Macau ... and not to Gamble

Managed to coerce another tour guide for Macau, yes another family member. What would I do without them ? I need to owe big favors if they ever come to Sydney.

Today's trip is to get around Macau in less than 12 hours. I have been here again and yet I never have good photos to do justice to this little place. My mum has fond memories of Macau as she spent some time here, and well the food is amazing and you cannot come here without experiencing the Portuguese Tarts , and the pork roll bun. They also sell lots of jerky and they can be seen in stalls everywhere you walk around town. Ruins of St. Pauls is a highlight, and there are many other things like the casino's and the towers. Today's weather has not been favorable, actually it is terrible and I have to be very thankful for my guide to take me around in this weather as I was going to go, rain, hail or shower ! 

Just a note from Hong Kong, you will need your passport if you are not a HK resident. You will need to go through immigration, and then catch a ferry to Macau which is about an hour ride. UNLESS you are ultra rich you can take the chopper !!!

Quickest way around Macau after the ferry ride is via Casino bus. Yes and the gambling commences with a lucky draw once you set foot on to the bus !!

One of the many streets in Macau that cater many assorted shops and restaurants. Some don't even open when it rains ?

Locals shopping

Macau car parks

Local housing

The city area of Macau

The locals are in no hurry

Or are they ???

Say cheese !! He must be a tourist

Say .... she zoomed past

Let's take a stroll

This wet weather does not stop the women from shopping !!

Beef or Pork jerky ?

Pork bun or Portuguese tart ? the tart wins every time !!

Now where is St Paul's ??

Nope this is the view of Macau

Ruins of St. Paul's

The Big Buddha and Tai O

I am not heavily religious but I had reasons coming to Hong Kong before my trip to Japan and that was to get trigger happy and do some street photography.

Lucky for me I have relo's who are willing to take me around to the outskirts of HK, and today they were happy to take me to the Big Buddha and also to the town where they grew up, Tai O.

I've been to both locations before but this time around I would try to take some better photos from the Fuji X-Pro 1 rather than a point shoot camera !

Off to the Tian Tan Buddha or better known as the Big Buddha in Hong Kong.

Going to Lantau Island, the scenic way is via the glass bottom cable car.

The Big Buddha in the distance

Tourists in huge numbers storming in

Only 268 steps to reach the Big Buddha

The Buddha is 34 meters (112 ft) tall, weighs 250 metric tonnes

One of the temples within Tian Tan

Arguably one of the best tofu fah's that can be purchased is from the Tian Tan Buddha site. Thumbs up from me. Refreshing to have after hiking up 268 steps

Wait for a bus (that seemed to take an eternity). The little mini bus was to take us to Tai O. It was about a 30 odd minute ride, through the windy mountains. I had been here a while ago but I do not remember any cows walking around on the street !

Off to Tai O ... !!! They seem excited !!

Welcome to Tai O

It is not really a water village, but there is a canal in the middle of Tai O

Local produce is how these people survive, the local butcher

A local carpenter

Customer service has not been heard of here

It's a safe town, keeping watch out side the shop

Examples of local produce, it is all dried seafood

A shot that has it all, the best customer service, she is keeping watch of her stock, and she is selling local stock of live seafood.

Pollution is not so much an issue at Tai O, local people get around via bicycle.

The town is full of old cranky and bossy old men

He is telling me where to go...

Obviously does not want a photo

Good 'ol number 145, cranky old dude banged the doors off

No time to talk.. need to shop for the old guy

Kuala Lumpur ... in 24 hours ...

A business trip had been in the pipe works for some time, and it eventually came ahead mid August. The trip was arranged in haste as it was dependent upon a customers time lines.

I managed to fly out a day early, this allowed me to acclimatise but also allowed me to roam around KL for a day. 

Booked myself on to a day tour and then headed in to the night sites via the local taxis. I psyched myself up expecting a bigger version of Singapore, I was surprised that KL still had many areas that were not fully developed. The city is as expected, very nice buildings and many colorful people.

Tips I was given, I must try the local food which was great, go and shop till you drop, which is not something I am keen on as I'm planning a photography trip later in the year. I was keen to go see the Petronas Towers and the local Chinatown. Friends of mine all warned me to just watch my possessions in the markets etc. I guess the normal thing to do when traveling.

Camera wise, I was using the Fuji X-Pro 1 and armed myself with a new toy. A Fujinon 14mm f/2.8 lens. I've read quite a few reviews and I never really tried a wide except once, that was a Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L. I also came with my 35mm f/1.4 and left the zoom behind. I saw this as a challenge as I've come from a zoom learning curve in respect to photography.

So without further or do... here is my picture collection of Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur in 24 hours.

Note. when the tour guide says photo stop, it means get out you have one minute to take a photo.