Video!

It's finally happened. I have discovered how to post videos. It's surprisingly not hard. Patience was the key so I must have only got some today. Here are some clips of my journeys in Macau. I will also be doing a video diary which will have narration @ niasvideos.blogspot.com. Enjoy!

An evening walk

Chinese worship (don't worry she made it out)

Crossing over

Lately I have been trying to practice on my language skills both oral and handwritten. I can write my address, but not from memory. Also I have no clue what people are saying when I eaves-drop on their conversations. Most of the time I am paranoid and think they are talking about me, they probably are when they stare. I feel progress will take some time.

I am already fustrated about not knowing what people are saying. I understand numbers so when I go to the market I can understand what things cost without the dreaded calculator. Although people are making it easier to understand, it still cripples any opportunity for language learning. When people say "thank you" to me, I throw their language right back and say "mm goi" instead, which is "thank you" in Cantonese.

When I hear english, it's like music to my ears. The familiarity of my own language seems so far from reach. Most days I am by myself and I am not around english speakers. I am always looking for "westerners." This term should only be take lightly considering that the term means not Asian. Yes, the rest of the world has been put into the huge clump. The irony is that we do the same thing at home. Asians are mushed together without identity or explaination, it's just easier. So the westerners are Europeans, Candians, South Americans, Austrailians, but not Africans because they don't come here. Being dark-skinned is a rarity people here are not used to. That is why on any given day, I will be photographed, constantly stared at, or just a walking enigma people have no idea what to do with. The fact is there are so many tourists flowing in and out, they will never get used to me. At least the old man on my street says hi to me. I count that as a victory.

I leave you with my friend the snail. We have a lot more in common than I used to believe. You can figure that one out yourself.

Food

I have to admit I miss American food. Though it may be very eclectic, it's just so easy and convenient. I am still learning what to order, how order, what tastes good, and what places have an english menu. Though food is cheap, quality always comes with a price and that price is not necessarily monetary. I have had two great meals. One was at this Thai restaurant and the other was at the Buddhist Temple. The funny thing is I went to the Thai place because the temple was closed that day.

Honestly the Chinese food is not much different from what you find in Boston. The eating rituals are interesting. For example, napkins are never present, unless requested. I was given napkins because they knew I needed them. My parents would flip because my dad constantly asks for extra napkins, like there are never enough. China may have to get a extra shipment when they arrive. Also the Chinese in Macao love red beans and toothpicks. Napkins are rare, but you always find these two items. If you do plan on coming, you should know that chopsticks are commonly used to eat. The good news is they make the food big enough to pick up.

The fruit here is amazing. I cannot get enough of it. It's best when you go to the open market and see the entire spread. Most places post the prices and you don't even need to understand because the get out their calculator to tell you the price. I haggle mainly because I don't want to feel cheated. Now thinking about it, I really don't pay much for anything. It's like paying less for already cheap food. I should pay extra for the injustice, but I don't.

Photos: Hotel room dinner of fruit, dried fruit, bread and avocado; great Thai food; I was craving fries, don't judge me.

Scenes of Macau

I have so much to share and at the same time I don't know what to say. I will let the photos guide me.

My first taste of Macau in the daytime had to have been Senado square. I needed to purchase a cell phone so the concierge told me where to go and handed me a handy map, which happens to be tearing in several places. I found Senado and brought a phone at a whooping 260MOP, which is $32.50. Oh, it gets much better. This area is a tourist trap so I have learned to avoid Senado, unless I am absolutely desperate or go in the early morning to beat the crowd.

There scenes in Macau that have beautiful Chinese and Portugese influences, but there are some not-so-good visuals which prove that not everyone is well-off. Tonight I passed this tiny store which is among hundreds of stores similar to this one selling the same things, and I saw this woman doing dishes behind a curtain. It can only mean the store also where this family lives. The strange thing about this place is I don't really see any homeless people, only older women who hang out in highly populated tourists areas asking for change. I guess the gambling provides just enough for the people.

It has been foggy here lately but not raining as much as the weather forecast says it should. The fogginess seems so intriguing because though you cannot see beyond it, you still wonder what's there. I have not been here very long, yet I am able to find my way easily. Though I have to admit the map I carry around does come in handy, but I don't look at it all the time.

The other three photos are of the remains of St. Paul's, the mystic Macau Tower, and one of the three bridges to Taipa.

First day in Macau

You know you are in China, when you sign onto google and it's completely and Chinese characters. I guess Google and China are friends after all.

I would love to complain about the travel and talk about how strange and bizarre this all is but these are the facts: I made it 50 minutes to Newark with a 5 hour layover, then 15+ hours to Hong Kong including a brief layover and an unnecessarily long ferry ride to Macau. I feel bad-ass! I went to bed at 1am and woke up at 7am with an eagerness to start the day. I have no idea when jet-lag will hit so I will just wait and see. (Photos: Hong Kong airport at night, and 2 views for outside in my 13th floor room.)

What I have: a hotel room for 2 weeks, internet, money (Hong Kong dollars and Macau Pacatas), and an eager attitude

What I need: food, a cell phone, an apartment, swim cap, and direction

Here's to new beginnings!