On The Borderline... Macau!

RuGirl, Jimbo cancelled her Asia Tour, I still had my flights and accommodation booked! Not wanting to waste a single penny, I rescued those Macau plans! A 'Gong Bei' borderline crossing? I did the most because of a flight change! Those alterations made the first part of my Macau return sweeter! Donuts for brekkie? I wanted everything! Bom dia, querida Macau! 你好, 澳門! 

Real talk, a third visit to Macau was never on the cards so soon after my August 2024 return! I saw that Jimbo from 'Canada's Drag Race/UK vs The World/All Stars 8' had released her Asia 'Funhouse' Tour', I booked a ticket with the quickness! It was a Saturday and with a direct connection with Air Macau from Ningbo, I had my flights and hotel booked within seconds after securing that coveted ticket! It's really rare that Ru-Girls make it down to Macau as many choose Hong Kong! Out of the blue, I had a refunded amount sent to my UK bank account! The show had been cancelled but both hotel and flights were still secured, I had already had to alter my outbound flight from Ningbo to Macau with an alternative arrival into Zhuhai earlier on that supposed tour date due to a problem with scheduling. I had already done a lot to keep this weekend away together but nothing would do! I would be using that flight to Zhuhai, deciding to make it my mission to get the best from that overnight visit, I was ready for this third! Vamos! 

Waking up before the birds, the morning looked more like night time as I headed to Ningbo Airport. The flight down to Zhuhai was worry free and on-time, I changed some leftover currency from my recent trip to Thailand into Macanese Pataca. I had my eyes on Zhuhai's Gong Bei land border, a taxi ride from the airport brought me face to face with that 2016 reminder. I spoke my Mandarin clearly, not stuttering I told the custom officers that I'd be back to the Mainland the following day! My passport was taken away from me for a few moments, had I landed myself in hot water because it reminded of getting stopped in 2016 over Turkish stamps in my passport? They weren't able to scan my passport at the lane I was at, it was just a formality and before I knew I could see those familiar 'Portas do Cerco' historic Portuguese built border gates. I had reclaimed those tattered plans, crossing borderlines before breakfast, those moves had made me feel hungry! Clearing into Macau was easy breezy, it's visa free! Eu gaguejei? Não!

I felt alive when I saw those Portuguese street signs as I walked further away from the border checkpoint with Mainland China, the European remanent of the past were filling my longing for the mother continent, Europe! 'Nossa Senhora de Fátima' became my new neighbourhood with 'Istmo de Ferreira do Amaral' the name of the road I stood on. I saw those familiar pharmacy lights, the hoards of Mainland shoppers were busying around with their shopping trolleys filled with items to take back into Guangdong Province! I nabbed a sim card, I didn't appreciate the sellers attitude but I had forgotten about that once I had swiped onto Instagram without any need for a VPN! Back in the world? No, I was in one of China's 'Special Administrative Regions', one that had been managed my Portugal for 442 years. Politics aside, I could smell a bakery behind me, I fancied several slices! 'Padaria King's/金狮饼店/King's Cake Shop' gave me more than a little sugar! The best donut and a sweet bottle of milk tea hugged me, I needed a treat! 

Walking closer to the historic centre from the border, I clocked a peaceful memorial hall and a funeral complex. Now, I wasn't banking on those sombre settings to be the mood for my bumper day in Macau, they centred my mood. I dealt with some calls from Ningbo and made more plans to help a dear friend, you know Scorpios stick together! Those mega housing projects had me thinking that I was in Hong Kong! The Portuguese looking wet market took me back to my trip to Portugal in a minute, those 'Estrada' road signs had me confused but it was a lovely feeling at the same time! Before I knew it, Macau's memories had become my blueprint for the day, being the third visit, I had it covered! Walking from 'Portas do Cerco' was a winner, she left me without any second guesses! 'Escola?' I wanted to see more! Sashaying down those Macanese streets on that Saturday made me feel far from Mainland, burning up that VPN internet data was my mission! My afternoon was not planned, I need to leave that for 'The Third Strike!' Sigue po! Go!

Staying in 'Praça de Ponte e Horta' was a must! I had given all I could to my hotel choice during the previous Macau visit, 2025s surprise visit had me losing my mind when I needed to pick a room for the night! Pushing myself over the borderline into Macau had my budget loosing its mind, I found myself back in that historic part of town because no casino brands were affordable to me. 'Pensão Família' tried me, I knew that a hotel in Mainland China would never provide me with a literal paper towel in place of a real bath towel? No, I was low key mad! You know I was not going to allow that bargain bin hotel amenity become my 'third visit' standard! Another no! Needless to say, I secured myself a towel and that request didn't seem to be extravagant at all! Location is did serve and the nights sleep was standard, I need wish the previous property that I stayed during August 2024 had availability! We move, we adapt but I won't stay there again! Could I smell another baked good in the air? 'Mini Manila?' Oo, para kang gamot! Nakita ko na! 

Skipping a few steps ahead, let's skip to the evening of that same day! Did I soak up that Filipino energy? Stepping back into Macau's 'Mini Manila' saw me living my 'Praça de Ponte e Horta' moment! With 'pandesal' in one view and 'Red Horse' in the other, I did my best to recapture a taste of the Philippines. I had originally planned to meet my sneaky link who I had 'met' during my previous visit but he had other plans in Thailand. I did look for something extra before heading out to dinner but life sometimes tell us, no! I recognised that diversion as a lesson, sometimes too much preparation can be a bad thing! I lived and I learned from that situation because somethings require time to finesse. I chose not to eat anything Filipino for my evening meal because I had ideas of a Hong Kong birthday sojourn for my 35th birthday in November 2025! A can of 'Red Horse: Extra Strong' had me thinking about my most recent trip to the Philippines, it had been beautifully chaotic and I like it like that! Macau is always a culture-trip! 

Gusto Ko Ng Pandesal! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure