Macau

Macau was beautiful...a sharp blend of European architecture and Asian history. I met a photographer from the Philippines there and together, we took a walking tour of the island. I ended up in Taipa where I got to see Cirque du Soleil. I almost cried...not because the show was so good but because I realized just how much I've missed the performing arts...please don't let me live without it again.

Macau itself, however, is being eaten up by the gambling/tourist industries. Most of the citizens I met agree that though salaries have increased, their standard of living has decreased. In fact, the gambling industry isn't doing so well (work on several to-be casinos have been suspended till a future date). In addition, with the current swine flu scare, even the tourist industry is suffering. I do have to commend this small island though on its preventative measures; most people were wearing face masks, hand sanitizers are everything, and even holy water has been drained (instead, there is a notice telling citizens that no holy water will be used until the global health crisis subsides).

It will be very interesting to see what happens to this SAR region...will the old be somehow preserved as part of the new or will the nation be swallowed by capitalism?