Macau

Caught the subway in Guangzhou, have another bag now as I've brought a bit of warm stuff so no longer travelling light. A bit Annoying but its only for a few days. Got to the China hotel and caught a bus to Macau border. Bus was good border was not, the foreigner line to be stamped out of China took forever, the Macau going in side was sweet, straight through 30 days on arrival. Went to jump on a bus to get downtown and realised fuck its another currency, so had to change some Yuan into MOPs the Macanese Pataca, which is only used in Macau, but is basically the same value as the HKD and the Yuan.

Jumped on a bus and went to find the hotel I had found using google as hotel prices in Macau are expensive and theres no backpacker hostels. The address is as follows Augusters Lodge 24, Rua Do Dr. Pedro Jose Lobo, Floor 3J, Block 4, Edif:Kam Loi, Macau. Managed to get off the bus at the right point and then stumbled around for 20 minutes till I worked out the Portuguese addresses, a Single room was 100 HKD, which is pretty good for Macau especially since it was the weekend.

Pop 500,000, mainly one big city, an old colony of Portugal first occupied in 1557, and was handed back to the Chinese in 1999. I Found Macau to be nice and friendly, seems like your in China with the look of the people but they are nicer versions. Lots of forts and hills about the city with Catholic churches scattered throughout, a few nice museums and lots of casinos. Prices are a bit more for most things over mainland China but apparently a bit cheaper than Hong Kong, I guess ill find that out. Public buses go most places and are pretty cheap.

On my first day went for a big wander around, visited the Ruins of Saint Paul's, a old church in ruins with just the stone front still standing, was nice. Also visited the Macau museum which is inside an old fort that has nice views over the city. At night went for a wander around the casino district. The next day visited another fort with a short cable car ride, then walked part of the Macau grand prix course then visited the Grand Prix museum. Took a bus around the bottom two islands which are less populated. Visited fisherman's wharf which is lots of cheesy themed stuff to take tourists dollars, some nice views from the fake volcano though. At night went to Sans Casino for a look and took some night shots of all the neon lights, accosted by a few lady's of the night, but kept my will ;).

Tomorrow I'm headed for Hong Kong on a boat, cant go back to China unless I get another Visa, which is unlikely as I fly from Hong Kong to London on the 14th of Jan.