Where were the Life-vests, and would they replay the safety video.

Well, my week in Hong Kong started out excellent, no problems getting to the Airport from my buddies place, and it seems that with a multi-entry visa, everytime you arrive in the country your 60 days starts all over. This was minor compared to getting assigned to 18A, or also know as the last row in 1st class. It must have been the recent shave and shower that managed to snag me this seat.

Well, getting to the main island from the Airport did involve one snag. You need to purchase a different ticket (token, pass) to ride the other trains that don't go to the airport. Finally, this was solved, and I arrived at my hotel later than planned, but in one piece and without anymore hic-cups.

In order to make the best of my short stay in Hong Kong, I decided to spend one day in Macau, and today was it. After a somewhat late start, I managed to get on the Star Ferry to go to Kowloon, and then walked to the China Terminal to take the Hydro-foil to Macau. I am glad I decided ahead of time that I was not going to get a suit made, and I was on a time-line so I had a built in excuse for the way there, not so much on the way back. I think I found where little boys from the Taj Mahal end up using their skills.

Well, after clearing another set of customs, and running the gauntlet of "private tour guides", I caught a bus to the farthest site, and planned on walking back. Well, I made it to the A-Ma Temple and Marine Museum. After a few quick pictures, I started my hike back. Well I have to admit that I needed a proper map, and not the tourist map, since not all roads are marked, and I did not really want to stay too long in this area looking at a TOURIST map. In any case, I made it to a touristy area, (signs pointing the way to important locations). So I managed to see and photograph a few of Macau's Must see spots, Ruins of St. Paul.

However, just as I was about to start walking back to the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal (about 2 KM), it started to rain, so like the rest of the tourists, I sought shelter in the archway of the ruins. I wonder how often these doors have seen the huddled masses seeking shelter. However, this delay cost me some daylight. I think if I had a proper map (paper or GPS) I would have risked a walk in the rain and dark back to the terminal, but since I only had a 4 hours to catch the last ferry, I decided to get a bite to eat and hail a cab. Well, both were easier said than done. The place I stopped for food, (deep fried chicken (I think)), was pretty slow and I think I probably missed a cab or two at the taxi stand, but the little TV above the till, was showing this shops claim to fame (for a show of some kine, an actor purchased Egg-tarts and then traded the tarts for a buskers guitar so he could woo his lady friend who left their wallet at the stand. See it took a long time for my order to come). Then for a while I was worried that there were no more taxi's but eventually two showed up, one someone stole before the stand, and the other one was going off duty, or she did not want to take any passengers. Third time's a charm, I made it to the terminal, and decided that since I was not going to gamble, the least I could do was take some photos of the lighted casinos, and Sky-line.

Then onto the ferry, well after using the wrong bathroom, (how come no stand-ups), and buying Cashews and a Coke Zero for $40, I caught the ferry back to Hong Kong. I realized something was up once the announcement came on that due to weather we would not make our scheduled arrival time. At some point I realized that I should have paid more attention to the safety video, instead of trying to take pictures of the casinos out the window. It now made so much sense, why they were hauling lots of garbage out of the ferry in Macau, lots of little white bags. There was also a pretty big crew waiting for us in Hong Kong, but I don't think they were really needed, but I could be mistaken.

Well, I managed to avoid the hand made suit sellers and Rodex sellers on the way out, and I figured they would be gone. HA, let me say it again HA. Well, lets just say that don't make an offer if you are not willing to pay it. So far so good, they are still keeping time.