That's right, Macau is not only a place I've been to, but it's also a place where my boyfriend has lived for 5 years. We don't intend to shop for blood, and we don't intend to go to the casino to kill a lot of people, so why in the world does this place, which is only 30 kilometers away and can be turned around in 2 days, attract us to return to it again and again?
Strong visual impact
The visual impact of Macau is striking, and it comes from strong contrasts. The bustle of Taipa, the freshness of Coloane, the throngs of people on the main island of Macau are not enough to make it the best city in the world, or even in China. But there are very few cities that have all the contrasting elements of glitz and glamour yet simple and artistic, glitter and glamour yet dilapidated, and traffic yet orderly, all in the same city. Among these few places, Macau's small land area makes the density of various elements smaller and the visual impact stronger.
Laid-back lifestyle
Similar historical backgrounds, the same language and writing system, and the same one-country-two-systems system often lead people to compare Macau with Hong Kong, but in fact, the two cities have very different lifestyles.
Unlike Hong Kong's fast pace, Macau's local residents live a very leisurely life, which is really a slow life. The day of an ordinary small businessman in Macau is probably like this: sleep in the morning, go downstairs and have a set meal in a cafeteria for brunch, open the store at one or two o'clock in the afternoon, close the store at eight or nine o'clock in the evening, go to the stalls to have a meal with your friends, and then return home at night to watch a ball game, take a shower and go to bed.
In Hong Kong, billionaires all drive luxury cars and live on Taiping Hill, with their own private swimming pools in their villas; while the most straitened Hong Kong citizens may only live in coffin-sized bedspace rooms throughout their lives. Therefore, Hong Kong gives people the impression that although there are many rich people, there is a wide gap between the rich and the poor. Macau is different. There is no very obvious rich district in Macau, and although ordinary residents still live in old residential buildings with a dilapidated appearance, their standard of living is much higher than that of Hong Kong people.
In Hong Kong, people are generally more enterprising, preferring to study in prestigious international schools and looking forward to going to bigger platforms. Whether at home or abroad, in international companies and large groups will always encounter many Hong Kong people, the way of doing things is usually more aggressive, speak of efficiency, strong action, compared to the Macau people are few and far between. Of course, this is partly due to the fact that the population of Macau is much smaller, but the truth is that the average Macau resident prefers to stay in his or her home country and live a comfortable life.
These phenomena are mainly due to Macau's enviable welfare policies: a Macau resident is entitled to a birth allowance at birth; 15 years of free and compulsory education from kindergarten to high school, as well as book grants and various scholarships every year; the government provides actual funding for those who want to pursue further education or start a new business; and the healthcare system is completely free of charge, and if the local healthcare facilities are not sufficient, one can also apply for a transfer to another country. In case the local medical facilities in Macao are not enough to support the conditions, you can also apply for transfer to Hong Kong, Taiwan or even abroad, and reimbursement of medical expenses; retired residents enjoy nearly 70,000 yuan per year in respect of old age pension, provident fund and pension; in addition to this, the government will also give out 9,000 yuan in cash red packets to the residents every year, so that the people can really realize that the wealth is hidden in the people. As a mainland resident, I can only be envious of such a welfare policy. I've never heard of the need for residents to pay personal income tax, and I've never looked forward to the government handing out red packets!
According to 2017 statistics, Macau is the world's 3rd largest region in terms of GDP per capita. Compared to total GDP, which is used to measure a region's level of economic development, GDP per capita is more indicative of the balance and health of a region's development, as well as the happiness of its residents' lives. With such strong welfare protection, Macau residents don't need to cultivate big ambitions from childhood (much like Japan), they just need to live a smooth life and enjoy the joys of life.
Diverse cultural fusion
Macau's diversity needs no introduction, from the European-style buildings and Portuguese street signs in the streets, to the Portuguese food in the corner restaurants, to the exotic staff everywhere, all are examples of Macau's diversity. But Macau's diversity is not only reflected in its inclusiveness, but also in the way it has been transformed to form a style with local characteristics.
For example, the Portuguese tart, which I wrote about earlier, is a modified and innovative egg tart based on the traditional snack Pasteis de Nata, which is not available in Portugal. Macau's modern architecture, and even its current urban planning, is influenced by both the Western style of skyrocketing and the classical beauty of the East. Then there are the many Portuguese working in Macau who speak Cantonese far better than even I do; and some Filipino maids who use their aerobics to join in the nightly square dances.
Friendly locals
The politeness and friendliness of the people of Macau is one of the aspects of Macau that I feel most strongly about.
Once in a very narrow street in Macau, when I was crossing the street, a car drove by halfway, I stopped and prepared to let the car go by first, and the driver also stopped and made a gentlemanly gesture to let me go first.
One night I was waiting for a train at Macau Station, and asked a passer-by how many lines to take to Yaohan, and the person I met was an elderly grandfather who, fearing that I didn't understand Cantonese, slowly told me how to get there in Cantonese mixed with Mandarin, and then took out a banknote and drew a simple roadmap for the route, fearing that I wouldn't be able to understand it.
The first meal in Macau was sushi, and there were a lot of people eating it, so I had to share the table with others. The first time I was in the city, I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night. In their impression of Harbin is the whole year is snowing, they dare not go to the place, but I still invite them to have time to come to the mainland, to the north to see a different world.
At the beginning of the month, I went to Macau with my boyfriend, because all the buses in Macau do not have change, and we had already done a good job of throwing a 20 yuan bill, just another young lady came over to wait for the bus, and we asked if we could change some change. The lady searched for a long time, and finally handed us a handful of coins, she said her car is coming, let us see if this money is enough, then got on the car and left. I watched her car disappeared into the night, holding the coins in my hand, stayed for a long time.
The most moving thing about a place is always the people you meet there and the stories that happen. It is only through contact with the locals, especially the ordinary citizens, that one can truly appreciate the customs and culture of a city, and the love of the place is also born from this, right?
For many people, traveling means going to places you've never been before, but for me, I prefer to return to places I already know. Familiar streets, familiar buildings, familiar restaurants, and even familiar people attract me with a sense of intimacy and ease, like "old friends, hello again.
Macau is very small, 1 day can stroll through the main attractions, 2 days can walk through the streets and alleys, but its unique charm to attract me again and again more in-depth exploration, more thinking, and ultimately deepen the love of this city. So, Macau, see you in September for the Fireworks Festival!
About me
I'm Holiday
Airbnb signed author / traveler
Specializing in niche play and city exploration
Good at recording travel stories
Happy to share travel experiences
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