The plane is taxiing from the terminal. Finally the weight of the past few weeks come off. All the house moving, all the packing and unpacking, the grief and the arguments, the furniture guys who keep changing their delivery dates and times (actually, come to think of it, it was mostly us making the changes), the uncertainties… We can leave all of that behind us now.
We are on holiday. It’s begun. We’re going to Macau.
.
.
Of course, we’ve been to Macau already. And Hong Kong too, in fact. Less than six months ago, for the Devil’s 32nd birthday. And while this second round coincides closely with another birthday — my 31st (O how swiftly they age!) — that’s not really the reason either. Maybe it’s cos our beloved Ekin only has another couple of weeks in Hong Kong before he leaves for New York, and we probably won’t get to see him again for a year or so. We’d miss the dorky lil chap, you see.
Or maybe, as I should tell you before the Devil Wears Prada gets to you first and spins a tell of such horror and unimaginable magnitude that I might just come off as an unorganised, unprepared, unreliable traveller (and truly, who could believe that?), that when we visited Hong Kong & Macau last June, I sorta forgot to charge my spare camera battery and then both batteries died and I forgot the camera battery charger too and we had to resort to taking pictures with our mobile phones and after awhile, we just gave up the endeavour and stopped being tourists.
We just enjoyed ourselves.
Come to think of it, maybe being unorganised, unprepared and unreliable is a good thing?
.
.
The first time we got to the Macau airport, we were completely lost. Well, not completely but we asked for directions, got maps, looked at signs, that sorta stuff. Found a taxi driver and tried to tell him where our hotel was. It was an adventure giving directions to a native. But I guess, it’s not unthinkable that an angmoh might give me directions in KL too. There’s something about living and being so comfortable in one place, you don’t explore as much as you would when you’re on foreign soil.
(Which might explain why my Aussie friend Wayne knows where the best clubs in KL are, how my Indonesian Datin Ms. Haryaty can always outmaneuver a cabbie for the cheapest and fastest route around town. Which is why it pays to know foreigners in this town. You can never get lost if you do.)
~ * ~
This time though, we are a bit more adventurous. We dispense with silly things such as maps and directions. We get onto a bus, one of those small rickety ones that is crammed, sardine-can-style, full of human beans, er, beings. It sways from side to side as it rockets down the roads and across the bridge from Taipa island (where the airport is located) to the main Macau island, towards the ferry terminal to Hong Kong.
There’s no better way to see Macau life than have it whizz by you at 80 kilometres per hour and your heart in your throat, praying you’d survive the ride.
My advice? Hold on tight for your dear life.
.
.
Somehow we get to the ferry terminal in one piece and we join the line to buy our Turbojet tickets to Hong Kong. Then we found a small diner nearby to have a quick bite — it’d be much later before we arrive in Hong Kong, meet up with Ekin, dump our luggage at his apartment and get more hot grub into our growling tummies. Nothing feels more Macanese (or Hongkie or Canto, I guess) than a cup (well, plastic glass) of yin/yong (mixed coffee and tea, like our local Malaysian cham) and a hot, piping, just-fried pork chop bun.
If not quite heavenly, it’s still pretty darn good.
I feel relaxed. And happy. We’re on holiday. Time to unwind. Forget everything else.
Then I hear the guys at the table behind us chatting very animatedly, throwing a very casual “tiu lei lou mou” and “tiu lei lou dao” (literally “f— your mom” and “f— your dad” in Cantonese) every chance they have. Apparently, in Hong Kong and Macau, everybody gets some.
I’m lovin’ this place. Who wouldn’t? 
.
Copyright © 2010 Kenny Mah Ying Fye.
Macau & Hong Kong & Back Again: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 & Part 6.
Postscript: I just won my bet with the Devil! He was so sure I wouldn’t manage to post up a new entry about Macau by today (on account of us getting back so late and being tired and bogged down with work and all that nonsense, but mostly due to my lacklustre blogging frequency of late). But I did. So there. I win I win I win I win!
*takes a breath*
Okay. Yeah. Yay.
*ends childish outburst*
This time though, we are a bit more adventurous. We dispense with silly things such as maps and directions.
You dispensed with a map?! joker, it’s when you wanna be adventurous that you need a MAP most la silly.. LOL ..
pork chop bun looks divine.. no wonder CK is all wobbly with pleasure!
welcome back and see you guys soon!
Hahaha glad to see you blogging again! This is a cute post. And yes, sometimes it is better to travel (and eat) without obsessively taking photos! Looks like a great trip!
I have a DSLR that I have been trying to sell.. and now I think I’ll give it away. It is a minolta.… do you want it? It’s not digital though?
Brand new, used twice.
Can I laugh at your postscript? =D
Or actually, can I laugh at the whole post? It’s funny. =)
cheh, that’s cheat’s win. so short one…it’s like those abridged versions of the Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, meant for kids under 8 yrs old to read.…
I want to visit Hong kong… I want to visit Macau.…. Last visit was in year 1989… walauuuu.… 20 years ago!!!! kekeke.…
ooooo went to macau.… ‘yuen lai’
i love macau! actually i love the steamed milk puddings and the portugese egg tarts and the pork chop buns
glad to see a post so soon!! hehehe (i’m sure it was just purely to win the bet so must ask the devil to make bets with you more often! heh)
Sounds like a street-friendly, fun and nutty trip — that’s the way to enjoy holidays!
YAY for you winning that bet!! So what did you win??
Pork chop bun is divine… one bite probably enough to soothe all of them frayed nerves from the move!
Sweet. And I still remember the epic birthday celebration. Now THAT was a long post..
You do the sweetest things, MrMah. And give the sweetest replies. Ahhh.. to be the recipient of all your love. Your partner very lucky indeed.
I think expectation is a bad thing. And it’s good going about without any. That way everything is as is and no one gets disappointed. I can’t tell you the number of times we’ve been somewhere with little or no expectations and coming out having a fantastic time. And how depressing it was getting all excited about a certain place and it did not live up to all the great things we had heard about .
Delay No More.. post some more!
I think the long-windedness got passed on to me..
“I feel relaxed. And happy. We’re on holiday. Time to unwind. Forget everything else.”
That’s the way, my friend. That’s the way . =)
looking forward to the next macau post when u announce that u both made a HUGE killing at the casino and will send a cheque for RM1K to everyone who’s ever commented on your blog
You get to see and hear many different things in different country…that’s the joy of traveling. Glad to see both of you had an enjoyable holiday!
sounds like HK isnt it? enjoy the rest of the trip
I have never been to Hong Kong and Macau, how sad is that? I want to try all the dim sum, roast meat, roast goose there! *hint hint* i’m hoping to see them in your sequence posts
any holiday is good for me! Much more one that has good food (the pork chop bun? what a great idea!) and great company!
Oh my god! Didja just swear on your blog? There are children here! I thought this was a family blog. Geez!
On the other hand, I love how candid and accidental shots the camera phone produces. Nice!
And I wanna hear all about the trip from the Devil’s mouth too. Can’t wait. Tee hee
Ah! Another fellow who loves Macau! I’ll be going again end of March.. yes.. pork chop buns, Lord Stow’s egg tarts, here I come! Haha!
1. Really? I still think maps are the tools of the devil (the other guy, not mine). A handy eye and a randy spirit is all I need. And lube. Tons of lube. (Waitaminute, what are we talking about again?)
2. He’s wobbly cos my camera got the wonks on. Everytime I try taking a portrait shot, it gets a seizure. Time for a change, I guess.
Anyone wants to donate a DSLR to moi?
*makes pretty bambi eyes*
Hehe. Laugh all you want, please. There’s more to come.
Wow. I was just kidding about it in the post. Didn’t think anyone would actually offer. So sweet of you, dear.
What would be even better would be getting the chance to meet up with you in person when I visit Tokyo this year and taking pictures together!
*hugs, hugs*
Yeah, it’s been a long time since I blogged regularly. Apparently, all I needed was some “motivation”. Ahem.
Short? Where got? Have you read my recent posts which are way shorter?
Plus, this is meant for the Devil who ALWAYS complains my posts are too LONG… this should be short enough for him…
Oh it has certainly changed a lot in the past years, according to the locals there. I think back then there weren’t any casinos on Taipa island — now there is the Venetian, Four Seasons, City of Dreams, Hard Rock Hotel and more…
“i love macau! actually i love the steamed milk puddings and the portugese egg tarts and the pork chop buns”
I had all of that and MORE! Die lah my waist…
“glad to see a post so soon!! hehehe (i’m sure it was just purely to win the bet so must ask the devil to make bets with you more often! heh)”
That’s not too bad an idea… wanna suggest this to Devil? Hehe.
Totally. The nuttier, the better, right? I’m a regular pecan or pistachio, I am!
I sorta won a meal, either lunch or dinner. Venue to be disclosed later, haha.
As for pork chop buns, I had rubbish ones my previous trip so was very happy to get lovely, juicy, well-marinated and high-in-flavour ones this round!
Oh gosh. That long long post? I doubt I will repeat the effort this year since I am too tired for any sorta birthday celebrations. Too much travel and moving. A nice home-cooked meal (promised by my best friend) sounds just about right.
P.S. Totally agree with you on expectations… The best places I have visited and experienced aren’t all that different from the lousy ones — it’s just our perceptions and demands of them that differ.
P.P.S. “Delay No More”: That sounds familiar some how, like the slogan of this clothing shop in HK. It must be a sign for me to buck up on my blogging!
*sings …and i’ll do it my wayyyyyyyy*
Ahem. Ya.
Wah… I wish I can make the announcement also… But never made a killing in my life, casinos or other wise…
er comment no.1… omg! just get ur mind out of the gutter .. mwuahahahaha:P
Kenot help it. The Devil’s been spending a lot of time helping to get it into the gutter this week. *wink wink*
Both of us can’t wait to meet up with you again also… that’d be another enjoyable holiday!
If it sounds like HK, if it tastes like HK, it probably is HK?
(Not in Malaysia though… Correct, correct, correct?)
I’m gonna do my best to make up for your not having been to HK and Macau yet with many a toast and roast… how’s that?
That’s certainly my maxim for a good time: Great food and great company! And the pork chop bun was GOOD! *drools*
No, I did not swear on my blog. Those nice Hong Kong/Macanese men did.
Catchasoonthisweek!
Oh can you bring me with you? Maybe stowed away in your luggage? I can’t bear another month without those dreamy pork chops and those luscious egg tarts…