This time I'm taking a one hour (fingers crossed!) ferry ride to Macau to meet Anna, who is flying in from Singapore. She is moving to NYC in a couple of weeks so it's our last Asian holiday together.
I manage to leave work early and get on an earlier than booked ferry - Macau here I come! I had purchased my ticket online when they had a deal for a free upgrade - brilliant! Within minutes we are departing (surprisedly we were on time) I was asked if I wanted a drink. For some crazy reason I selected water over beer....that will come later.
The one hour journey went by super quickly and without any drama. Due to my upgrade I'm one of the first ones to exit the boat; the last time I was in Macau (when I lived in HK the first time) the lines at immigration were crazy crazy long. After a decent walk I'm into the immigration hall and more importantly air conditioning. Added bonus that there is no line at immigration - woo hoo within seconds I'm out into the world of Macau.
After a few failed attempts at locating the shuttle bus line I hear this "missey missey" (ah yes I'm in China), a lady I'd asked earlier for where the shuttle bus was located was coming to get me and put me in the right place. I was told to wait here for a couple of minutes. Done! Just before we depart the TV comes alive and talks about what happens when we arrive at the Venetian - buggar I'm on the wrong bus! Clearly my mind is on Italia. The very kind bus driver takes me off, walks me to where I need to go and points. Thank you! Now I have a wait until the bus turns up. Silly silly me.
Finally I'm at the hotel, and head straight to the room. After ringing the doorbell with no success a quick call was made and within seconds I'm heading to the club floor where Anna has secured us a table. Bingo! 15 minutes to the cocktail hour is over so I'm straight to bar. Then to get some food. The place is huge - by far the biggest club lounge I've ever been too, but bearing in mind the hotel is huge (at least two towers) it's probably to be expected. The bar man takes pity on us and pours one last drink while he is packing up.
We head back to the room for more wine and lots of chat.
Saturday (8 August) after a wee sleep in, pure bliss! We take our time heading to breakfast. There is nothing more I love in the weekends than not rushing, I do that more than enough during the week.
We finally make it to the pool just before midday; walking outside the heat heats me - heaven! The first think I notice is signs advising of the wet floor, funny that when it's a small dipping pool.....very strange!
Chairs are located, towels laid out, sun bathing positions are assumed - aah this is the life! I'm thinking this might become a regular weekend top away for me.
We get our own entertainment show through the day - a guy in speedos doing a whole lot of exercises and 2 Chinese guys spraying on what seems like baking oil then lying in the hot sun. Never a dull moment here!
We head down to the cocktail hour a few minutes before it officially opens, clearly we aren't the only ones that have the same idea. Tonight though we have dinner plans at 8pm so it will be semi civilized.
At the end of the cocktail hour (ok two hours) we go downstairs to get a taxi, within seconds of being on the ground floor I realize we have been living in a bubble up on 4th floor (club floor and where the swimming pools are) as there are people for Africa everywhere and all are very loud!
We join a very long taxi line, thankfully we could see the taxis queuing up to enter so this should go fairly quickly.
It's a quick 15 minute drive to the restaurant, which was recommended by someone at work (same lady that gave me the amazing recommendations for Seoul) that I had already reserved for us. Walking in I felt like I was back in Europe – low ceilings, the tables were packed, lots of chat! The smells are amazing.
Finally it’s our turn to be seated and order. The menu is long so we do with some recommendations. We are not disappointed.
Getting a taxi home wasn't as easy as we had thought, after the restaurant had tried to book one for us we headed out onto the street. Not a bright light to be seen so we walked down the street until one was located.
Sunday, 9 August our morning is a repeat of yesterday morning - heaven! The only difference being this morning we were up earlier so made it to the pool earlier.
Today definitely feels warmer (both heat and humidity) so we spend time on and out of the water. Bliss!
Late afternoon we head to the room, on walking on nearly freeze to death and our room is at 23 degrees. Time to have no a/c for a while.
At 5.30pm we head down to Cocktail hour, resuming the same seats from last night.
My wonderfully relaxing weekend Anna has come to an end - who knows when and where we will next meet, but I do know for sure it's a friendship for life.
I walk outside at 6.50pm and nearly pass out with the heat and humidity; thankfully within minutes of joining the line for the Taipa ferry pier the shuttle arrives. Talk about perfect timing. We sit waiting for a while, I'm ok with that though given the shuttle bus is air conditioned.
It's a quick ride to the ferry pier, on exiting the bus it's all go. There are lines of people everywhere!! I see a sign that says 8pm boat so head off to find the entrance way to join the line. I'm definitely glad I didn't delay leaving the hotel as within 10 minutes the line is three times as long. With no breeze and the heat and humidity still very high it's hot work standing here. After what seems like forever the line moves; the first ticket lady see's my paper ticket so hands it to someone else who asks if I want the free upgrade or, yes thanks the free upgrade (I don't wait to hear what the other option was). Immigration is nice and painless then I join another line to get an actual seat. I'm not quite ready for the weekend to be over.
Within minutes of sitting down an announcement is made in Chinese and people are jumping up and heading to board the boat - thanks very much but I'll wait for the rush to be over. I would like to get on the boat still alive and still relaxed after the lovely weekend with Anna.
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