Macau: Söndag 2

After a very cozy cup of coffee and a rain down-pour this morning, I went out with the woman I am staying with, her boyfriend, his son, and his wife-to-be. We went out to lunch at the same beautiful mall as yesterday and walked around a bit where I fell in love with a Juicy Couture and Versace dresses. Maybe a Marc purse too :).

The mall is connected to a very luxurious Four Seasons hotel where we went to look at their largest banquet hall where their son and fiancée would be getting married. Very gorgeous room with high ceilings, large chandeliers and polished wood walls. Apparently the hall was too small for the 500 guests they wished to invite.... The wedding takes place next september so I can maybe return to attend (as invited). :)

It was nice not to have to work today and experience a bit of Macau life. I have noticed Chinese like to chew with their mouths open. Big problem of mine and really quite unpleasant to watch. Today I got offered chicken's feet but couldn't bring myself to try it. Instead I ended up eating a medicinal jelly actually made from herbs and ground turtle shell...how sad.

For now I must go try to decipher what one of the Philippino housemaid is trying to tell me. For some reason she thinks I understand her language. My clueless face and inability to speak in return isn't a hint enough...

Weekend 1!

Spent 80% of my Saturday drawing softshell jackets for my client. It's been quite stressful and I am very exhausted. Had lunch at a very fancy mall by the casinos and walked around, checking out the different styles of jackets shops had. Unfortunately I may need to work tomorrow, which is not so fun. Not the best first-weekend here! Well it's all a part of the learning experience :)

The outdoor mall..indoors!

Yes, the indoor mall had a river.

First Weekend!

Unfortunately I don't get to celebrate. I'm working all day tomorrow at home to meet an urgent deadline for a large collection for Summer 2012. A bunch of jackets, pants, training shirts and the such. Wohoo...

For now, I treat myself to a relaxing evening. Hot cocoa and a movie :)

Macau: Day 3

Today was my first day at the office! We went in a little later (10.00) only after we went out for breakfast which is apparently standard for all Chinese (they think it's odd to eat breakfast at home). I was in the office for a few hours then we went to lunch and after attempted to get an extended visa for me (not the one-day visa I got yesterday). However I had to first book a ticket out of the country within the next 4-6 months so I could get the visa, so now I have my Christmas ticket booked! :)

Ah-mazing. Sweetly glazed bun filled with BBQ pork. Odd sounding, I know. But so good.

A little gift :)

A lovely little gift from the woman I'll be working for and whose spare flat I am staying in. Makes me wish I hadn't bought my DKNY perfume before leaving the US.

Macau: Day 2

For the record I probably won't be keeping track of the next months day-by-day but the first few are the important ones! Today I woke up feeling better than yesterday so I traveled over to the border (to mainland), and after having a complication with passports and needing to cross back and forth 3 times thru control, 3,5 hours later, i had a visa!

We spent the rest of the day (what was left of it) at a spa, which I can say without hesitation is not for me. I found myself quite tense and uneasy the whole time. Not so much a luxurious feeling for me.

Other than that it was enjoyable seeing a little more of the cities I'll be living in and around. It seems to have quite the nightlife too.

The main marketplace just beyond the boarder in Mainland China

Macau: Day 1

So I woke up around 11.30 feeling quite unwell today. I think it's jetlag but it may have been food poisoning from last night too. I was on my way to get my worker's visa buuut didn't make it far before the few contents of my stomach ended up in a local gutter.. needless to say I've been lying idly in bed since then.

Here are pictures that basically cover the layout of the flat I'm staying in. Very nice and modern, newly redone. My room is a bit bland and cold but I think I'll survive :).

Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for my stomach...

Living room

Kitchen

My Bedroom (not nearly as impressive as the rest of the flat)

Macau: Upon Arrival

After a 15 hour flight, a misguidance on how to get to the ferry which resulted in a 45min taxi ride to downtown Hong Kong where I had to take the hour-long ferry to Macau. I am finally in my bed after having eating my first (rather extravagant) meal. Made at home, we had shark fin soup, lobster w/ ramen, baby crabs, fish and vegetables. I'm sure there was some chicken too but I didn't eat it :).

This city is strange but really beautiful and lit up by enormous casinos and hotels that tower so high they almost vanish into the clouds. Some buildings have such unusual shapes I'm not sure how they stand. It's almost not nighttime with all the lights.

Now jetlag is kicking my ass. More later.

Travel....

On the bus now headed to O'hare Airport.. Got up nice and early to prepare for the 15,5 hour flight I'm about to endure. 1 bag, 23kg, I'm not sure how I did it but barely managed to make it work. I'll bring more clothes over Christmas :).

Some more photos from my brother's basic training graduation. All the smoke provided for a wonderful photo opportunity. It was a pretty cool ceremony.

Georgia!

Got to surprise my younger brother by flying to Georgia (postponing my trip to China by 2 days) for his basic training graduation. It's been very nice! I'm happy I came to see him. Unfortunately today was my only full day here.. tomorrow I fly back home to finalize packing and leave early for China on Saturday. One long 12 hour flight to come...