In Macau, Skipping the Casinos, but Embracing the Past

As we bumped along in the No. 25 bus on Estrada do Istmo, it was impossible not to notice the Venetian Macau, a mountain of steel and glass, shining in the distance in the afternoon sun. Opened in 2007, it’s home to one of the largest casinos on earth. And it’s not alone: Of the 10 biggest casinos in the world in 2014 (based on revenue), a staggering eight were in Macau, a tiny region on the southern coast of China, where over half a million people are packed into fewer than 12 square miles.

But I wasn’t there to gamble. Following a precedent I’d established in my very first Frugal Traveler column, when I toured Las Vegas without going to the famed Strip, I was determined to break the shell of Macau’s opulent exterior and see what lay beneath the surface. During a quick two-night trip, taking the ferry across the Pearl River Estuary, I found it was the perfect place for a getaway from the noise and intense urban compactness of Hong Kong.

Owing to its colonial past, Macau, with its cobblestone streets, old Catholic churches and narrow alleyways, has an almost European feel to it, along with an interesting local cuisine that fuses Portuguese and Chinese flavors. And my focus, naturally, was putting this trip together without causing undue strain on my budget.

Macau was one of the first Asian settlements to be forced into the yoke of European colonization and the last to shed it, achieving full independence from Portugal in 1999. As with Hong Kong, China administers Macau but employs a somewhat laissez-faire, capitalist-friendly approach. There are no visa requirements for Americans staying in Macau fewer than 30 days (you will need to bring your passport).

The TurboJet ferry ride from Hong Kong (150 to 200 Hong Kong dollars for an economy fare, about $20 to $25) is reasonably quick and comfortable. Ferries leave from various spots in Hong Kong regularly, so if you miss one, there’s no need to worry. (Be more cautious when you’re leaving Macau — it’s easier to end up on the wrong ferry.)

My attack plan was simple: to see as much as I could, by foot and by public transportation. Macau is traditionally divided into three sections: the peninsula and the islands of Coloane and Taipa. (A fourth “region” of land reclaimed from the ocean, Cotai, now connects Coloane and Taipa and is the home to many of the newer casinos.) I particularly had my eye on rustic Coloane Village in the south.

Though I had no plans to indulge in the casinos, one lesson I’ve learned in my travels is that where there’s gambling, cheap rooms follow — it’s how they lure you in. I was able to land a very comfortable, relatively luxurious room at the Sofitel on the western side of the peninsula for 650 Hong Kong dollars, a little over $80. Close to the center of the city, it was an ideal jumping-off point. I was able to check another essential off the list by walking to Yin He Dian Xun (roughly, Galaxy Telecommunications) and purchasing a 500-gigabyte SIM card from a very helpful young woman for 50 Macanese patacas (about $6).

Ah, yes, the currency. The Macanese pataca and Hong Kong dollar are separate currencies but virtually interchangeable in Macau. Change will sometimes come in patacas, sometimes in Hong Kong dollars. A dollar is, however, slightly more valuable than a pataca. If you’re considering making a big souvenir purchase (like gold or jade jewelry, which is plentiful on the main drag of Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro) either use a credit card with no foreign transaction fee, or walk into a bank to exchange for patacas — I was able to do both without difficulty.

Senado Square, within walking distance of my hotel, was a good place to begin exploring. Beautiful old yellow and pink pastel buildings with arched doorways and green shuttered windows frame the historic square, which is paved with small tiles. It was a perfect place to stroll and enjoy the egg tart I’d purchased for 9 dollars from Koi Kei Bakery.

The egg tart is one of Macau’s signature delicacies, a local interpretation of the Portuguese pastel de nata — perfectly creamy custard with a pleasantly caramelized top, encased within a delicate, flaky pastry cup.

Another distinctive item is the pork chop bun. I stopped into the celebrated Tai Lei Loi Kei, a nearly 50-year-old Macanese chain, and paid 48 dollars for a small, bone-in pork chop that had been slapped somewhat unceremoniously onto a buttered white roll. Fortunately the meat was simply seasoned and well cooked (just be careful not to break a tooth).

In addition to its cuisine, Macau has memorable architecture. Catholic influence is still very much present, at least aesthetically. St. Dominic’s Church, a beautifully restored, custard-colored 16th-century structure, is free to enter, as is a three-story art museum housed in the church’s bell tower. I looked over the icons and relics of the church on display, including beautiful old wooden carvings.

Other worthy architectural attractions include the Ruins of St. Paul, a grand stone facade that is one of the few remaining pieces of a centuries-old complex. While there, I made the steep hike up to the adjacent Fortaleza do Monte, which provided an excellent view of the city.

I could walk to the ruins and St. Dominic’s from my hotel, but despite Macau’s compact size, not everything is walkable. I would not recommend driving in Macau, nor riding one of the city’s ubiquitous scooters. I found a bike rental shop called Si Toi in Taipa that charged 20 dollars per hour (only $2.50, remember) but I ultimately decided on the bus: I found it cheap and fairly reliable.

Unless you have something called a Macaupass (which I did not, and purchase locations are annoyingly scarce), you will need coins. Lots of coins. And they don’t make change on the buses, so get used to walking around with a pocketful of patacas. (Local businesses and banks can help you make change if you’re hard up.) I hopped the 26A bus to Coloane, eager to see the rustic, more peaceful side of Macau.

(A quick note on signage: Every official sign in Macau will be in both Portuguese and Chinese. I found this somewhat curious, as I didn’t hear a word of Portuguese my entire stay. I asked Neal, a server at the cute Cafe Cheri, if he spoke Portuguese or knew anyone who did. “Well,” he hesitated, “No, not really.” Did anyone in Macau speak Portuguese? “Yes, I think in some restaurants.”)

Coloane Village was quiet, almost sleepy, when I hopped off the bus by the roundabout near Eanes Park. It was, in other words, exactly what I was seeking. I began walking north up the coast, stopping for another excellent 9-dollar egg tart at Lord Stow’s Bakery. Colorfully painted houses stood on stilts in the bay, China a mere 1,000 feet to the west. Fishermen hung their catch outside their homes, and every now and then there was the distinctive clack of mah-jongg tiles.

I wound my way down Avenida de Cinco de Outubro, in the shade of thick-trunked ficus rumphii trees with aerial roots, like banyan trees. I eventually found myself in a beautiful cobblestone plaza with a fountain on one end and the beautiful, bright yellow Chapel of St. Francis on the other. I dined al fresco at Cafe Nga Tim on a 58-dollar dish of rice and curried prawns and watched evening set in.

The casinos? Didn’t need them. They do provide a useful benefit, though: When it came time to head back to the ferry terminal, I happily used the hotel’s free shuttle bus.

Son Tra (Monkey) Mountain

Son Tra (Monkey) Mountain is a breath-taking national park in Da Nang that stands 693 metres above sea level. It’s a 35-minute drive from Da Nang, making it a popular retreat amongst locals and travellers looking to escape the heat and busy traffic of the city. Locally known as the Son Tra Peninsula, the verdant mountain is also surrounded by pristine beaches such as Bai Bac, Bai Nam, Bai But, and Tien Sa Beach. Monkey Mountain was a prominent observation base during the American-Vietnam War, housing two radar domes that are now taken over by the Vietnamese military as well as a helicopter pad, which makes for a cool lookout point.

The winding and inclining roads surrounding the mountain is a popular spot for motorcycling, but a powerful vehicle is required to reach the top. However, the journey is well-worth the effort as you’ll be greeted with panoramic views of Hi Van Mountain, Cham Island, Da Nang City and Son Tra Peninsula. Meanwhile, hiking enthusiasts can enjoy the verdant jungle trails and also spot rare species such as rhesus macaques, long-tailed macaques, pygmy slow loris, and red-shanked douc langurs. It takes about four hours of moderate hiking from Bai Bac Beach to the mountain summit.

A prominent attraction in Da Nang is Linh Ung Pagoda, which is also set on Son Tra (Monkey) Mountain. The stunning pagoda was built during the 18th century and houses a 67 metre-tall white statue of the Goddess of Mercy, which is set atop a lotus-shaped platform. Hailed is the tallest statue of the deity in Southeast Asia, there are 17 levels within the structure and a total of 21 miniature Buddha sculptures. Entrance to Linh Ung Pagoda is free of charge, though it’s known to get crowded with pilgrimages during special occasions.

England expects: Travels in search of the Battle of Trafalgar

One of the less obvious problems with seismic military encounters which play out on water is that – from a travel perspective – they can be difficult to trace after the event.

Tectonic showdowns between heavily armed fleets do not have the luxury of geography afforded to meetings between vast armies on blood-soaked soil. Many of the crucial battles fought on land by British troops, from Hastings, Bannockburn, Agincourt and Waterloo, through to Ypres and Normandy, can be recalled where they happened, in the precise places where the sacrifices were made; at the points where history altered course. Not so the explosive tussles of ship on ship.
True, many a wreck litters the ocean floor – should you wish, you can travel to the Orkney Islands, and scuba-dive in Scapa Flow amid some of the remnants of Germany’s First World War fleet, scuttled here in 1919 as one of the knock-on effects of its failure to win the pivotal Battle of Jutland in 1916. But in many cases, all that remains of a fight at sea is blank open water, and the knowledge of what lies beneath.
Somehow, the Battle of Trafalgar transcends this.

No naval face-off rings through the history of this country quite like this struggle with the combined might of the French and Spanish navies, in the midst of the Napoleonic Wars. The Royal Navy’s triumph on October 21 1805 – 211 years ago today – would go a good way towards ensuring imperial France’s defeat a decade later, and was hugely significant in the establishment of Britannia’s rule over the waves, which endured for the next century. Not for nothing has Admiral Horatio Nelson’s message to his sailors before the first shots were fired – “England expects that every man will do his duty” – lodged itself so firmly in the lexicon.
Nelson, of course, was both the biggest winner and the most infamous loser of that day – the tactical cunning he demonstrated promoting him to the UK’s pantheon of heroes; the bullet he took to his left shoulder and his spine costing him his life in the process. But it is the enduring legend of this brilliant, flawed man which ensures that, over two centuries after the guns fell silent off the south-west corner of Spain, Trafalgar resounds in modern consciousness. And can still be sought out by those who want to explore its story in full.

Discovery Beautiful Bali Island

Bali Island is a small beautiful island and a part of Indonesia archipelago. It own the panorama and unique culture that make this island is exclusively than others. Furthermore, It’s location is in the tropical situation as Dream Island for a vacation. Bali Island has many places of interest such as rice paddies, beautiful panorama, volcanoes, tourism activities as well as attractions. In addition, it also has beautiful jungle, long sandy beaches, warm blue water, crashing surf and friendly people. Moreover, the local people presents daily community ritual and a lot of things make your holiday unforgettable. In Bali, the spirits is coming out to play in the moonlight. You can discover a festival and even a funeral throughout the island. Meanwhile, a good time of the day with sea breeze will complete your holiday dream.

Beautiful Bali Island

Discovery Beautiful Bali Island

Bali is an Island of God in Paradise. Furthermore, it is a perfect tourist destination to enjoy the holiday with your family as well as collages. This tropical paradise has a unique blend of modern tourist facilities combined with wonderful shopping, a rich past as well as heritage sites. The Balinese people are proud of having preserved their unique Hindu culture against the advance of Islam, the dominant religion throughout Indonesia. This is still reflected in day-to-day life and can be seen in the numerous ceremonies. It is also the Balinese festivals in a magnificent temples as well as palaces. We can find some best surfing spots in the island on the western side. Meanwhile, the eastern side is a wonderful haven for families, with beautiful white sand beaches and gentle seas.

Bali in Stories

Bali Island according to the ancient inscription of Blanjong written 835 Saka or 913 century which is released by Sri Kesari Warmadewa Kingdom that Bali Island is called ‘Bali Dwipa’. It means Bali is come back, offering, sure and other words related to this meaning. Meanwhile, Dwipa mean island. The Bali Dwipa might be given by traditional merchants from India who the first time arrive in the island. They meet the local people full with the religious activities by using the offerings (Banten). Base on the event they called Bali is Bali Dwipa.

Two die after being rescued from sea near Aberdeen

A woman, 37, and a seven-year-old boy lose their lives while three others involved in the incident remain in hospital

A seven-year-old boy and 37-year-old woman have died in hospital after a rescue operation at Aberdeen beach.

The emergency services were called to reports of people in difficulty in the water at about 4.45pm on Saturday.

A major rescue operation was launched and five people were pulled from the water and taken to Aberdeen royal infirmary.

A 37-year-old woman and a seven-year-old boy later died in hospital. A man aged 28, a woman aged 25 and a 13-year-old boy remain in hospital for treatment.

Ch Insp Stewart Mackie said: “This is a very tragic incident which has resulted in a woman and young boy sadly losing their lives. It will undoubtedly bring shock and sadness to the entire city of Aberdeen and farther afield.

“As we work with partners to establish the full circumstances of today’s events, we urge anyone who witnessed the incident or perhaps have information that could assist, to make contact with police via 101. Given the recent weather we’d urge members of the public to take care, especially when near coastal or beach areas.”

Caribbean islands

Aruba

Arid and nearly featureless, Aruba's main attraction is a ribbon of beaches lined with big world-class resorts and backed up with malls of familiar restaurants and bars. Best for: Holidays requiring no thinking at all

The Bahamas

Offering the myriad choices of the Caribbean in a microcosm close to the US, the 700 islands of the Bahamas have far-flung hideaways and glossy mega-resorts. Best for: Island-hopping explorers, divers, partiers, Americans needing a quick escape

Cayman Islands

Grand Cayman is reminiscent of South Florida, only more orderly and with less traffic. It offers resorts of all stripes, tax shelters and famous diving, snorkeling and swimming with schools of stingrays. Best for:Hassle-free holidays in what might seem like the 51st state, watersports

Dominican Republic

A large country with a dominant Hispanic culture, DR (as it's called) has world-class resorts on fine beaches, lots of colonial-era history and untrammeled inland areas with forbidding peaks. Best for: Resort-seekers, adventurers

Jamaica

Seemingly the center of Caribbean clichés such as Bob Marley songs played to the rhythm of opening beer bottles, vast Jamaica offers up resorts from posh to lurid and a distinct urban culture. Best for: Spicy food, spicy music, resort holidays, urban and natural adventures, quick trips from the US

Puerto Rico

Old San Juan is one of the great highlights of the region, a sprawling colonial throw-back that buzzes with a lively vibe. Big beach resorts, casinos, tangible history and rich Hispanic culture are the highlights.Best for: Explorations beyond sun, sand and sea, not leaving the US

St-Martin/Sint Maarten

Two distinct cultures, Dutch and French, share space on this smallish and very lively island. Like a brain these two hemispheres are greater in sum than in parts: the French offer holidays with reserve while the Dutch party down. Best for: Midrange-hotel holidays, daytrips into France, the Netherlands and the heart of Creole culture, the wildest airport bar on Earth

US Virgin Islands

The first Caribbean stop for many Americans has all the comforts - and familiar names - of home. St Thomas is commercial but St John and St Croix offer more natural and cultural allures. Best for: Americans who don't have passports, mega-resort-lovers, nature-lovers

Farther afield (requiring a transfer or less frequent direct flights):

Anguilla

In a sea of beaches that set the standard for beachy clichés, the beaches on this tiny island are the definitive versions. Small, with an amiable local culture and luxurious villas scattered about. Best for: Luxurious but low-key holidays, isolation

Antigua

Lots of little beaches ringing this medium-sized island are lined with resorts large and small, modest and lavish. English Harbour offers yachtie hijinks and diverting colonial heritage. Best for: Resort holidays with a couple of day trips

Barbados

British accents are common on this tidy, medium-sized island right on the edge of the Atlantic. Various beaches ideal for surfers, wind-surfers, budget sunbathers and traditional types who dress for dinner ring a truly welcoming island. Like some other ex-British colonial islands such as Antigua, Barbados has non-stop services from London in high season. Best for: Any budget, activities, people who pack linen suits

Bonaire

One of the most interesting islands in the southern Caribbean, tiny Bonaire is justly famous for its spectacular diving right offshore. It also has a fascinating history and a winning and walkable main city of Kralendijk. Best for: Divers, budget travelers, people who like to explore but don't want a lot to explore

British Virgin Islands

The richer, less-developed and more isolated version of the US Virgin Islands. Yachties and divers find their bliss amongst the 40 islands here; the main island, Tortola, offers glam diversions. Best for: Divers and snorkelers, sunset cocktail parties, people who prefer the motion of the ocean

Cuba

Weirdly, wildly wonderful: a time-capsule of a vanished Caribbean on a huge island unlike any other. Cuba offers famous music, political challenges and disintegrating urban beauty. Havana alone is worth days of exploration amidst a paucity of frills. Watch for new flights as travel restrictions ease. Best for: Reasonably priced holidays in a truly 'foreign' country, adventurers and explorers, bragging rights

Curaçao

A medium-sized island with a focus beyond tourism. The main city of Willemstad has a justifiably famous, beautiful and historic harbor. Isolated beaches scattered about offer a few watery pleasures. Best for:Off-the-beaten track wanderings, urban rambles

Dominica

Lacking the plethora of beaches found elsewhere, Dominica is the region's unspoiled gem with peaks and valleys swathed in rain forest and accented by waterfalls. Best for: Climbers and trekkers, nature-lovers, people who want an escape from Caribbean clichés

Grenada

You really can smell nutmeg in the air of this small ex-British colony which has one of the region's most interesting capitals, St George's. Small and inviting beaches vie with rainforest-clad hills for attention.Best for: Low-key holidays in beautiful natural surroundings, mixing with genial locals

Guadeloupe

French-accented Guadeloupe offers relaxed islands for people who want to travel little, laze on the sand and enjoy especially good food. It packs great beaches and tropical nature in a small package. Best for: A topless day in the sun followed by a splendid seafood dinner

Haiti

Haiti offers the opposite of a care-free holiday. Challenges abound on this impoverished island that has suffered through natural disasters, but if you want to explore a rich culture that is the region's most African, Haiti is for you. Recent improvements at the Cap-Haïtien airport include flights from Miami now serving Haiti's north coast. Best for:People who travel to learn and explore

Martinique

The most Gallic corner of the Caribbean has a sprawling main town of Fort-de-France and an untouristy focus. Far-flung beaches reward daytrippers. Best for: French-speakers, beautiful and isolated beaches, nature hikes

St Kitts

Paired with Nevis, St Kitts has big hotels and booming condo developments. It's just large enough for a fun daytrip around the island that includes the vast pirate-era Brimstone Hill Fortress. Best for:Comfortable holidays, daytrips to Nevis, talking like a pirate

St Lucia

Beaches, beautiful resorts, and lushly forested hills are the troika of lures on this island long popular with the French and honeymooners of all tongues. Activities abound in and out of the water. Best for: Divers, snorkelers, trekkers, kite-surfers and more, nature-lovers, luxury seekers

St Vincent & the Grenadines

Catching rides on fishing boats between beach-ringed islands is the classic Grenadine experience (or charter your own boat). The main island, St Vincent, is mostly rainforest while little idyllic Bequia is the star of the oh-so-mellow Grenadines. Best for: Boaters, divers, explorers, people without schedules

Trinidad

Overshadowing neighboring Tobago, Trinidad is a big, pulsing Caribbean island that revels in Creole culture and boasts a party scene that peaks during one of the world's great Carnival celebrations. Best for: An annual party to rival Rio's

Tobago

The pint-sized companion to Trinidad boasts everything the larger island lacks: pristine nature, resorts worth the trip and fun in and out of the water. Best for: Trad beach holidays without any buzz, diving, bird-watching

Make us happy

Just like with Georgia, these types of stories really make us happy.  We’re already very excited when people download and play our apps, but to hear that people take our games, play it again and again every day in order to get high scores, is really heartwarming and drives us to make each update better than the last.  We’ve got so many ideas planned over here at MobilityWare and we can’t wait to share them with you.

It got to a point where he was playing so much he noticed that there was a slight delay in the card movement in our app, which he thought was preventing him from getting even better scores.   After informing us of his problem, we noticed that there was indeed a delay in the card movement and we reduced it considerably in the next update.

Basic Solitaire strategy is rather simple to learn. Here I’ll present you with some tips on how to improve your success rate:

Impressive, right?  Congratulations to Anders.  He might be one of the quickest Solitaire players we’ve ever talked to.  We’ve watched the video several times and we’re still amazed.  What an accomplishment! Have more happy time.