Strolling in Macau. A Visitor's Guide to Macau, Taipa, and Coloane. | 
 enlarge | Author: Steven Bailey
Publisher: ThingsAsian Press
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
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Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 467522
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 205
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5
ISBN: 0971594090
EAN: 9780971594098
ASIN: 0971594090
Publication Date: March 21, 2007
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Product Description
From its cuisine to its architecture, the southern Chinese port of Macau is truly a city of contrasts. The ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral, the iconic symbol of this former Portuguese colony, stand beside a temple devoted to Na Tcha, the monkey god. Residents practice traditional Chinese tai chi routines on European-style plazas paved in Portuguese tile. Local dishes combine the culinary traditions of Portugal and China, with additional ingredients and recipes from India, Africa, and Brazil. Ultramodern high-rises and 400-year-old colonial buildings line the city streets. Shop names and traffic signs are posted in a bilingual fusion of Cantonese and Portuguese. Unexpected contrasts like these abound in Macau, where Eastern and Western traditions have blended for nearly five centuries.
This guidebook is designed to help visitors navigate Macau's maze of narrow streets as well as understand the striking contrasts that make this city such a fascinating place to visit. With its compact size, winding back streets, and pedestrian-only lanes and plazas, Macau is best explored on foot. Though geared to those who wish to experience Macau at a walking pace, this guidebook will serve any visitor interested in the history and culture of one of Asia's most unique cities.
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| Customer Reviews:
Another Gem of the Orient December 1, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Known for centuries as a colonial backwater, Macau has undergone a dramatic transformation into a giant metropolis rivaling that of its cousin colony, Hong Kong. Being the only piece of land in China that has legalized gambling, it draws in wealth and development almost in perpetuity. Indeed, Macao is one of Asia's best kept secret.
Alluding to that, writer Steven Bailey provides a comprehensive review of the history of Macao as a Portuguese colony; its glorious age as an international entreport, the Dutch threatened invasion in the 17th century, its gradual decline into the background beneath the shadow of Hong Kong, and its recent resurrection as a cosmopolitan city to be reckoned with; all the way from 400 years ago to its return to China in 1999.
Though the casinos make an indelible imprint on Macao, this book is not written for the gambling enthusiast, as the writer insists. (If you are one, you probably won't need a travel guide book anyway). Strolling in Macau is really for the strollers. Do you like to sightsee as you walk; and drop in on some random restaurant serving local delicacies? Do you like visiting museums, lighthouses, old temples, church ruins, market vendors? Are you interested in not just the face and appearance of the city but would like to feel the very pulse and beat of it? Then you find kindred spirits in this book.
You see, behind the megaton cranes, searing skyscrapers and 5-star casino hotels, Macao contains a rich heritage of Cantonese culture mixed with Portuguese. Buildings, foods, languages, and the people are a unique East-meets-West blend.
Interestingly, in Strolling in Macao, Mr. Bailey provides not just a list of addresses as to where to go, but painstakingly maps out every step of the way; reminiscent of a treasure hunt guide. For example, after reaching the Porta d'Amaz da Fortaleza, the stroller is advised to pass through the gate to discover a `small little known cafe tucked away inside the ramparts' for a cup of good coffee and to catch the `cooling sea breeze', which would not otherwise be caught if one does not venture to the upper ramparts of the fortress.
In the spirit of contrasts, Macao stands out not only in culture and beverages (i.e. European red wine alongside Chinese brandy and herbal brews) but also in geographical landscapes. The intrepid traveler is enticed to visit the little known island of Coloane which houses 1% of Macao's population and is zoned out as a green territory for a healthy countryside hike.
Operating as a husband and wife team, Strolling in Macau provides maps and snapshots that are both picturesque and telling. It is that sort of book that is both an informative journal and a seducing advertisement.
I believe this book does much justice to this inimitable peninsula found on the tip of southern China, jutting out like appendix, not unlike Italy is to Europe. Indeed, who would have known that the romance of Europe and the esotericism of Asia can be found in this `backwater colony' of Macao?
Fantastic Guidebook October 17, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
It's alarming that this is the only guidebook devoted entirely to Macau. The good news is, it's quite good! There's a wonderful balance of practical information and anecdotal information/ideas for a trip. You can feel the author's passion for Macau and it's very inspiring.
Of course Macau is a city that is very much on the move these days, so hopefully he'll continue updating it. The guidebook is very recent, and thus very accurate -- but the scene is changing by the minute.
Bravo!
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