Rats to Riches, or How and Why to Roll Executive Class in Macau Continued

12:28 pm Macau International Airport by depature gate 7A

At this point we went back to the Best Western to pack our stuff. Along the way we found the most remarkable thing. Outside gym equipment in this tiny little alley. A old Chinese lady was using the ecliptical machine, and I joined in on the, for lack of a better term, pelvic thrust machine. We went to the hotel, and packed our things. The girl at the front desk (named Yo Yo) told us that to stay in our room, we would be charged regular price which was over $200, so we wanted to move on. I remembered reading somewhere that in Asia, you should visit travel agents as they get better than rack rates on hotel rooms. Since we had only two hours until checkout, we decided to do the same, thinking that logically, they could at least call hotels for us and speak in Mandarin. Consulted Lonely Planet, decided that this truly was the best idea and went to the city center to find travel agency. Turns out there was a huge bank of them. We selected Sunflower Agency. We explained to the girl that we were looking for a place and gave budget of $70-$100. She started calling around, and everywhere was full.

Finally she says that there are two options, the only rooms they have left. One is Hotel Asia which we had seen and were not impressed with, the second was the Sintra, which they had a deal with, which was a few doors down. We walked over to the Sintra, saw the lobby, security, and doormen in uniforms and went back to reserve the room. Total was same as the other hotel, 900MOP or 120 and we could check in in a few hours.

We went to checkout from Best Western, stopped at the park across the road from the hotel, and I had a second workout. I think Tony Little saw this before he sold millions of Gazelles. This is my favorite part of Macau, and everyone uses them. Everytime we saw a workout area, any time of day or night, someone was using it. From there, we wandered to the part of town where the martime museam is, and visited A ma temple. It looked beautiful, but it was extremely crowded, and with our packs it was difficult to navigate. Took a few photos and decided to take a ride on a city bus. City bus within Macau Penninsula is 2.50MOP or 35 cents. The buses are very modern and new, and air-conditioned. We selected 10A, and had a nice little tour of downtown Macau and the villas of the super rich, and were dropped off at the Sintra. We left our bags with the concierge and went to find a Watsons, which is Chinas version of Shoppers Drug Mart. I purchased a nice little snack of iced green tea, sesame crackers and dried fruit for under $3 or so. Mikae had a second McDonalds meal, real chicken breast burger, coke, fries for 17MOP or $2.12.

We wandered back down to the hotel to check in, and we were handed a gold card. Somewhere along the line we were upgraded to executive suite. The girl had said at the agency, that this was the only room they had left. I grab the rackcard, and Executive Suite is quoted at 1750MOP+ or $250. It also says that executive suite includes American Breakfast, English and Chinese Newspapers, Drinks, Unlimited Bottled Water, FREE BROADBAND, Satelite Channels, Robes and Slippers, AirConditioning, Free Suit Press and shoeShine all that good stuff. We get up there and the room is amazing. The view is of a giant, seriously giant LCD screen that plays Chinese music videos 24/7. But the room is amazing. The bathroom is the size of the living room in our loft, and all marble. We literally bask in luxery for 2 hours, send emails and make phone calls before we need to eat. We wander through NAPE, or the new district of reclaimed land, all clubs and bars, the new casinos like the Venitian, and the Sands, Mandarian Oriental etc. We cannot find the restaurant we are looking for, its Indian, called Arula, and literally hiding on a side street. It is across from the Big Shell station. Finally we wander in the right direction. A man makes roti right beside our table. Food wasn't bad, not the best indian food I have ever had by Far, but I think living in Toronto, I am more than slightly spoiled. We had Chana, Bharta, Rice, Roti, Samosa, Coke and Soda Water and the bill was $220 MOP or $30. We grabbed a TsingTao (they have like 1L bottles) for $10MOP or $1.25 from a market, we had a mini Bottle of GraoVasco from before $29MOP, or $3.60 and went back to the hotel. Then, in the lap of luxery, we decided to forgo any more exploring or tourist activities and just get our moneys worth with this beautiful suite. I sat in my robe, drinking Portugeuse Wine, watching BBC and uploading videos to Youtube. This morning we had our wonderful breakfast included in the executive suite price (usually $150MOP or $18.75) at the Sintra Restuarant. I had Fruit, Coffe, Toast, Omlette and it was fantiastic. With GooseDown, You sleep like a baby.

We are now waiting to board the plane at the Macau international Airport, where they have free Wifi and Broadband. We are taking Air Asia and the total flight price to Bangkok from here is 900MOP which is exactly what we paid for our hotel the last two nights, Including tax. We have a guesthouse booked on Soi Thonglor, Sukimvit 55, called Buri B&B. I hope its ok, after the Macau disaster we vowed to have somewhere booked rather than wing it. Its new and looks ok. Its supposed to be 500Baht $15.50 for a double bed. I think we are going to go shopping at MBK after we get settled. We are going to go look at some apartments and see if we get a feel for Bangkok. If we like it, we might stay a month. If not, we might stay a week or so and then go down to the Islands. And get some sun and rave on. The next full moon party is on the 24th of November. I really want to settle a bit, and get some work done however. Ive been using my laptop everywhere, but its not the same.

To sum up Macau. Yes I am glad I saw it, and experienced all of this obviously, even though 2 days in Macau cost us almost a months rent in Bangkok. The pollution is awful. The food was challenging for my vegetarian taste, and the contrast between the multibillion dollar casinos and the way the people live was astonishing. Next time I would suggest taking only a day trip, or one night in Macau, Or stay on the Taipa or Colone island area of Macau, which is supposed to be lovely. A cab ride to the airport (across the bridge to taipa) was $52MOP or $7. Macau, the Portuguese contrast was lovely, and it is a truly enjoyable city in the daylight. When the sun goes down a flip is switched and the grimieness comes alive. Lesson number one – have a room booked if you are getting somewhere and it is not first thing in the morning. Lesson number two, consult travel agencies, Lesson number three, look at rooms before you pay. Lesson number four avoid hotels like Hotel Central, and pay the money if you are somewhere that feels uncomfortable. In Macau, Definately, you must stay in executive class.