HONG KONG and MACAU

The FABULOUS journey continues…

HONG KONG: SHOP TILL YOU DROP
HONG KONG seems to be all about shopping and of course shopping is FABULOUS, particularly if it’s designer clothes at inexpensive prices. We stayed in TSIM SHA TSUI where there is a mall on every corner (even underground in the tunnels). My brother Evan, who loves to shop was in heaven. I, on the other hand coveted many things, but curbed my purchases to only the items I couldn’t live with out and that you can’t find in America (the most gorgeously, sexy Mary Jane stilettos and a very short mini dress).

By night, I strolled along THE AVENUE OF STARS (a copy of the Hollywood Walk of Fame only with Hong Kong celebrities) and took in the breathtaking views of the harbor’s futuristic skyline. In the day, I rode the STAR FERRY across the harbor and took THE PEAK TRAM to VICTORIA PEAK for the highest and most FABULOUS views of the city. HONG KONG’s buildings look all futuristic, like where the Jetson’s lived (SHANGHAI TOO). It’s absolutely amazing.

On the way to the airport, we went to LANTAU to see the BIG BUDDHA at PO LIN TEMPLE. As you climb the ridiculously long staircase, the bronzed Buddha seems never ending and huge. Its hands bigger than a human, it sits 34m tall and is truly breathtaking. Though nauseas from the 30-minute winding taxi ride through the mountains (the tram is closed for repairs) and exhausted from the climb up the stairs, I still thought THE BIG BUDDHA was well worth the trek.

MACAU: CANTONEASE VEGAS
MACAU is a small island off HONG KONG (20 minutes by plane). It’s the only place in CHINA where it’s legal to gamble and thus all the big casinos are making the move from Atlantic City and Las Vegas (The Sands, The Wynn and now The Venetian).

We arrived the evening before the Grand Opening. It was weird and kinda eerie to be in a vacant casino (no slot machines dinging, no weary people losing all their money, NOTHING). The Venetian in MACAU is an exact replica of the one in Vegas only with Chinese food in the restaurants, shops you’ve never heard of and Chinese writing on the signs. When the building is complete it will be the largest building in all of China. It’s HUGE! (I totally got lost roaming the halls and its not even all open yet).

The Grand Opening ceremony started with the Grand Canal shops opening at 2pm (I stayed far away since I’d already spent way too much $). Next was the concert in the stadium featuring Asian pop stars, Cirque De Soleil and of course the highlight of the show, my mom!

First on the stage was Ania, a cute pop star (A Chinese Ashley Simpson look alike) who jumped around in a leather mini skirt and was backed by a team of female dancers (back-up dancers seem to be the hot thing here. They even let my mom borrow some so she could fit in ;). Though the lyrics where in Chinese, I found my self singing along to the repetitive chorus.

Next David Toa (a heart throb in Hong Kong) greeted the audience in English then sang saucy bilingual ballads with screechy, off-key runs (though slightly terrible, he was kinda cute).

An Asian themed Cirque De Soleil delighted the audience with elements of dance, acrobatics and even a huge paper dragon (like the kind u see at a parade). It’s truly spectacular what these performers can do.

Next came Grasshopper, a Hong Kong pop trio (a super cheesy Chinese MAN band) that rocked the house in brightly colored suits and crop tops. They made me howl with laughter, but the crowd seemed to get pumped by their danceable tunes, sweet moves and colorful attire.

Alan tam, an award winning Cantonese pop star grandly dropped to the stage in a droopy red cage type thing (it resembled Madonna’s boob in her pointy bra stage). I have no idea how he got in that thing. He must have been locked up in it for the whole show. He sang his pop ballads as the crowd sang along and shimmed around the stage in his rhinestone ripped jeans (very 1982).

With a wave of his arm, out came mom looking like a princess in an amazing, yellow poofy gown. They sang a duet of Endless Love (his English barely understandable, but he was so excited that it was cute). Mom, the amazing performer that she is, commanded that arena and got the audience on their feet for the first time all night.

After the concert, the Casino opened (and was supposedly rushed by some 3,500 people ready to gamble away their savings). We headed to the Black Tie dinner in the ballroom (I wore the red dress mom accepted her BET Award in. I’m a lucky girl that I can fit in my mom’s clothes. Plus, it was the perfect traveling dress because it doesn’t wrinkle and could be shoved into my suitcase).

I sat at a table with all the young attendees (including Asian pop sensation and my new pen pal Bao Bao and all the casino owners kids). The performers from the Phantom on the Opera sang, then some Italian Opera singers pierced our ears while we dined on smelly fish dishes (Less than FABULOUS dinner). When Mom took the stage again in a red gown, the crowd left their tables and rushed the stage. Everyone was dancing in the aisles and it was FABULOUS!

After the show, we grabbed some eatable food at one of the newly opened restaurants and cruised the casino (I didn’t gamble this time, though I do play a mean hand of Black Jack).

The end of my journey was definitely more FABULOUS than the beginning. In all CHINA and HONG KONG were a great and I’m glad I went (but I’m even more happy to be home ;)