade in Macau


I quickly made my way through the mall and found the bridge over a wide road to the Broadway Macau.

enclosed pedestrian bridge with moving walkways connecting Galaxy Macau with Broadway Macau


The indoor entertainment areas were rather quiet — not unexpected since no shows were on at the time. However, I could see some of the promotions, including one for a magic show in December.

sign for "Cyril Magic Up Close & Personal" World Tour


Another sign promised "Broadway Babes".

Broadway Babes sign


Whatever type of entertainment you like, a hallway promised unlimited fun, which sounds like a lot of fun. The only catch was it appeared to be behind a locked door.

colorful hallway with the words "Unlimited Fun"


I then made it to the outdoor pedestrian street called The Broadway. It didn't look anything like New York's Broadway, but it did remind me of what some streets in Orlando might look like if they had a bunch of Macanese and other Asian restaurants.

The Broadway in Macau


The area was rather hot and notably quiet —no pink scooters, pedicab singers, or girls on fire. Apparently those are part of the nighttime festivities.

So I made my way back across the pedestrian bridge, through The Promenade, and left the Galaxy Macau. While crossing the street to head to my next destination, Taipa Village, I briefly looked at the progress on the Pai Kok station for the under-construction Macau light rail.

under-construction Pai Kok light rail station in Macau


I had timed my arrival in Taipa Village to match with the opening of my lunch destination. I will refrain from posting any photos of the edacious and potatory event since I had a nearly identical experience during an earlier visit to the Portuguese restaurant "O Santos".  The food was as good as ever, and I said hello to the owner who as usual enjoyed a meal at the front of the first floor dining area. Some changes since my first visits years ago included photos of more recent Portuguese football teams and Mick Jagger's visit there last year.

After eating more than enough, the results of poor sleep the night before encouraged me seek a bit more caffeine. So I walked to the nearby Taiwanese Fong Da Coffee and ordered a "South Italian" espresso — a more special experience than visiting the Starbucks also not far away.

Fong Da Coffee in Taipa Village, Macau


As the caffeine molecules began to do their work, I briefly checked out of the small Taipa Flea Market and observed a purchase.

jewelry stall at Taipa Flea Market in Macau


Now rather thirsty due to the hot weather, I headed toward a ParknShop supermarket where I knew I would find some items of interest. On the way I saw a taxi with an advertisement for place I had visited several years ago — Danang, Vietnam.

Macau taxi with advertisement for Danang, Vietnam


Upon entering the building with the supermarket I noticed a piano sale.

piano sale in Taipa, Macau


A collection of piano music had been left open, and I quickly recognized a great piece. Bonus points if you can identify it (the answer should be rather easy for piano majors).

great piano music


The piece is beyond my meager piano skills, so I headed inside the supermarket for a treat rather hard to find in most of mainland China — low fat chocolate milk.

three varieties of low fat chocolate milk


Since I was in Macau, a land with much Portuguese influence, I bought something else also not common in mainland China — Luso spring water.

Luso bottled water for sale in Macau


As I rehydrated outside, I considered the challenges and pressures many face in Macau, and the rest of China — owning a home.

two women with a little girl walking by an advertisement for housing loans


I was also reminded of how many cats love nothing more than a big cardboard box.

large cardboard box labeled "Hello Kitty"


Soon it was time to head to my destination for the afternoon. Just as I approached the bus stop the right bus arrived. I did not take it. A few seconds later another bus for the same route arrived. I took it. My final bus stop back on the Macau Peninsula was next to a peaceful site, so I decided to visit the Lou Lim Ieoc Garden.

I spent some time at an art exhibition there — more about that in a later post. I also watched children feed some turtles and fish.

children feeding fish and turtles at Lim Ieoc Garden in Macau


I also enjoyed the garden's winding paths.

path at Lim Ieoc Garden in Macau


And I saw a number of people enjoying the surroundings.

pavilion at  Lim Ieoc Garden in Macau

That's the unexpected end to this post. I do have a story sans photos to tell about what happened next, but I will save that for another day.