Macao - Looking for Millions

When leaving from Bali, I knew that Im having tiring travel day ahead. My flight destination was Hong Kong, because I wanted to visit Macao as I didn't have time for that when I was in Hong Kong earlier spring. To get to Hong Kong, I needed to transfer flight in Kuala Lumpur which in reality meant around 6 hours waiting airport overnight. Well, I found a cozy corner and “slept” on the floor few hours until I got hungry. It was time for my classical airport breakfast (whenever its available): McMuffin and a coffee. When I reached Hong Kong, I was so tired that I only had a starferry ride over the river as its so classic things to do and then I just had a good rest.

Next morning I headed up to the ferry terminal to catch a ferry to Macao, so many people and mostly Chinese were rushing to ferries. Going to Macao, of course I wanted to see it, but I was joking that main reason is that I wanted to win back my travel budget. I had a image in my mind that Macao is shiny Las Vegas of East and home of the rich, but it wasn't exactly the whole truth. First I just walked around and noticed that it really had a lot of Portuguese influence on its architechture, and even street names were written still in Portuguese, but then there were Chinese character, and of course people,  everywhere which made it confusing.

Main touristic ares of Macao are packed with shops selling jewellery, watches and brand clothes, all in very European style and as I said, without Chinese characters I could imagined that I was in Lisbon for example - but this is the part where the money talks... When I climbed up to a fortress hill where was nice views over Macao, I was surprised: Lots of old looking apartnment buildings that seemed to be in quite bad condition, definately far away from five star luxury.

Then the highlight of my Macao visit, the Grand Lisboa Casino. Several floors full of slots machines and gaming tables, hundreds of people spending probably fortunes there and few lucky ones walking out being the lucky one. I compromised with myself that I stay away from gamling tables and focus on different slots machines. After trying several options, I found my favourite: “Tree of Fortune” ...

This time luck was shining on me as I cashed out about 2000 HKD (~200e) after playing 300 HKD, I just wished that they would be i.e. US dollars instead as that really didn't cover my travel budget but provided me a free stopover in Macao and smile on my face when I walked out from Casino as a winner.