7 Quick Takes: Second Honeymoon in Macau

Our girls took some books out of the library a couple of weeks back and a handful of them were the Berenstein Bears. The one was about Mama and Papa Bear going on a second honeymoon and Brother and Sister Bear staying with Grandma and Grandpa. The girls quickly adopted that as the name for our 10 year anniversary getaway: The Second Honeymoon. Shiley even told her teacher that we were away on honeymoon and apparently some explaining was required when people looked a little awkward and blank in response :/

 We had always dreamed of something exotic for our 10th anniversary. That was before we knew we'd be living on the other side of the world. Even though we live a little closer to some of those great destinations now, getting away together for just two nights, and a one hour ferry ride away, was all the treat we needed! Having said that, it was daunting leaving our girls for the first time in Hong Kong, but nothing a super granny, lots of hand written notes and addresses translated into Cantonese couldn't solve. 

Thank you Granny Jen!

So off we went to Macau and here are the quick highlights (mostly in photos and about a month late!):

1/ Macau, like Hong Kong is a SAR of China. It was Portuguese Territory until 1999 and still reflects some of that influence today. Somewhat clashing with the old quaint buildings and cobbled streets of old Macau, are the monstrous casinos and luxury hotels towering over the landscape, giving it the name 'Las Vegas of Asia'. Needless to say, the gambling scene was not the draw card for us (excuse the pun). Other than being flawed by some of the architecture and size of the casinos (and feeling my heart ache for many of the people searching for hope and meaning in those dark holes), we gave the casinos a miss, and soaked up some of the more quaint and authentic old Macau, which still carries a strong Portuguese feel.

2/ We were able to be a little selfish and we did what we wanted. When we wanted. We had uninterrupted conversations and we spent plenty time reading, sleeping and swimming.  

3/ We ate loads of local street food. Thats what happens when your'e walking to find a restaurant for dinner, and you're drawn by all the smells and sights along the way. We would end up eating a full dinner portion before finding our dinner destination. Dumplings, barbeque pork, bakery delicacies, bakkwa (chinese jerky), mango coconut milk dessert, bubble teas and iced coconut drinks. Yum, yum, yum.

4/ We explored the old part of Macau and did a spot of shopping. 

  

5/ We visited the ruins of St Paul. 

 

6/ We saw a spectacular show, called 'House of Dancing Water'. If your'e in Hong Kong, you have probably already seen it. Everyone who heard we were going to Macau told us we had to book. If you are reading this from some other part of the world, Google it. Its really hard to describe the show, but I spent a good 80% of the show saying 'oh my word!', 'OH my WORD', 'OH MY WORD!!'

7/ We reflected on the last 10 years of marriage and dreamed about the future and then we returned back to Hong Kong, refreshed and ready for the next 10!