Taipa--the Other Other Macau

One of the oldest colonial spots in the Orient was Macau. Starting in the 16th century, the Portuguese administered Macau for almost 450 years. From relatively humble beginnings, Macau blossomed into a major trading port and stopoff. Then, when the Portuguese formally returned the city to China in 1999, it went on to become one of the world's leading gambling spots. Indeed, its famous Venetian Casino and Resort Hotel offers a 550,000-square-foot casino three times larger than Las Vegas' biggest. According to a Smithsonian article I recently read, by 2012, Macau casinos are projected to outstrip the revenues of Atlantic City and the state of Nevada combined. With a population of just 531,000, Macau now has a GDP of more than $36,000 per capita, making it the wealthiest city in Asia and the 20th-richest economy in the world.

But Macau is so much more than casinos. Well, perhaps I should say that at least the small islands of Taipa and Coloane, located just south of Macau, are more than just casinos. Having only been infiltrated by the Portuguese in 1851 combined with the fact that it is a tiny island that is literally isolated, it has retained an essence of old world charm. While the dominating influence of casinos and show business is hard to escape when you are this close to Macau, there seems to be more of an effort on these islands to cherish the historical past, both Portuguese and Chinese. Ancient temples as well as colonial buildings are meticulously preserved and exhibited to the public. Many of its residents relish Portuguese and Chinese foods, and the restaurants cater to all kinds of combinations thereof.

For the first time since leaving Portugal, I really got the feeling that I was walking around an old village, replete with pasteis de nata, tiled walls, rusty street lanterns, and even a grotto dedicated to Luis de Camoes, the famous poet who wrote an epic tale of Vasco da Gama's explorations of the East.

Please enjoy my pictures below:






The "Ancient Greek God" Casino...words cannot convey the tackiness..


The Luis de Camoes grotto/park




The ruins of St Paul's