It's taken 32 hours from the time I left the studio to the time I arrived at the hotel in Macau. As far as I can tell Q-tip (a guy from the master men's team) and I are the only ones to arrive so far. Too tired to look at a map or guidebook, I decide to take a look around the neibourhood with the mission of finding a place to buy daily water and a place to eat. The streets here are small with steep hills and the number of motor scooters reminds me of Rome. This place has an intense heat and humitity level that I haven't even experienced in the Caribbean. A typical view down a small street or alley here will include small businesses or markets at ground level with several stories of appartments above with iron work balconies covered in either plants or drying laundry, contrasted by the odd space-age-looking casino soaring above the whole scene.
I met an american christian missionary man with his four local pupils and assistant who showed me around a bit so the kids could practice English. John has been here for 30 years so he was a good source for local restaurant recommendations. I told him I was in search of egg tarts and he showed me where to find Margaret's cafe; arguably the best place to get egg tarts in all of China (and therefor the world). He also introduced me to the owner of the oldest eatery in all of macau. The kids were very shy throughout the whole tour but I was happy to have come across these people.
After my tour I was ready for a foot massage so the hotel consierge wrote an address in Chinese on a hotel business card and sent me off in a taxi. The place was pretty much what I expected; dirty walls, worn and torn vinyl lounge chairs all in the same room. I became the entertainment for the massage ladies who sat around gossiping and talking about me in Cantonese while my feet took a real beating. From what I could figure out, they found my feet to be those of a giant, my eyes to be interesting (possibly the exotic tabacco color) and to generally be intrigued and amused that I would find my way into this place. All of this entertainment and a 45 minute foot massage for the equivilant of $12!
I discovered on the way back to the hotel that hailing a cab during rush hour took more expertise than hailing one in New York. It took me 30 minutes to learn the ropes of cab hailing but I did succeed.
I found Q-tip and 2 other dragon boaters back at the hotel so we all went out to eat. The resaurant owner John had introduced me to saw us walking and came out of his restaurant to invite us in to eat. The food was very good and very cheap; cantonese with a portuguese twist. We ended the day with egg tarts at Margaret's cafe. Yum.
