Macau to Zhuhai

We checked out of the hotel, but left our luggage with them for our leaving the country that afternoon. The previous night, we'd found out from the hotel next door that they had a shuttle bus that would take us to Babylon casino. However, when we got there at 8.50 or so, waiting for the 9am shuttle, we were told it would be another 15 minutes....then 30....then 45. At this time, we gave up and went to the Star City Casino and got their shuttle to the ferry terminal.

We had vaguely decided to go to the Babylon casino and Fisherman's Wharf, the closest by the Ferry Terminal, because it looked pretty good from the bus on the way past, the previous evening. However, when we were in the shuttle to the ferry terminal, we (by which I mean my friends, since I speak not a word of chinese!) got chatting with some tourists from Hong Kong and Doris and I ended up going sight-seeing, while the other two went to the casino. I was selfishly glad, because I'd been hoping to see the temples and things and had little interest in the casino, except for its appearance - which was most disappointing in daylight.

So the other two and we parted ways and Doris and I got on the bus with our new acquaintances, to go to our first stop: A-Ma temple:

This temple is quite popular with the locals and tourists alike, and is one of the oldest in Macau. It's built on the side of a hill and has great views from some of its little shrines. Very pretty.

The next stop was to be the Moorish barracks. Only we got lost, because I couldn't follow the map properly. Doris did the honours and asked for directions :-). So anyway....we finally got to the barracks, and the building was quite nice to look at. Can't go inside though:

 

It's also built on the side of a hill, and I dragged poor Doris all the way up to see the other side - which is mostly the car park. Ah well...

From here, the next stop was the Lilau Square, which is near the Mandarin's House which is what I was very keen on seeing. Only it was closed for renovation! Wah! Not fair! Took some photos of the Square anyway:

Our map mentioned the Penha church, though it wasn't marked as one of the tourist stops. We decided that since we were right by it, we'd go and have a look. It looked like it was really near anyway....poor Doris. We had to climb up and up and up this hill to get to the church. I thought it was definitely worth-while going up there for the (mostly) unobstructed views of Macau and China. But I'd recommend doing it with a taxi or a tour (which we encountered up there), rather than walk up there in the heat and sun. Ah the views! Fantastic!:

 

We walked back down the hill to continue on our walking tour. We'd decided that since the Mandarin's house was closed, we'd head more or less straight to the Lou Kau mansion (which was near Senado Square where we'd been the day before). Getting there took us past a a couple of churches that we just had to look at...they were on the way! They must be photographed! Here's St Lawrence:

and we went past (though not right up to) Dom Pedro V Theatre:

 

And past the Sa Cathedral:

 

Though that was only because we got lost looking for the Lou Kau Mansion. It was marked on the map, but still we couldn't find it. Doris ended up asking some school girls, who were sweet enough to take us around the corner and up the street to the mansion which we had walked straight past earlier. But, in our defence, it is easy to miss! Look:

The inside was nice, though not as interesting as I'd hoped, because it wasn't furnished. Poor Doris' blisters....:

Then it was getting ever closer to the time we were to meet the other two back at our hotel, for the walk across to China. So we went back to the Lisboa casino for coffee (free! yay!) and gambling (for Doris, at least) for an hour before it was time to meet.

The walk to China was somewhat interesting. We got the shuttle bus from the Star Hotel to the Barrier Gate, and then walked through customs in Macau and into China, where we had to hold up traffic, filling in forms. Oops. Our hotel, the JinYe hotel, was supposed to be 5 minutes walk from the border, and it was even true!

From hotel to hotel, the trip took 1 3/4 hours. Checking into our hotel took nearly that long too! What a drama! All the forms you have to fill in and then pay it all in advance plus a security deposit, which had to be paid by credit card, which they will actually charge to your card for 15 days, regardless of whether you steal anything or not....crazy, crazy!

The room wasn't too bad. Not great, but at S$20 or so a night each, it wasn't bad, and had a nice view:

 

Even if it had none of the expected mod-cons...like a hair dryer, or electric kettle... And the water taps were marked 'Do not drink'...

We went and found ourselves some dinner, organised a tour guide for the following day, and then went for a massage - at 10pm!

The massage was at a huge 24 hour massage 'parlour', spread over 3 levels, with probably 30 rooms on one level and a massage 'lounge' with probably 50 chairs or so on another. The first thing that happens when you enter is that they give you a tag and you tell them what you want done - or at least, this is what I understood to be happening, since I couldn't understand a word of the various exchanges! Then you put your stuff in a locker and a woman gives you a towel and 'happy suit' - a short sleeved button down blouse with no collar, and shorts. You then go and have a shower and get changed into your suit. If you want, you can also have a steam, though we didn't take advantage of that.

Once we were all ready, they took me to my own room and I was massaged by this petite woman, who had unbelievably strong hands. I told them I only wanted my back and shoulders and feet massaged, but she didn't seem to have gotten the memo, so I got the full body massage regardless. It was good though. And the one hour massage cost me S$8. Bargain!!!!

We finally got to bed at around midnight, and set our alarms for our early morning tour start.