Macau...or Las Vegas?

On Sunday of the weekend I went to Lamma Island, I went to Macau with my Uncle Frank, Auntie Mansze and cousins. Macau is Southwest of Hong Kong. It is now 2 islands, was once 3 but 2 islands were merged by landfill. Macau was a Portuguese settlement as early as the 1500s and is currently part of China. I had to bring my passport and "leave" Hong Kong- good thing I have multiple entry!

We took the ferry early in the morning, arrived at 10:00am and walked past the "historical" facades of Macau. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed seeing the brightly painted exteriors of historical buildings...but did Levi jeans, McDonald's, and Häagen-Dazs really have to fill these locations? Sometimes I feel as if American businesses take over ever corner of the earth that is local and unique. And people actually go for it! They eat the Happy Meals..I shouldn't even get into this (I'll save it for you Jenn!).

So basically we walked in the heat through crowds and found relief in a church. despite people talking loud and disturbing the peace, it was really nice to be in a cathedral. The statues looked kind.
We walked to the facade of St. Paul's Cathedral, in which the building burned down, but the exterior front remains at the top of stone steps. My Uncle Frank and I climbed to the top and took photos...then my camera broke. I was pretty frustrated since it's brand new. We also went to a nearby hilltop/fortress to look over the city. Macau has really great history but I think the time I spent there gave me a sick reality check on what it has become: the Las Vegas of China. Many hotels/casinos have emerged across the city scape of both islands and many tourists flock to these air-conditioned caverns for a weekend of gambling.

I know the overtone of this entry is negative, but I did not have the best impression of Macau. I am glad I got to go, but if I return I will seek out more historically preserved sites, try real Macanese food, and perhaps not travel in the middle of a heatwave!