Day 18

16 July 2008
0615
Hostel room

Yesterday took an hour plus nap after lunch. Woke up feeling very tired of course, as always from any sleep, and skipping PInture again was on my mind. Looking at the way SL was knocked out, I knew she wouldn’t go even though she said she would. So I went by myself.

It is not a good idea to sleep in the clothes you plan to wear later because you are too lazy to change. After I reached the class did I realise that my pants had the flannel blanket thread all over it. It took me some time to remove most of it. Hopefully the laundry can do the rest.

Again, Pintura proved to be as therapeutic as the last class. I didn’t even miss anything despite skipping 2 classes because the new theme starts in the next class; many students were unable to complete their paintings for last week’s theme. I got to do a smaller version of that theme. Drew my Barco Moliceiro in rainbow colours and wrote A Vida É Um Barco-Íris which is a play on the words barco (Boat) and arco-íris (rainbow). It looked even better than my Pandeiretas stamp painting.

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Day 17

15 July 2008
0530
Hostel room

Yesterday’s class was a bore as usual. My storybook was a pain to lug around at the beginning, but now it has proven to be more of a friend than people. At first I regretted bringing it because it seems i won’t be doing much reading, but I hope I will never underestimate the power and worth of a book the next time I travel, whether with family or a trusted friend. Insurance is always good to have, after all.

I ate lunch at the Library Cafe, tried their chicken sandwich (horrible). The I used the computer for a couple of hours and bumped into BB there. Wached the movie Jaime. Very sad, very good, though I think it should have a proper ending. All things should have, which is why I will send them an e-mail soon to clarify things on my part.

SL came back in the afternoon, bumped into her on the way to dinner.

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Macau Shopping

I love to shop in Macau. It’s cheaper than shopping in Malaysia. Here are some things I observed about shopping in Macau, from a Malaysian perspective:

1. The sales assistants are very friendly, especially the ones in branded outlets.

2. There are no proper malls there that I know of, except for the Grand Canal Shoppes in The Venetian Macao. Their shops are usually stand-alones.

3. To shop for branded products, go to the Grand Canal Shoppes and Senado Square.

4. To shop for non-branded products, go to Senado Square and the shoplots nearby the Red Market (Mercado Vermelho or Hong Kai Si in Cantonese).

5. Macau Fisherman’s Wharf is disappointing if you’re looking to shop there, because there are empty shoplots, more than half of all the shoplots. You might enjoy taking pictures of the faux volcano and Ming Dynasty buildings, though.

6. When shopping at stalls (like the ones found around Senado Square), you should haggle a bit. But don’t haggle without intention to actually buy the item. If you’re not sure you want it, walk away and think about it first.

7. Grocery shopping in Macau is fun too. There are lots of products not available in Malaysia. They can even make great souvenirs!

8. Hong Kong dollar is accepted in Macau although the Macanese currency is pataca. The exchange rate in retail is HKD$1 = MOP$1, but the actually foreign exchange rate is HKD$1 = MOP$1.03. So if you plan to do a whole lot of shopping in Macau (and you should, shopping is considerably cheaper, unless you’re from places like Thailand or Indonesia) you should change for the local currency. It might look like a small difference, but if you changed HKD$1000 = MOP$1047 (approximately). That extra $47 can buy you a meal.

9. The Macau main post office is at Senado Square, so it’s easy to send some postcards or buy some collector’s item’s stamps.

10. Shopping in Macau are usually outdoors (except in the Venetian Macao) so best to come with umbrellas and handkerchiefs to wipe your sweat if it’s summertime!

Day 16

14 July 2008
0520
Hostel room

It’s his birthday next week. I’m tempted to send him a birthday card. But he never replied my last mail. But maybe it’s because of his current circumstances. It’ll be a few more days before it marks 1 month of what happened. He is the only son in his family now; the only child, in fact, though he is definitely not a child now.

Maybe he has found someone else. or will. I do hope so. He’ll need someone to care for and be cared for.

I could have been that person, but I’m not anymore. After this experience in Macau, I know I could never be even if I wanted to. I miss my home, my family so much. There’s not a moment here in which my heart doesn’t ache for home now. I want to go home.

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Day 15

13 July 2008
0605
Hostel room

Yesterday I managed to chat with Von for about 2 hours. And with someone else for about an hour, both moaning to me about their significant others. The irony of it is so amusing; at least it kept my mind off myself for those 2 hours.

What Von has (living with her boyfriend) is always something I’d like for myself one day, but all the constant togetherness can definitely cause friction even between the two most loving people. And I’m such a sensitive and demanding person that I doubt anyone can stay in such close proximity for long periods of time save my family who has endured thus long under the name of family. Clearly evident, looking at recent events!

Went grocery shopping for one and a half hours. Boring activity but necessary, and it did fill up my time and made me walk some.

And uneventful Saturday with some nice bits in between. Much like meals at the cafeteria.

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