I never liked Macao.
Lost money too fast in the casinos when we first visited maybe 6 years ago.
Can’t even remember which old casino we went to, where I found the dealers so… business-like about taking my money.
(Vegas spoiled me. It’s not easy to compete with blonde, motherly auntie dealers who go, “Sure honey, come on over (to my Blackjack table, says the dealer) – I don’t feel lucky tonight.” “Awww honey? Are you sure you wanna do that?” We ended up showing her all our Elvis Wedding pictures at Little White Chapel before we left. Just her, there are dealers there who are not blonde motherly aunties.
Then again everything’s a package. Part of the Vegas package is like, 25 hours of flight time and maybe just under HKD 7,000 for a round trip ticket.)
Kings brings friends and clients to Macao on occasion, but neither of us are serious gamblers. Money we gamble is money we’re willing to lose – “entertainment cost.” Like when you go to the movies or watch a concert. Only in Macao the concerts never seemed to last long enough for me.
(Also, while my mum loves the egg tarts, I… don’t eat egg tarts except to be polite.)
So you’d have to pay me to get on a ferry to Macao.
Or… send us a night’s free accommodation plus entry to Qube, 9,000 square-feet of children’s playground, as part of the promotional package for the Worlds Of Fantasy Coloring-in Competition – organized and hosted by the Venetian Macao and coordinated by Ogilvy Public Relations.
This hastily snapped picture does NOT do the entrance to the place justice, it’s just all I can manage before we have to get down from the tour bus…
Rumor has it there are other things to do besides sit next to gamblers who totally outclass you, make a rookie mistake and feel the irritation emanating out of everyone else at your table.
(Hint: It feels a bit like when, standing in a crowded lift, you push the “door open” button for the poor soul clicking in her heels as fast she can across the lobby toward you in any office building in Central. Actually push it, not just pretend to push it.)
We pass a Circque Du Soleil Zaia poster as we speedwalk thru the lobby, and inquire about tickets. There are just 8 left. It’s HKD 788 per person on a Thursday. We hit immediately.
Rockstar eyes the spread in the VIP lounge, selects a Kiwi fruit, gets a little huffy because the attendant unwraps the straw that comes with his orange juice for him (you have to ask, before helping him)… He doesn’t get juice regularly, yet today decides he will have none at all (except one sip)…
After lunch at Bambu restaurant it’s a tour of some of the larger rooms… (But we likey ours and it’s not that much smaller)
(Yes those are towel animals. Whatever turns you on baby)
The room seems to meet Rockstar approval. But he will still suffer no paparazzi.
Down the wide corridors after the room tour…
Never did make it for the Gondola rides <disappointed> even though it’s like, 5 minutes, with photo ops and costumed gondoliers… We thought we would try it the next morning before we left, but it was too early…
We visit the Man U store (The Manchester United Experience)… “Store” is misleading, there are exhibits and surround sound soccer stadium experiences not to mention various different kinds of game booths…
Rockstar experiences Sports star…
Has big shoes to fill…
Picture of my child throwing himself against a ball fixed in the wall (as we all would like to do from time to time)…
Picture of my child running around while a pair of sneakers horn in on the photo op…
Picture of my child getting chased by a bullseye (no, not really)…
Spying a copycat…
This looks like an unhappy person…
Kings and I are not really soccer people – but that was a pretty cool store.
Man U fans should probably come visit – all 3 gadzillion of you
