Thursday, October 28, 2004
Monday, October 25, 2004
Casino deal in the bag, says Leighton
The Standard ----Top Story
Casino deal in the bag, says Leighton
Keith Wallis
Leighton Asia (Northern), the Hong Kong-based subsidiary of Australia's largest construction contractor, says it has been awarded a HK$2 billion contract to design and build Steve Wynn's hotel and casino complex in Macau, confirming a report in The Standard yesterday.
The project will be done in a 50:50 joint venture with China State Construction Engineering Corp.
When completed, it will feature a hotel tower containing 600 rooms, gaming areas, nine restaurants, a shopping arcade, a ballroom and meeting rooms, a health club and spa and an underground carpark.
Design work is being done by Hong Kong firm, Wong & Ouyang.
Construction is to start this year for completion by the fourth quarter of 2006.
Leighton Asia (Northern) managing director Will Hamilton said the five-star complex would become a Macau landmark and that ``this project pushes our work in hand in Hong Kong, Macau and China to HK$5.3 billion, the highest it has ever been''.
Gaming Subject Research Guide: History of Slot Machines
Gaming Subject Research Guide: History of Slot Machines
Gambling is one of the oldest human activities in the world history. Ancient Egyptian artifacts from 2000 BC show gambling as a sport. Moreover, it is found that other old cultures such as India, Greece and Native Americans also had their own gambling cultures. Gambling has a long history and it has been innovated for thousands years. One of the most important innovations in the gambling history is the introduction of mechanical games --- slot machines. This research paper introduces you to the 100-year history of slot machines, which is relatively short but contains abundant stories.
Friday, October 22, 2004
Government Printing Bureau
Government Printing Bureau (Macao SAR) - Welcome:
"However, some of the documents maybe found in English. Please note that only the Chinese and Portuguese versions published in MSAR Gazette are official. Therefore, you should not act or rely on any of these materials without seeking legal advice when appropriate."
Macao Tourism and Casino Centre
Macao Tourism and Casino Centre
CCC provides high-quality tailored training courses for those who wish to seek employment in the tourism and gaming industry in particular and the work force of Macao in general.
Government Printing Bureau - Manual de Funcionamento e Reparação de Slot-Machines
Government Printing Bureau - Manual de Funcionamento e Reparação de Slot-Machines:
"Manual de Funcionamento e Reparação de Slot-Machine"
Macau builds a brighter future
Classified Post Online: "
THE BOOMING PROPERTY market in Macau has given rise to job opportunities for construction professionals in Hong Kong, where the industry is facing slower growth.
China Construction Engineering (Macau), a subsidiary of China Overseas Holdings, is looking to hire at least 70 people at middle level or above by next year to work on projects in Macau.
Tian Shuchen, the company's general manager, said the value of construction projects in Macau had reached about $1.7 billion this year, rising from $500 million in 2001. He believes the figure will remain at a similar level, if not grow higher, in the coming years."
China link to Portuguese
China link to Portuguese:
"Far from shrinking from Macao's colonial past, city leaders have restored and illuminated such colonial landmarks as churches, forts, hospitals, theaters, museums, an observatory and the governor's palace. Rare for a modern Asian city, the historic preservation has been so extensive that Macao is expected to win recognition next year from Unesco, the UN educational and scientific organization, as a world heritage site"
Macau News.Net
Macau News.Net
Updating news headlines from Macau regional and global sources. Business, sport and weather. Link to a map of Macau, local newspapers and official sites. One of the most comprehensive news sites on the web.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Good Life Goes On
TIMEasia.com | Travel Watch 04/05/99: "Macau Awaits Its Fate, but the Good Life Goes On
Illustration for TIME by Samantha Newstead
By SHIRLEY BRADY
Going to Macau is like having an affair. You don't so much journey there as slip away for a weekend or a day, usually as a sidetrip from a more prosaic travel experience in nearby Hong Kong. You may be charmed instantly, but you know it's only a temporary diversion. Macau's cobblestoned streets, winding alleys, pastel-hued European architecture and leisurely pace give the Portuguese colony an appealing 'Why hurry?' air. Which is odd, given that change is most definitely coming. The grande dame of local hotels, the Bela Vista, closes this week (to be remodelled as the future residence of the Portuguese consul-general). And on Dec. 20 the enclave reverts to Chinese rule. But panic is not a word in Macau's vocabulary--the handover is a done deal, so why not chill out over a glass of vinho verde?
"
Ricci, Matteo
Ricci, Matteo
Ricci, Matteo , 1552–1610, Italian missionary to China. He entered the Society of Jesus, and in Rome he studied under Clavius. Ricci was sent to the Indies (1578), and he worked at Goa and Cochin until 1582, when he was called to Macao to enter China. In 1583 he and his companion, Father Michele Ruggieri settled in Guangdong prov., studying the language and culture. They found ready acceptance among some officials, for the Chinese took an intense interest in their possessions, such as clocks and Western paintings. The missionaries wrote tracts on Christianity, including a dialogue. Father Ricci's aptitude for languages and his respect for the Chinese classics increased his standing among the officials; by 1589 he had adopted the dress of the literati. In 1595, Father Ricci, now alone, moved to Nanchang, a center of erudition, where he stayed until 1597, when he went to Nanjing. He was twice turned away from Beijing, but in 1601 he was allowed entrance to the capital. There he became a court mathematician and astronomer; he made few converts, but he brought Christianity into good repute. He helped translate many Western works on mathematics and the sciences into Chinese. His maps were eagerly perused by the Chinese, who gained from him their first notion of modern Europe. In return, Ricci sent back to Europe the first modern detailed report on China. He composed a number of treatises, the principal being a catechism, True Doctrine of God, which was widely printed in China.
See H. Bernard, Matteo Ricci's Scientific Contribution to China (1937, repr. 1973); L. J. Gallagher, China in the Sixteenth Century: The Journals of Matteo Ricci (1953); V. Cronin, The Wise Man from the West (1955).
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Paintings and Calligraphies
“Rules by the Masters - Paintings and Calligraphies by Ba Da and Shi Tao - Collections from the Palace Museum and Shanghai Museum
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Sunday, October 17, 2004
The Big Bang / Getting Money - THE GLOBAL TRIP 2004
The Big Bang / Getting Money - THE GLOBAL TRIP 2004: "wandered nighttime Macau for a bit, wearing my new shirt and new do of course, walking passed the flashy neon signs of the casino area and the nighttime fisherman trying to catch a bite from the promenade of the bay. I had grilled filet of Macanese sole and a couple of Macau Beers and then head into the Casino Lisboa (picture above) -- one of the bigger ones on the mainland peninsula -- with the confidence of a high-roller. So money baby."
Portuguese Chinese - THE GLOBAL TRIP 2004
Portuguese Chinese - THE GLOBAL TRIP 2004: "DOWN FROM THE FORT, I walked passed the 17th century Church of S�o Paolo -- once hailed as the 'greatest Christian monument in east Asia' (according to Rough Guide), which was now just a fa�ade since it burned down in 1835 -- and then down into an area where classic Portuguese streets slowly gradually turned into modern Chinese ones as I walked from block to block. The walking tour took me passed the Church of Santo Agostinho, the Dom Pedro V Theater, the Church of S�o Louren�o and the former Moorish barracks, now the offices of the Maritime Police.
"
Macau Grand Prix
BootsnAll.com - Macau - November 1999:
"The streets of Macau will be turned into a race track for two days of motor racing. The Grand Prix will include Formula Three, sportcars, motorcycle races throughout the weekend.
The premier event of the Macau Grand Prix is the Formula Three series. It serves as the 'Master' event for Formula Three. In Europe, young and aspiring drivers will compete in different national F-3 championships. At the end of the year, the top runners from those national championship will come to Macau to test their mettle against each other. It is the most important race in the world at that level."
Vilander takes Lola-Dome to head of Italian points
Crash.Net:
"Whatever the outcome from the last double-header of the Italian campaign, Misano won't mark the last action for the Coloni team this season. The Italian squad is planning to contest the traditional races in Macau, as well as the new event at the hi-tech Bahrain circuit which opened earlier this year. Coloni has already recruited respected engineer Peter Berry - formerly of UK team Duma - to oversee its two cars at the 'flyaway' events."
Friday, October 15, 2004
Macau Photos & Pictures - China Gallery
Macau Photos & Pictures - China Gallery: "Macau : below is a list of the photos and pictures I took in Macau. Click the thumbnails to see the corresponding photos and pictures of Macau. For these photos and pictures, the digital camera I used was a Fuji Finepix MX-1700Z (for more information on the digital cameras, lenses and software I used to build this website, follow the link 'About' below). At the bottom of the page you can also find a world map showing where Macau is. Finally at the top of the page you can find a link to sign my guestbook, and a link to search for photos and pictures on benoa.net. Enjoy your visit :-)"
St. Paul's Cathedral ruins (1602)
Asian Historical Architecture
The most dramatic symbol of Macau is the towering facade of the Jesuit church of the Mother of God (Madre de Deus), commonly known as St. Paul's (Sao Paulo). This was the church of the adjoining St. Paul's college, the first western college in east Asia--where the noted Jesuits Matteo Ricci and Adam Schall and other studied. Designed by an Italian and built by Japanese craftsmen beginning in 1602, its stunning Spanish-style retable-facade with four colonnaded tiers, made it the grandest Christian edifice in Asia. A fire that started in the kitchen of the college in 1835, however, destroyed both the college and the church, so that all that remains today is the facade with its marvelous statues and reliefs.
Asian Historical Architecture
Asian Historical Architecture
Bibliography:
All images copyright 2000-2001 Professor Robert D. Fiala of Concordia University, Nebraska, USA
Text by Robert D. Fiala.
Much pix and a little text .........
tastingmenu.com - November 2002
tastingmenu.com - November 2002
Wednesday, November 27, 2002, 12:19AM
There's a chain of bakeries across Asia called Lord Stow's Bakery. I believe their headquarters are on the island of Macau. On their business card they claim to be the "creator of the Egg Tart now famous throughout Asia". "Andrew's Egg Tart" specifically. What's an egg tart? A little flakey cup filled with an eggy custardy filling. The whole thing is baked and sweet. Yummy. Definitely try one if you see one of these grab a snack.
Westin Resort Macau Scores Again
Westin Resort Macau Scores Again: "Westin Resort Macau Scores Again
The Westin Resort Macau
Coloane, Macau Go Back | Printer Friendly Version
An aerial view of The Westin Resort Macau.
The Westin Resort Macau was recently voted as one of the top seaside resorts in China by the National Geographic Magazine.
This is the third accolade that The Westin Resort Macau has received over the past 11 months. The Westin Resort Macau was voted as the number one Resort in Greater China and the 7th best Resort in Asia by Asia-Hotels.com in October of 2002."
Taipa And Coloane
Taipa And Coloane: "Taipa And Coloane
The Westin Resort Macau
Coloane, Macau Go Back | Printer Friendly Version
Macau has often been portrayed as an exciting destination full of entertainment. In recent times, however, a new trend has emerged. There has been a steady growth of visitors heading off to the neighboring islands of Taipa and Coloane to experience the charming and laid-back side of Macau. These islands, especially Coloane, epitomize the true spirit of Macau which is a melting pot of traditions and modernity, a fusion of eastern flavors and Mediterranean influences."
Macau, Recommended Tours
Macau, Macau Your Complete Guide To Macau
Essential Macau – The City Centre
The city centre forms the vibrant heart of Macau and is easy to explore by foot in a day. The stately Leal Senado is a natural starting point, and is well worth a visit. A quick stride across to the other side of the Avenida Almeida Ribeiro leads to the picturesque Largo do Senado, Macau's town square.
Colonnades shield shops and cafes from the sun, and the central fountain cools the air. Near the far end of the square is Sao Domingos, with its ornate stucco walls and green shutters. Inside the church there is a museum detailing the history of Catholicism in Asia.
For fortification, a walk along the Travessa de Sao Domingos should yield a few likely cafes and restaurants. Early birds should head for Bolo de Arroz with its sandwiches, cakes and cappuccinos. If lunch is on the cards, then Restaurante Platao with outside seating, is worth exploring.
At the far end of the Largo de Senado, a left-hand turn leads you up to a narrow street lined with furniture shops, a trade for which Macau is famous. After fending off those traders offering bargain-priced Chinese antiques, it is time to head up the wide stone steps to the very imposing Ruinas de Sao Paulo. Beyond the ruins, there is a crypt containing relics of martyrs from Japan and Vietnam, and the Museum of Sacred Art, which exhibits artworks from Macau's defunct churches and monasteries.
Following all that religious edification, time to head off to the neighbouring Monte Fort, which is reached by a small path just next to the church ruins. Apart from the fantastic views from the old fort ramparts across the city over to China, there is also the Museum of Macau to wander around. Well worth a look, especially since it is air-conditioned!
Once sufficiently cooled off, the next stop is the St. Michael Cemetery--best reached by exiting the fort from its southern entrance and heading along the Rua de Sanches de Miranda to the Estrada do Cemiterio. This route leads you past the entrance to the cemetery.
Further on, the Estrada do Cemiterio crosses over the Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida--short road names are hard to come by in Macau! Heading north along this busy Avenida will lead you past some more wonderful relics of Macau's colonial beginnings and on to the Lou Lim Ioc Garden for a relaxing stroll and welcome rest.
Refreshed, it is on to the Sun Yat Sen Memorial House for some revolutionary history and splendid architecture. You can reach The Memorial House by crossing the Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida and heading a little further north before turning into the Rua de António Basto. The Memorial House is located along the Rua de Silva Mendes.
If at this stage a cup of tea and some nibbles is called for, then the restaurants and lounge at the Mondial Hotel might be the place.
Next, it is off to the Flora Gardens and up to the top of Guia Hill via Macau's one and only cable car. Located up on the hill are the Guia Fort, Lighthouse and Chapel. With all of Macau at its feet, Guia Hill is a must for stunning city and harbour views, especially at sunset.
Other tour ideas
Anyone looking for more than just a walk around the city centre should head south along the peninsula. Here the once sinful Rua da Felicidade leads up to hills topped with religious landmarks. Santo Agostinho and St. Joseph's stand side by side, next to the Dom Pedro V Theatre, while Sao Lorenco and Penha Chapel are a little further along. Elegant Portuguese mansions, in the form of the Former Government House, the Portuguese Consul's Residence and Santa Sancha, dot the hillsides. At the tip of the peninsula, the bustling A-Ma Temple provides a cultural contrast, while the Maritime Museum explores the territory's seafaring history. Not far away, the remnants of the historic Barra Fort provide a contrast to the ultra-modern Gate of Understanding, which stands amid new developments, linking old and new.
Anyone spending more than a day in Macau should venture out to the islands of Taipa and Coloane. Taipa village has a wealth of historic treasures, while not far away the Macau Jockey Club and Racetrack comes alive during race meetings.
For a little peace and quiet you cannot surpass Coloane. The island's village is great for a stroll and provides an ideal starting point for a tour of the island, maybe by hired mini-moke or even by bicycle. Following the southern shoreline leads to Cheoc Van Beach and then on to the much larger Hac Sa Beach. If a hike is the order of the day, then it is best to head for the Seac Pai Van Park, which is the gateway to one of Macau's least well-known treasures--lush countryside.
Text and Photo by Emma Twite Davies.
Eskimo 4
Macau, Macau Your Complete Guide To Macau
Eskimo 4
18 Rua da Palha
Macau, Macau
Tel: +853 373 726
Fax: +853 521 995
There are five Eskimo bars located around Macau, Taipa and Coloane all told, each one following the same format: Chinese health drinks with a lot more panache than usual. This outlet is for take-away only. The road itself is a well-trod path for tourists heading to the Ruinas de Sao Paulo, and a juice here will be more than a little refreshing.
Iced Chrysanthemum Tea, Honey Dew Juice, Iced Green Tea and Milk Honey Iced Green Chrysanthemum Juice are the specialities. Prices range all the way from around MOP6 to MOP8 a drink--unbeatable value.
Open Hours: 8am-midnight daily
Jazz Club
Macau, Macau Your Complete Guide To Macau: "Jazz Club
9 Rua das Alabardas
Macau, Macau
Tel: 853 596 014
The best time to visit this funky place is at weekends, when the live music starts at around 10pm and rocks on to the early hours. The Jazz Club claims to be one of the oldest jazz bars in the region, and judging by the interior that claim might well be justified. Slightly tatty, but full of character, this place just wallows in the sounds and history of the music. Beer and spirits are available at reasonable prices, especially when you compare them with what you would have to pay at a similar venue in neighbouring Hong Kong.
Open Hours: 6pm-2am daily"
Macau, Macau Your Complete Guide To Macau
Macau, Macau Your Complete Guide To Macau: "Landmark Bakery
Shop 121, Macau Landmark
555 Avenida De Amizade
Macau, Macau
Shopping is hard work! So, if the hunger pangs have set in remorselessly, head for this small but colourful bakery. Filling the glass-fronted counter are many delicious temptations. For those with a taste for savouries, there are plenty of filled rolls, sandwiches, croissants and pies. Anyone craving something sweeter can choose from a tooth-decaying selection of cakes and pastries. The bakery does whole cakes as well, just right for that special occasion. Purchases can be packed as a take-away for those in a rush. Alternatively there are some comfy chairs and tables for eating in.
Open Hours: 8am-8pm daily"
Macau, Macau Your Complete Guide To Macau
Macau, Macau Your Complete Guide To Macau: "Lord Stow's Bakery
Colane Village Square
Macau, Macau
Tel: 853 882 534
Fax: 853 881 066
The award winning Lord Stow's Bakery is a local favourite and celebrated by Japanese tourists. Though small, this neighbourhood bakery boasts a wide selection of cakes, breads and pastries. On the 'worth trying' list is their healthy egg white cake loaf, Portuguese-style egg tart and mud cake. The open-fronted bakery, featuring a floor tiled with small green mosaic tiles, also makes customized foods upon request. Not particularly expensive and definitely worth a try.
Open Hours: 7 am-11pm Thu-Tue; 7am-6pm Wed"
Macau, Macau Your Complete Guide To Macau
Macau, Macau Your Complete Guide To Macau: "Casa da Pasto
5-7 San Mak Tang Po
Macau, Macau
Tel: 853 332 009
This very popular and well-established vegetarian restaurant serves up excellent Chinese dishes at unbeatable prices. The interior is nothing special, just a collection of plastic tables and chairs, and enough space to balance a tray of food and weave your way from counter to waiting friends.
Famous for its amazing set menu, you get a choice of three vegetarian dishes, plus rice, noodles, congee and dessert for around MOP20. If there are three in your group you can order two sets for roughly MOP40 and pay a MOP10 surcharge for the third person--great value.
Open Hours: 9am-10pm daily"
TIMEasia.com | Travel Watch 10/05/98
TIMEasia.com | Travel Watch 10/05/98: "SHORT CUTS
MAKE TARTS, NOT WAR: Macau's egg tarts are tickling palates across Asia. A dozen Macanese-style bakeries opened in Taipei this past summer, selling up to 60,000 of the creamy pasteis de nata daily, sparking three-hour long queues and sending Taiwan's egg prices soaring to $1.68 a kg, up from $0.32 in January. Hong Kong's nata fans have also been jamming sidewalks since its first egg-tarts-only bakery opened in December. Three rival bakeries are now competing in the daan tat (as they're called locally) sweepstakes, plus the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kowloon--which sells up to 1,200 tarts a day--and select KFC branches. When and where did the fad start? Depends on whom you believe. Lord Stow's Bakery, started by Andrew Stow, a British pharmacist, has been selling nata in Macau's Coloane Village since 1989; his ex-wife now runs two rival egg-tart bakeries. But local pastry chef Elias da Silva claims he brought the recipe to Macau first. Meanwhile, the tarts continue to sell like hot cakes."
On a winning streak - ArchiveAsia - Travel
On a winning streak - ArchiveAsia - Travel: "On a winning streak
July 2, 2004
Where old and new meet ... Macau, a getaway for Hong Kong residents, is a beacon for shopping, eating and gambling.
The Chinese city with a Portuguese accent is cashing in on its new popularity, reports Charmaine Chan.
The American diarist Harriet Low lambasted Macau for being intolerably hilly, irregular and horribly paved. However, working from her attic on one of the city's steep, cobblestone roads, she also declared how much she loved its vibe. 'I cannot conceive of people calling this a dull place,' she wrote. 'I am pulled about in every direction.'
Although Low lived in the former Portuguese enclave in the 1830s, she could have been describing 21st-century Macau, a Chinese hub on the Pearl River delta that is higgledy-piggledy, steep in parts and a no-no for high heels. But it is also a cultural Janus, one side Asian, the other Latin, and an arresting clash of new and old."
The Lady - Visit Macau in the South China Sea
The Lady - Visit Macau in the South China Sea: "MAGICAL MACAU THE RUINS OF ST PAUL'S
Maxine Crawford-Taylor visits the former Portuguese enclave in the South China Sea, as the Chinese Year of the Snake dawns
Many of us can remember the spectacular, midnight handover in Hong Kong in June 1997, when Britain returned power to the People's Republic of China in a blaze of fireworks. But just 50 miles across the water, on the western edge of the Pearl River Delta, another territory under European administration was hot on the heels of its neighbour.
On 20 December 1999, the Portuguese enclave Macau relinquished its mantle as the oldest European outpost in Asia and became, like Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of China. Under the present agreement, the region is guaranteed a high degree of autonomy for at least the next 50 years and it remains very proud of its Latin influences. The unique cuisine, a thriving Catholic Church and fine colonial architecture all hint at a relationship that has existed for almost 500 years."
thatsmagazines.com - Beijing Features
thatsmagazines.com - Beijing Features: "Bright Lights, Little City
It's the perfect time to witness Macau at a crossroads
Text and photos by Lisa Chiu
The chain-smoking general manager of one of Macau's largest resorts is speeding, causing the four passengers in the backseat of his BMW to be whipped left and right as he rounds the corners of Coloane island. I'm one of them. I'm trying to take in the scenery of this tropical island in the moonlight but 50 Cent is blasting from the speakers and it's hard to think about Macenese history when 'I'm a P-I-M-P...' is reverberating in my ears.
In the short time I've been in Macau, I often feel this way. There's culture in every step, but invariably you're distracted by the glittering casino lights, the thousands of mainland tourists that pour in each day and the dodgy characters that crowd the streets by night.
Visitors to this former Portuguese colony come to gamble and say they've been to the 'Monte-Carlo-Vegas of the East.' And while it's easy and hackneyed to put a Western simile on it, the recent liberalization of the casino industry and growing numbers of mainland tourists are actually making Macau a very complex place as it undergoes an amazing and awkward rebirth.
'I was born in Macau, I live in Macau and I'll die in Macau,' says Cheang Chi Tat, a 34-year-old DJ for the AM rock station Radio Vilaverde. 'I lived in Hong Kong for a month, and it's so different. In Hong Kong, even if you're just going to dinner with friends, you need to plan what time,when and where. Here you just pick up the phone and say come to dinner.'
The laid-back atmosphere is evident everywhere. Business calls are never made between eleven-thirty and two-thirty - that's lunch 'hour.' Forget about getting anything done on a Friday, and it's customary to wait a week for someone to return a call.
To be here is to learn to appreciate that, in a world where every minute is planned, some places operate just fine on their own schedule. Perhaps it's the influence of nearly 450 years of Portugese rule - something else that's evident everywhere on this island.
From baroque Catholic churches, to remnants of forts and garrisons and every single street name, Portugal's influence never really left Macau after 1999. Excellent examples of colonial architecture can be found on any corner."
Hong Kong/Macau - Main Counrty Page [Accommodating Asia]
Hong Kong/Macau - Main Counrty Page [Accommodating Asia]: "Macau
It's neighbour across the Pearl River, on the other hand boasts a rich mix of Portuguese and Chinese traditions and is charming in all of its manifestations. Although those of Chinese ancestry make up more than 95% of the population, there has been much more of a melding of the two cultures here than can be seen between the British and the Chinese in Hong Kong.
The cities roller-coaster existence is fascinating. Macau was once one of the richest cities in world when it was literally the gate keeper between China and western trade. However, those heady times gave way to some early tourism ventures when Hong Kong assumed the prime east west trading role after the Opium Wars. The only location in the region where it was legalized, gambling became a major source of revenue for the enclave. Cultural events such as westerns musical reviews and opera also attracted visitors and the number of hotels and restaurants grew to handle the influx. Portugal's' neutral stance during Wold War II resulted in its being spared the devastation of others around it and it became a sanctuary for refugees from Hong Kong and the China Coast, swelling its population until the churches and theatres were brimming with cots.
Now a Special Administrative Region of China (since December 1999), Macau's charm remains in it's unique blend of Old World Portugal and New World China.
Tourism continues to be the majority of Macau's revenue base and, although gambling alone contributes to over 50% of the government budget, you don't have to go near the casinos to truly experience it's best. No other city in Asia can boast Grand Prix car racing, renowned cultural festivals that bring life to the city throughout the year, and such a fascinating mix of temples and churches. "
Escape to the Islands 2004 : Taste
Escape to the Islands 2004 : Taste: "THIS WAY TO DESSERT
In Chinatown, there is always room for dessert. Why not try an egg tart from Lord Stow's Bakery along Ongpin Street? The egg tart has become a popular dessert in Chinese teahouses but ironic as it seems, it was the English that introduced this treat to the Chinese. Perhaps it was the Brit influence in the Hong Kong teahouses that started this fascination for that sweet tasting egg tart.
The egg tart is a baked pastry with custard filling. It can be served hot or cold, and either way it tastes good. Lord Stow's egg tarts are just the right size, a perfect individual-sized pie with a flaky but crunchy crust and sugary but not overpowering sweetness. Served with a hot drink, the tarts are a perfect end to any meal or it can be eaten as an afternoon snack.
Lord Stow's bakery also offers other treats including Japanese Cheesecake, Egg White Cake and bite size ube and cheese flavored ensaymadas. According to branch manager Stanley Uy, apart from their famous egg tarts, the Egg White cake is one of the most popular choices among their customers, especially the elderly. The Egg White Cake is not sugar based thus it is best for people who can not take in sugar but still want to have their cake, and, well, eat it too!
Lord Stow's, which has its roots in Macau, also has several branches in other parts of Metro Manila, but it somehow tastes different within the context of the Chinatown experience."
Escape.com.au - Stalking history [May 23, 2004]
Escape.com.au - Stalking history [May 23, 2004]
Stalking history
By Mike Smith
May 23, 2004
IT'S a gentle and absorbing stroll across the wave-patterned, mosaic pavement of Macau's famous Senado (Senate) Square.
Macau
View from the Macau Tower Skywalk
Camera-toting sightseers rub shoulders with local shoppers hunting bargains and something to eat between purchases.
Cars aren't allowed, and the only vehicle in sight is a green trishaw.
On each side square are brightly painted reminders of Portugal's architectural past, among them the 16th century Lady of Mercy and the classically symmetrical facade of the former Senate.
Stroll further along the central avenue, Almeida Ribeiro (San Ma Lo), past the 17th century baroque architecture of St Dominic's Church, and you're standing alongside bronze statues below the stone stairs of Macau's most famous icon – the ruins of St Paul's.
The historic facade of the Jesuit church, once described as the greatest church east of Rome, is the only feature to have survived an 1835 fire. The carvings etched on the citadel's wall tell the story of Christianity in Asia.
Historic Macau is at its intriguing best as we continue the walk along the back lanes, along footpaths lined with Chinese-style clothing shops and medicine stores, small museums and tea houses.
It's more than three years since the People's Republic of China resumed sovereignty from Portugal over the gambling centre of Macau, yet little impact has been made on everyday life in and around the old town.
If anything, Macau has become a more commercial link to the outside world. New casinos and hotels are popping up with the speed of a roulette wheel.
Like modern Hong Kong with its British upbringing, Macau is a designated Special Administrative Region and, like its neighbour, a 50-minute jetfoil trip away, operates on a "one country, two systems" principle.
Macau's pataca will still buy the groceries, drinks and meals, and Portuguese continues to be spoken in the bars, clubs and restaurants.
Macanese cuisine – a mix of Portuguese, Brazilian, Malay, Indian and Chinese – is renowned. The aroma of freshly baked cookies and bread and slices of fried, marinated meats draws customers to the tiny stores any time of day.
Sampling the spicy dishes is as much a part of a Macau experience as hopping in a tourist coach for a visit to the ancient Chinese temples of A-Ma and Lin Fong, the city's cathedral and Sao Lourenco Church with its white towers, and hilltop Penha Church.
Head across to the tiny island of Coloane, to a small village shop with a modest bakery, and you're likely to meet Englishman aristocrat Andrew Stow, the creator of Macau's famous and delectable egg tart.
Lord Stow, who settled on the island in 1989, decided to bake the tart after a visit to Portugal where he fell in love with a similar sweet in the teeming Lisbon waterfront area of Belem.
To foodies, his creation is as much an icon of Macau as the Portuguese architecture of the old town.
# The writer was a guest of the Macau Government Tourist Office, the Westin Resort Macau and Cathay Pacific. AT A GLANCE
# Getting there: Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong, jetfoil from airport or Hong Kong Island to Macau.
# Stay: Westin Resort Macau, on Coloane, has 208 rooms and a golf course. 1800 656 535, www.westin.com
# Worth visiting: Ruins of St Paul's, Senado Square, Temple of A-Ma, Penha Church, Macau Grand Prix Museum and adjacent Wine Museum, Avenida da Praia Residences on Taipa, Macau Tower for bird's-eye view of city and Chinese mainland or a $30 skywalk. www.macautower.com.mo
# More: www.macautourism.gov.mo
The Sunday Times
Foreign Correspondents' Club Hong Kong
Foreign Correspondents' Club Hong Kong:
"MACAU ONE YEAR LATER It has been a year since Macau joined the exclusive fraternity of SAEs. How has it fared? Warren Rooke reports When Edmond Ho Hau-wah became the first Chief Executive of Macau on December 20, 1999, he promised he would use his first few months in office to study and evaluate in which direction to take the new Special Administrative Region following 450 years of Portuguese presence."
Capsicum may be synonymous with Spanish and Hungarian cuisine
Capsicum
Capsicum may be synonymous with Spanish and Hungarian cuisine (think gazpacho or gulyás), but neither Europe nor India used capsicum until the 1500s, when they were brought back from the New World by Christopher Columbus; they then made their way to Portuguese colonies in Goa and Macau.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
davidmetraux.com: Macau
davidmetraux.com: Macau
Macau presents the visitor with an unlikely mix of two drastically different cultures: Portugal and China. The Portuguese settled this 16km peninsula of China (near Hong Kong) almost 450 years ago, and over time the two cultures have joined together as one. I've had the opportunity to visit Macau twice, once in 1999 and once in January 2000, only three weeks after control of the enclave returned to China. On my first visit to Macau I was impressed with the strange beauty of Portuguese architecture mixed with ancient Chinese. The food is spectacular and the city is quaint and charming.
Sadly, when I returned in 2000, I surprised to see that the city had already lost a lot of its Portuguese "color". I talked to a local merchant who said that about 90% of the Portuguese citizens had been repatriated. Also, continued reclamation of the ocean by the Chinese is ruining the quaintness that Macau once had, as it is rapidly being developed for commercial reasons, without regard to Macau's uniquely historic atmosphere. Visit this jewel before it is too late!
Friday, October 08, 2004
Turning Macanese
This quirky ex-Portuguese outpost on the Pearl River Delta is often given the whirlwind day-trip treatment by visitors to Hong Kong. But being quieter, more relaxed and less expensive by far than its neighbour, Macau deserves more thorough exploration. Visitors adore the reminders of its colonial past – back lanes of crumbling European-style buildings, tiled street signs, mosaic pavements, a main square that wouldn't look out of place in Lisbon, and menus promising grilled sardines, bacalhau and vinho verde. Sadly, rampant development and shoreline reclamation has radically changed the face of this busy Chinese urban centre, but there are still corners of serenity – and plenty more to discover. The following is a selection – by no means comprehensive – of some of the best experiences that Macau has to offer.
CIA - The World Factbook -- Macau
CIA - The World Factbook -- Macau
CIA Homepage
The World Factbook 2004 printed version provides a "snapshot" of the world as of 1 January, 2004.
The online Factbook is updated periodically throughout the year.
hackwriters.com - Macau
hackwriters.com - Macau - Former Portugese Colony - Dave Rich
Macau is a pastel slice of Portugal, an oasis from the hectic honking of China a millimeter away. The simple act of stepping across the border from Zhuhai, China to Macau breeds relative peace and absolute charm, though Macau has officially been part of China for over two years. The Macanese actually stop for pedestrians while the Chinese accelerate, coming as close as they dare, pedestrians in China bearing the sole responsibility for avoidance of being squashed.
Dave Rich © 2002
Thai Air News Newsletter from Connectedglobe.com
:
"Thai Air News Newsletter from Connectedglobe.com
30 June 2002
To subscribe to this free newsletter send an email to asianews@connectedglobe.com
with the subject line subscribe to ezine.
This issue - Macau
This week we look at Macau, and next week we will be starting a two part series on China. Some of our newer subscribers have asked about back-issues of this newsletter, and a list of previously covered countries is included this week also."
Resources - www.manivestasia.com
Resources: "Manivest publishes Newsletter in Chinese and English "
Manivest publishes Newsletter in Chinese and English
CLASSICAL HISTORIOGRAPHY FOR CHINESE HISTORY
CLASSICAL HISTORIOGRAPHY FOR CHINESE HISTORY
中 國 經 典 文獻工 具 書 錄 及 使 用 練習
Compiled by Benjamin A. Elman 艾 爾曼
Professor of East Asian Studies and History, Princeton University
Cultural Exchange: Europe in China / Portugal. CulturE-ASEF
Cultural Exchange: Europe in China / Portugal. CulturE-ASEF
Cultural centers, organizations, and associations for cultural exchange with Portugal, events, projects, cultural studies at institutions of higher education. CulturE-ASEF - information system on the Asia-Europe Cultural Exchange, editors: Universes in Universe - Worlds of Art and Asia-Europe Foundatio
Map Collection - UT Library Online
China Maps - Perry-Casta�eda Map Collection - UT Library Online
China maps
Hong Kong maps
Macau maps
Macau articles from - ThingsAsian
Search Results - ThingsAsian
Macau...Old World Charm Collides With High Tech Aims!
Wah Heng
Macau - forever in the shadows
Alistair Smith
Macau: After the Handover
Steven K. Bailey
Macau: East Meets West in 6.5 Square Miles
Steven K. Bailey
Taipa and Coloane: A Tale of Two Islands
Steven K. Bailey
Cannons, Chapels and Fine Cuisine: Macau's Historic Pousada de Sao Tiago
Steven K. Bailey
Macau - Asia's Vegas?
AFP/Mark McCord
Flowers and Swords Greet Morning in Macau
Steven K. Bailey
Macau by Day, Macau by Night
Ieuan Dolby
To The Lighthouse
Sim Jui-Liang
UNESCO World Heritage Centre - World Heritage List
UNESCO World Heritage Centre - World Heritage List
Beautiful heritage site.
Good map - zoom in and out too ...
Thursday, October 07, 2004
PORTUGUESE TRADE ALONG THE CHINA COAST AND IN MACAUDURING THE MING PERIOD:A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF USEFUL SECONDARY WORKS IN WESTERN LANGUAGES
Introductory Note
A large body of primary and secondary sources on early Sino-Portuguese relations and Portuguese trade based on Macau exists in various libraries around the world. The secondary material includes publications in Portuguese, Chinese, English, Japanese, French, Italian, German, Dutch, and other languages.ln the present list of secondary works only those publications are listed which are written in Westem languages and which I found of some use when studying the history of Portuguese trade.
In exceptional cases, some important translations or annotated collections of primary works are also listed but these listings do not include the “usual set” of documentary collections which cover the Estado da India in its totality such as the Gavetas da Torro do Tombo or the Documenta Indica. These collections are well-known to the historian of Portuguese Asia and need not to be mentioned here. The same applies to some of the Dutch collections, for example the Generale missiven.
Portuguese trade along the China coast began shortly after the conquest of Malacca in 1511. However, it took some forty years until the Portuguese were able to acquire a permanent base in China. This was Macau. Inthe pre-Macau period Portuguse trade was periodically interrupted. After the founda-tion of Macau in the mid 1550s it became more regular and centered on the exchange of Chinese silk for Japanese and Spanish silver. Macau traded with Manila and various other places in Southeast Asia, with India and Europe, with China and Japan. Of all its trading partners, Canton and Nagasaki were the most important ones.
In a sense, Macau formed an adjunct of the Canton market; it is for this reason that no special section on its trade to China will be found in the present bibliography. The case is different with its other trading partners which were far away and only to be reached by ship; hence, the literature on the relations between Macau and Japan is collected in particular Manila. There is also a section on the relations between the portuguese and the Dutch who where Macau's enemies.
The user of this bibliography has to be aware of the fact that Macau's position within the system of Far Eastern trade routes can only be evaluated if the trade of Portugal's competitors is also understood. Macau had many competitors and much of the trade that was going on in the sixteenth and seventeenth century bypassed the Portuguese. There were, for example, the Japanese and Ryukyu Islanders who traded to China or Southeast Asia, or the Spanish who operated routes to Japan and elsewhere, or the Fujianese who sent ships to Manila, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, and above all, there were the Dutch who challenged the Portuguese whenever and wherever they could. On each of these groups there exists an equally large body of literature which, needless to say, is not listed here.
Finally, this bibliography includes some titles that do not focus on trade but contain background information on institutions or biographical data and the like. However, only a small percentage of the existing literature that has been devoted to such topics is listed here; for further suggestions the reader may consult the bibliographies by Gomes, Edmonds, de Silva, etc. all of which contain ample data on the history of Macau's buildings, churches, missionary activities and other matters.
Macau Bibliography
Library of Congress / Federal Research Division / Country Studies / Area Handbook Series / Macau /Bibliography
Boxer, C.R., ed. and trans. Seventeenth Century Macau in Contemporary Documents and Illustrations. Hong Kong: Heinemann (Asia), 1984.
China. Embassy (Washington). "China to Resume the Exercise of Sovereignty over Macao on December 20, 1999, " Newsletter, Embassy of the People's Republic of China, No. 99-24, December 13, 1999, 1-7.
China. State Statistical Bureau. Zhongguo tongji nianjian, 1997 (Statistical Yearbook of China, 1997). Beijing: September 1997.
Edmonds, Richard Louis. "Macau and Greater China." Pages 226-54 in David Shambaugh, ed., Greater China: The Next Superpower? Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995.
Edmonds, Richard Louis, and Herbert Yee. "Macau: From Portuguese Autonomous Territory to Chinese Special Administrative Region," China Quarterly (London), No. 160, December 1999, 801-817.
Fei Chengkang. Macao: 400 Years. Trans. Wang Yintong. Shanghai: Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, 1996.
Flores, Jorge. "The History of Macao During the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries: Open Questions and Possible Queries," Review of Culture (Macau), No. 19, 2d Series, 1994, 11-16.
Guillén Nuñez, César. Macao Streets. Hong Kong: Oxford University Press (China), 1999.
Gunn, Geoffrey C. Encountering Macau: A Portuguese City-State on the Periphery of China, 1557-1999. Transitions: Asia and Asian America Series. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1996.
Haberzettl, Peter, and Roderich Ptak. Macau: Geographie, Geschichte, Wirtschaft und Kultur. South China and Maritime Asia, 3. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1995.
Hing, Lo Shiu. Political Development in Macau. Hong Kong: Chinese University Press, 1995.
Li Fugen, "Macao: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow," China Today [Beijing], 48, No. 12, December 1999, 32-35.
Liao, Darlene. "Macao Aims for a Turnaround," China Business Review, 26, No. 4, July-August 1999, 20-23.
"Macau." Pages 152-55 in Asia 2000 Yearbook: A Review of the Events of 1999. 41st ed. Hong Kong: Far Eastern Economic Review, December 1999.
"Macau." Pages 1010-19 in The Europa World Year Book, 2000,1. 41st ed. London: Europa, 2000.
Macau Economic Services. Research and Electronic Data Processing Department. Macau Economy: Selected Economic and Financial Indicators. Macau: July 11, 2000.
McGivering, Jill. Macao Remembers. Hong Kong: Oxford University Press (China), 1999.
Porter, Jonathan. Macau, The Imaginary City: Culture and Society, 1557 to the Present. New Perspectives in Asian Studies. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 2000.
Roberts, Elfed Vaughan, Sum Ngai Ling, and Peter Bradshaw. Historical Dictionary of Hong Kong and Macau. Asian Historical Dictionaries, No. 10. Metuchen, New Jersey: Scarecrow Press, 1992.
Santos, Isaú. "Sino-Portuguese Relations via Macau in the 16th and 17th Centuries," Review of Culture (Macau), Nos. 7-8, October-March 1998-89, 3-11.
Shipp, Steve. Macau, China: A Political History of the Portuguese Colony's Transition to Chinese Rule. Jefferson, North Carolina: MacFarland, 1997.
Teixeira, Manuel. "The Macanese," Review of Culture (Macau), No. 20, 2d Series, 1994, 85-129.
United States. Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook, 1998. Washington: 1998.
World Radio TV Handbook, 52. Ed., Andrew G. Sennitt. Amsterdam: Billboard, 1998.
(The following web sites were used in the preparation of this appendix: http://www.macau.gov.mo/, the official web site of the Macau Special Administrative Region, which includes the Basic Law of Macau and other relevant statutes, and facts and figures about Macau; and http://www.economia.gov.mo, a government site that provides selected economic and financial indicators. Various issues of the following publications also were used: Asiaweek [Hong Kong], 1996-2000; China Daily [Beijing], 1996-2000; China Today [Beijing], 1999; the Economist Intelligence Unit's Country Report: Hong Kong, Macau [Hong Kong], 1996-99; and Far Eastern Economic Review [Hong Kong], 1995-99.)
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Bigger, better Cheng
Bigger, better Cheng:
"ONE of Hong Kong's leading tycoons, Cheng Yu-tung of the New World hotel and property fame, has emerged as the real owner of the new Hyatt hotel and casino in Manila's Ermita district.
Cheng -- no relation to the local Chengs of the PIATCo/Terminal 3 disaster -- was identified in the Monday issue of Hong Kong newspaper The Standard, as the beneficial owner of a little-known company that acquired a building plus several floors of the two-tower Ermita project of Andrew Tan's property development firm Megaworld Corp.
The bayside hotel will be Cheng's second hotel venture in the Philippines after the New World Renaissance near the Greenbelt mall in the Makati business district.
According to the grapevine, the Hong Kong billionaire, who also operates a container terminal in the Xiamen port, in addition to a cellular phone company in Hong Kong, is in talks with the Ayala group on a property venture in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone west of Manila.
Cheng, 78, a partner of Macau gambling tycoon Stanley Ho in the former Portuguese territory, acquired the Ermita property in the first quarter of 2003, after sending an architect and a lawyer from Hong Kong to inspect the project and meet with the Megaworld sales staff.
'At first, we did not have a clue as to whom they represented, and that they were THAT big,' said a Megaworld official, who asked not to be identified.
Forbes has listed Cheng as the 231st richest person in the world in 2004.
He reportedly pumped in a total of $120 million to acquire and finish the Ermita hotel and casino project, which had stalled when rumored original proponent Stanley Ho found himself a persona non grata after being embroiled in the BW Resources scandal during the Joseph Estrada administration.
The Hyatt hotel in Ermita will be the 14th venture of Cheng, whose hotels, including the Grand Hyatt in Hong Kong, are spread throughout China and the rest of the region.
Publicly listed Megaworld itself retains 40 percent of the two-tower Ermita complex, which it plans to convert into serviced apartments, its first foray into the business.
The Hyatt hotel and casino complex is on a soft run, preparatory to a formal opening in December.
Cheng and his son Henry are expected to grace the opening ceremonies."
Macau Grand Prix Macau - Yahoo! Travel
Macau Grand Prix Macau - Yahoo! Travel: "Overview of Macau Grand Prix
The Macau Grand Prix is a Formula Three event, attracting more than 20,000 motor-racing fans from around the world for this high-octane three-day event. The circuit runs for 3.8 miles around picturesque Macanese streets and is considered one of the most challenging courses on the international scene. The race can be viewed from various spots around the circuit, and the noise of the engines can be heard all over Macau. Tickets start at MOP150 on race days."
50th Macau Grand Prix
50th Macau Grand Prix:
"50th Macau Grand Prix to make history with Formula 1 demo
Macau, September 12, 2003 -- History will be made this November at the 50th running of the Macau Grand Prix when a modern Formula 1 car takes to the legendary Guia street circuit for the first time ever, it was announced last week.
The Jordan Ford EJ13, piloted by 1996 Macau Grand Prix winner Ralph Firman, will take to the 6.2km track in front of thousands of spectators on November 15 and 16.
The demonstration will form part of a major celebration of the 50th Macau Grand Prix, and also be a fitting tribute to Teddy Yip, who passed away in July this year aged 90. The legendary Ayrton Senna took victory in Macau's first Formula 3 race in 1983 with Yip's fabled Theodore Racing Team,and his contribution to the event over the years is incalculable.
Commented the Co-Ordinator of the Macau Grand Prix Committee, Mr. Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, 'Like thousands of motorsport fans in the region, we are looking forward to celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Grand Prix with the spectacle of a modern Formula 1 car on the streets of Macau. The demonstration will add to the tremendous event we have planned for this year, and be a celebration of all the extraordinary achievements of Teddy Yip, who contributed so much to the event.'
'I have great memories of Macau, particularly as part of Theodore Racing when we ran Ayrton Senna, and I�m very proud to take part in this unique event and further strengthen Jordan�s links with China,' said Eddie Jordan, Chief Executive of Jordan Grand Prix.
The Macau Grand Prix has long been recognised as a testing ground for future Formula 1 stars, and the roll of honour includes Michael and Ralf Schumacher, David Coulthard, and Jordan Ford driver Firman.
To mark half a Century of world-class motorsport, the Macau Grand Prix will be held over two weekends in November. The first, November 8 and 9, will highlight the historical aspect of the event. The second, from November 13 to 16, will see the FIA Intercontinental Cup of Formula 3 once again showcase the talents of the world�s leading F3 drivers, the famous Guia Race for touring cars with top drivers from across Europe and Asia, and the Macau Motor Cycle Grand Prix for the world�s leading road racing specialists. Both weekends include a host of four and two-wheel support races, making up a packed race programme.
To commemorate the Macau Grand Prix Jubilee, Macau has organised a month-long celebration including major sporting, cultural and gastronomic events which is expected to lure visitors from across the globe, and will be the largest and most diverse event the Special Administrative Region of China has staged.
Jordan Grand Prix is known as the colourful, high profile team in Formula 1, shaped by the character of its leader, Eddie Jordan and now in its thirteenth year of competing at the top level of motorsport.
The team began life as Eddie Jordan Racing in 1980, and in 1987 took victory in the British F3 Championship with Johnny Herbert. The team's F3000 campaign brought a Championship win in 1989 with Jean Alesi, and a 3rd place finish in 1990, the year Jordan Grand Prix was founded, with Eddie Irvine.
The team's first F1 season the following year resulted in a tremendous 5th place finish in the Championship, with a sterling driver line up of Andrea De Cesaris, Bertrand Gachot, Michael Schumacher, Roberto Moreno, and Allesandro Zanardi. Since then, Jordan Grand Prix has notched up an impressive record and is a household name across the world. This year it is fielding Firman and another former Macau Grand Prix competitor, Giancarlo Fisichella. -- Macau Grand Prix Committee "
Macau Grand Prix
Macau Grand Prix: "All about the 48th Macau Grand Prix
The Guia Race of the Macau Grand Prix is the premiere touring car event in the Asia-Pacific region and a showcase for the top champions of the world.
The race is held on the tight and twisty street cicruit of Macau -- a track that has played host to some of the biggest names in Formula 1 like Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen, Jacques Villeneuve, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Jarno Trulli, among others.
The Guia Race is run as two 12-lap races with a scant 15 minute break in between. Excitement and adrenaline on the racetrack is high as nerves of steel are required to master the 6.2 km circuit that is bereft of run-off areas and gravel traps and instead lined with unforgiving stone walls and steel barriers."
Mark Webber - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mark Webber - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mark Webber (born August 27, 1976) is an Australian Formula One driver.
He was born in Queanbeyan, New South Wales and currently lives in Buckinghamshire, England. With wins in the 1996 Formula Ford festival and the 2001 Monaco F3000 race to his credit, Webber signed with Mercedes and made his Formula One debut in Melbourne with Minardi in 2002, finishing with a 5th place result. He has had consistent top 5 performances in the one-lap qualifying throughout the 2003 season.
... He won his fourth ever F3 race at Brands Hatch on his way to fourth in the championship. He also finished third in the annual Marlboro Masters at Zandvoort and fourth in the category's other blue ribbon event, the Macau F3 Grand Prix. ....
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Monday, October 04, 2004
Galaxy launches job fair to hire 1,000 for its first casino-hotel
A bit old news - jan 04 - but good info
Galaxy launches job fair to hire 1,000 for its first casino-hotel :: PONTO FINAL :: Portal do Di�rio de Macau - MACAO DAILY NEWS:
"Hong Kong's Galaxy Resort & Casino expects to invest 4.8 billion patacas and create 6,000 jobs in Macau over next few years
Galaxy Resort & Casino, which is owned by the family of Hong Kong property tycoon Lui Chee-woo, launched in Macau on Saturday a three-day job fair to hire around 1,000 hotel and casino staff for its first development project in Macau, the Galaxy Waldo hotel-casino scheduled to open in April.
'Galaxy's emphasis on comprehensive and quality staff training is rooted in our basic belief that gaming and hotel industries are people-oriented services, Francis Lui Yiu-tung, a son of the 74-year old property magnate, said at the formal launch of the recruitment drive at the Macau Cultural Centre. Several hundred job-seekers started lining up outside the centre one hour before its start. Company officials said they expected 'many thousands' of Macau residents to apply for the 1,000 new jobs.
The casino and hotel jobs on offer include croupiers, slot-machine technicians, housekeepers, engineers, security guards, cooks, receptionists and senior management positions.
Lui also said his company planned to hire another 2,000 staff for its 'flagship development' in Macau, the Galaxy Star World hotel-casino next year. 'Our demand for talent will further increase when our mega-resort project in Cotai [a land reclamation area between Macau's Coloane and Taipa offshore islands] begins development in 2006,' Lui said, adding, 'In fact, we estimate that we will be creating a total of 6,000 new jobs [in Macau] by 2009.'
Galaxy Resort & Casino was granted one of the Macau government's three new casino-operating concessions in 2002, following the termination of a casino-monopoly system that had been in place since the 1930s.
Galaxy's concession includes The Venetian from Las Vegas as a sub-concession. The Venetian, which is headed by Sheldon Adelson, plans to open its first casino in Macau, the Las Vegas Sands, in April.
The other two concessions are held by 82-year old veteran Macau casino mogul Stanley Ho Hung-sun's Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (Macau Gaming Company/SJM) and Wynn Resorts. While SJM plans to open a new luxury hotel-casino in 2006, Wynn Resorts, which is headed by Las Vegas gaming mogul Steve Wynn, says it will start construction of its mega-hotel casino resort in Macau in April. Currently, all of Macau's 11 casinos are owned by Ho's SJM that employs around 8,000 people. Both The Venetian and Wynn Resorts have said they plan to hire at least 3,000 staff in Macau each over the next few years.
Galaxy has said it plans to invest at least 4.8 billion patacas in Macau this decade, comprising a total of 3,750 hotel rooms, 500 gaming tables and 1,500 slot machines. Its first project, the Galaxy Waldo, is planned to comprise 38 gaming tables and 150 slot machines. While its 33-floor, 600-room Galaxy Star World hotel-casino is slated to open late next year, the Lui family says it plans to start building its 'Mega Cotai Resort' at a cost of three billion patacas in 2006.
Macau has presently some 9,200 hotel rooms and 330 gaming tables. The former Portuguese enclave's workforce of 217,000 included 12,900 jobless residents in November, when the officially measured unemployment rate stood at 5.9 per cent, the lowest rate since April 1999.
Under Macau's labour laws, the casino concessionaires must give preference to the local workforce.
A Galaxy company spokesman said on Saturday night that 'over 10,000' people had applied for jobs on the first day of the three-day job fair. Macau has 446,000 residents. "
Big changes mark Mandarin Oriental Macau's 20-year milestone
Big changes mark Mandarin Oriental Macau's 20-year milestone :: PONTO FINAL :: Portal do Di�rio de Macau - MACAO DAILY NEWS:
"The Mandarin Oriental Macau celebrated its 20th anniversary July 7 by inviting hundreds of guests to the grand opening of its new second-floor Caf� Bela Vista and completely refurbished Mezzaluna restaurant.
The 36-million pataca renovation was completed on schedule and within budget, according to General Manager Jonas Shuermann, who said he 'didn't want to copy the Bela Vista, just the feeling.' The new coffee shop brings back memories of the Bela Vista, the legendary colonial-style seaside hotel that is now the residence of the Portuguese Consul in Macau. The caf� echoes the romantic ambience of its namesake, with potted palms, wicker chairs and ceiling fans, and arched windows overlooking the plaza.
Mezzaluna's new look, reminiscent of a Tuscan villa, is a huge departure from its previous chic interior. 'It couldn't be more new,' Executive Chef Yves Durand said. Both Mezzaluna and the Caf� Bela vista have completely new kitchens. Diners can watch their meals being prepared, and also view more than 1,000 bottles of wine through the glass walled wine room.
Guests of honor at the opening ceremony included Dr. Pedro Moitinho Almeida, Consul General of Portugal in Macau and Kong Kong and Julie Fernandez, Public Relations Manager to Dr. Stanley Ho. Former Mandarin Oriental Macau GM Eric Waldberger commented that the renovations, along with the group of new luxury boutiques slated to open on the ground floor arcade, are appropriate to a more sophisticated consumer base now seen in Macau. 'This is the way to go,' he said."
Sands unveils four new restaurants, VIP suites
Sands unveils four new restaurants, VIP suites :: PONTO FINAL :: Portal do Di�rio de Macau - MACAO DAILY NEWS:
"Venetian Macau Limited, owner of the Sands, opened the doors of four new restaurants on the casino's third floor August 23, and also invited the press to a 'sneak preview' of its luxurious VIP suites.
The four restaurants are the Copa, an American-style steak house, Perola, featuring Macanese specialties, Cantonese restaurant Golden Court, and the Ruby Room, serving Shanghainese dishes. The 100-meter long 888 buffet, which has been operating since the Sands' opening in May, serves international cuisine on the second floor, overlooking the gaming tables.
Dan Raviv, special consultant to Venetian's Chairman of the Board, flew in from Las Vegas to introduce the new restaurants and key staff members to the press, but declined to comment on the company's future business plans, pending its IPO announcement, expected in October of this year.
He said that Venetian Las Vegas is known as the 'capital of gourmet food in the U.S.,' with 17 restaurants under one roof, and that if Macau Sands were placed among the casinos in Las Vegas, it would be 'the nicest of them all.'
He also pointed out the huge window on the casino floor, an unusual feature, considering casinos don't normally have windows at all, explaining that it was designed to make the Sands 'part of the whole community of Macau.'
Several of the lushly-appointed VIP suites were made available for viewing, although according to Sands spokesperson Alpha Padilla, they will not be ready for guests until September, with more coming on line in the following months to make a total of 51. The high-rolling customers who will be invited to stay in the capacious suites, which include steam rooms, Jacuzzis, and wide screen video systems, make up a carefully guarded, exclusive list known only to high-level Sands executives, she said."
Macau's jobless rate dips to 4.9 per cent
Macau's jobless rate dips to 4.9 per cent, lowest rate since mid-1998 :: PONTO FINAL :: Portal do Di�rio de Macau - MACAO DAILY NEWS
Macau's unemployment rate dipped to 4.9 per cent in the period between May and July, the first time that the rate has fallen below five per cent since mid-1998, the Macau Statistics and Census Bureau said on Tuesday.
According to the bureau, the rate decreased 0.1 percentage points on the period between April and June this year and 1.5 percentage points on the period between May and July last year.
Macau's economy, which suffered negative growth in the last four year of Portuguese rule in the run-up to the 1999 handover to China, has enjoyed two-digit growth in the past two years. The liberalisation of the gaming industry and a strong increase in visitor arrival numbers have created thousands of new jobs in Macau in the past few months. Macau's economy, which is mainly powered by casinos, tourism and garment exports, grew 25.6 per cent in real terms in the first quarter.
Macau's workforce totalled 226,000 in the period between May and July, including 11,000 jobless residents. Macau's population reached 454,000 at the end of June, the government announced earlier this week.
The labour participation rate stood a 61.5 per cent in the period between May and July, an increase of one percentage points on the same period last year.
Saturday, October 02, 2004
Introduction
Introduction: "Introduction
Once again it's non-stop action from September through to December as Macau rolls out the carpet to welcome millions of visitors during the top tourist season. The highlight of course will be the annual Macau Grand Prix on the weekend of November 20 and 21, an event that has been run continuously on the same round the houses street circuit for the past 50 years."
Macau: History & Culture
Macau: History & Culture
History
Chinese Residents Of Macau Exorcise Old Demons Susanna Chui-yung Cheung's commentary on Macau's history on the eve of its return to China
Handover Ends Debate Over 'Wicked, Beautiful' Macau A historical overview in Asia Times by Antoaneta Bezlova (Nov. 26, 1999)
The Historian of the City of the Mother of God, Father Manuel Teixeira A 1982 interview of a historian of Macau
The History of Macau A brief chronology
Macau: A Selection of Cartographic Images A Library of Congress American Memory Project collection of 16 maps dating from 1665 to 1991
Macau: The Last Colony Essay by Morris Dye (October 1999)
The Photographic Society of Macau (PSM) Bilingual site of society, with "I Love Macau" exhibition online
Regaining the Sense of City: a History of Reclamation & Public Spaces in Macau A 1997 conference paper by Justyna Karakiewicz & Thomas Kvan, Department of Architecture, University of Hong Kong
Treasures & Images of Macau Resources on the history of Macau at the Library of Congress
The 36th Macau Grand Prix
The 36th Macau Grand Prix: "The 36th Macau Grand Prix:
It was the Guia Race during the 36th Macau GP in 1990 that Masahiro Hasemi drove the Nissan Skyline GT-R to victory. And that was the first time I saw the Skyline R32 and iimmediately fell in love with it.
I grew up with the Macau GP since that was the only circuit racing event I heard about the most and felt most attached to due to its venue, Macau, which is only 40 miles west of Hong Kong. There are drivers from Hong Kong, Japan and Europe competing in the event. Even the great drivers of Formula 1 drivers have once raced there in the Formula 3 event including the late Ayrton Senna, the world champion Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen, and many other great F1 drivers.
I have always dreamt about racing at the challenging Guia Circuit. The Nurburgring and the Monaco F1 circuit are the only two circuits in the world that I believe are comparable in terms of complexity and difficulty. The following videos will give you a little taste of what the circuit looks like from both in-car and out-car shots. Enjoy.
Please notify me if there is copyright issue with the videos, I will gladly remove them from public viewing. I really have no idea where the clips come from."
GO TO THE SITE TO DOWNLOAD THE VIDEOS
Channel M :: Multivision Television
Channel M :: Multivision Television: "
caf� m - Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa
Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa - July 28th, 2003
1 lb salted cod (soak for a day in water)
� cup olive oil
6 med. sized potatoes cut in half
1 onion, sliced thin
2 cloves of finely chopped garlic
2 hard boiled eggs
10 olives
2 tbsp chopped parsley
1 bay leaf
pinch of paprika
Method:
In a large pot, cook cod and potatoes for approx. 30 minutes. Drain, remove bones and skin. Flake cod, slice potato and set aside.
In another pot over medium heat add olive oil, onions, bay leaf, pinch of paprika and garlic. Stir frequently until onions are transparent. Add cod and saut� for approx. 5 minutes. Add potatoes; mix and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove to platter and garnish with parsley, eggs, and olive.
"
Codfish-Potato Casserole (Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa)
Codfish-Potato Casserole (Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa): "
Codfish-Potato Casserole (Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa)
Active Work Time: 45 minutes * Total Preparation Time: 1 hour 20 minutes plus 24 hours soaking
Inspired by Chef Manuel Azevedo of the LaSalette Restaurant in Sonoma, Calif. Look for dried salt cod in the deli section of well-stocked supermarkets, as well as Italian, Latino and Greek markets."
Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa (Codfish and Potato Casserole)
Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa (Codfish and Potato Casserole)
Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá
(Codfish with Potatoes Casserole)
Adapted from a recipe by Chef Manuel Azevedo
of LaSalette Restaurant, Sonoma, CA
Serves 6 to 8
Rate this recipe
Chef Azevedo, born on the island of São Jorge in the Azores, literally turns this favorite upside down. Instead of cooking and serving it from the casserole dish, as is customary, he inverts it onto a cookie sheet then removes the dish, allowing the exposed codfish to brown slightly and the layer of potatoes on the bottom to crisp.
Hint: If you prefer well-done potatoes, leave the inverted casserole dish in place and cook for the recommended time, then uncover and continue cooking until the codfish is lightly toasted. The additional time will allow the potatoes to get extra-brown.
Central VN plans for transport hub
Central VN plans for transport hub
From a relatively unfrequented destination in the mid-90s, Central Viet Nam is now an acknowledged tourism hot spot, recognised by the international travel industry and publications like the Asian Wall Street Journal and Conde Nast Traveller.
There are now domestic flights from all of Viet Nam’s major cities with the country’s national carrier Vietnam Airlines and its second airline, Pacific Airlines, focusing on Da Nang as a transport centre for travel within Viet Nam and Asia.
More than half the total overseas travellers visiting the region last year arrived by air, along with a large number of domestic travellers.
Until 1998, tourists flew on ageing Russian Tupolevs on the only domestic flights to Da Nang. These aircraft have long since been replaced by modern Airbus, Boeing, ATR and Fokkers operated by the country’s two carriers.
In 1996 Da Nang’s international airport received its first direct international flight from Macau.
Venetian Stock Sale Approved - RGT Online
Venetian Stock Sale Approved - RGT Online: "
Venetian Stock Sale Approved
By Cy Ryan
By Our Partners at the Las Vegas Sun
CARSON CITY -- The state Gaming Control Board today recommended approval for Las Vegas Sands Corp. to sell up to $575 million in common stock to be used for such things as expansion into the gaming markets in Asia and the United Kingdom. The deal is part of the company's previously announced initial public offering.
The corporation owns the Venetian Casino Resort in Las Vegas, and the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas and has a new casino in Macau, a former Portuguese enclave in China.
Greg Giardano, attorney for the Sands Corporation, said Goldman, Sachs & Co. will be the underwriter of the deal. It must be approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nevada Gaming Commission that meets Oct. 21.
Brad Stone of the Sands Corporation said the Venetian sold the Grand Canal Shoppes mall for $766 million and is now building a $1.6 billion casino adjacent to the Venetian that will open by March 2007.
William Weidner, president of the corporation, said the Macau casino has completed its first quarter of operation and has lived up to its expectations. He said it started with the 'mass market' and will gradually work its way into the high-end play.
The casino has added 160 slot machines to its 520 slot machines in Macau. And its win percentage exceeded $400 last night, which is above the percentage of the Strip casinos.
- October 01, 2004"
Friday, October 01, 2004
Absolutely All Of The World's Embassies In A Searchable Database/DEVELOPMENT SITE
Absolutely All Of The World's Embassies In A Searchable Database/DEVELOPMENT SITE
Directory & Search Engine Of The World's Embassies & Consulates
Search By 'Host' or 'Guest' via Engine or Directory
Las Vegas high-rollers beat odds to win cut of Asian casino millions
Scotsman.com News - International - Las Vegas high-rollers beat odds to win cut of Asian casino millions
Las Vegas high-rollers beat odds to win cut of Asian casino millions
BEN ROBERTSON IN MACAU
IT SEEMS that Cai Shen, the Chinese god of Fortune, is smiling benevolently on Macau these days.
Inside its golden chrome-panelled exterior, the Las Vegas-funded Macau Sands Casino is already changing the way the former Portuguese colony does business.
Opened in May, Sands is the first in a long list of planned casinos and hotel resorts that supporters hope will make their city the gambling centre of Asia, if not the world.
Returned to China in 1999, this small group of islands has been trying hard to clean up its image.
Locking up the Triad gang members who made the city infamous in the 1990s with their racketeering and almost daily acts of violence, the city government decided three years ago to throw open the casino’s doors to foreign competition.
Formerly under the control of one company, the Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, run by 82-year-old Dr Stanley Ho, one of Asia’s richest men, the city’s casinos were showing all the hallmarks of monopoly-driven complacency.
Dingy, smoke-filled gaming floors, lousy service and grubby carpets may once have been acceptable to gamblers with nowhere else to go, but since the opening of Sands attitudes are changing.
"I love the high ceiling and sense of open space," said Wang Yuan, 23, who had travelled from the neighbouring mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai to inspect Sands’s football pitch-sized games floor.
With 277 gaming tables, 519 slot machines and the largest chandelier on the planet, Sands is only the beginning.
The owner, Venetian Macau Ltd - the company that built the namesake hotel in Las Vegas - is planning a £6.7 billion-£8.4 billion), 60,000-room, 22-hotel project complete with casinos and big-name shows.
But it is not the only group in on the act. Las Vegas visionary Steve Wynn is building his own 200-table casino, and MGM is also planning to break ground.
Reclaiming land from the South China Sea, Macau expects to have more than 30 major resort hotels by 2009, the majority built with United States backing.
"The gaming industry in Macau has a long history, since the late 1800s," said Manuel Joaquim das Neves, the head of the Gaming Inspection and Co-operation Bureau.
When Macau was a Portuguese trading post, gambling revenues were seen as a quick and easy way to boost the colony’s coffers, an incentive that still holds sway today.
Bringing in revenues of $373 million (£209 million) for the treasury in the first five months of this year alone - an increase of 32 per cent over the same time last year - gambling remains the primary source of income for the government. The feeling now is that the city needs to diversify its economic base.
"The aim of this process of liberalisation is not just to enhance the gaming facilities but to bring in new ideas, a new image to the city so that Macau would be about more than just casinos and nightclubs," Mr Neves added.
In effect aiming to mirror the success of The Strip, which 20 years ago was only famous for its casinos, Macau hopes to use Las Vegas know-how to reposition itself as a destination for families, business conventions, sightseeing and shopping.
With a Disneyland due to open in Hong Kong next year and regulations regarding individual travel from mainland China being relaxed, all indicators are pointing to an explosion in traveller numbers.
Macau boasts a population of just 440,000, but last year saw some 12 million tourists travel to this Chinese Special Administrative Region, almost double the number from ten years before. With just under half of these from the Chinese mainland, where gambling remains illegal, these figures are expected to continue to increase, so that by 2009 gaming receipts alone will exceed even those of Las Vegas.
"We need to monitor the impact of tourism," says Glenn McCartney, of the Macau Institute for Tourism Studies. "In Macau, the general consensus is that the development of the gaming industry will increase taxes and create jobs, but what about the effects on traffic congestion, property prices, gambling addiction and crime? How do we balance Macau’s vibrant community with the manufactured experience of the casino?"
Already Macau, with its picturesque Roman Catholic churches and winding streets, is feeling the effects. House prices have risen by between 5 per cent and 10 per cent since the start of the year, and concerns are being voiced by smaller businesses that the rush of new jobs is inflating staff salary expectations. Budget airlines Ryanair and Virgin Blue have both been in talks with the local Macau Air about possible link-ups.
Whereas before, the Triad gangs used to roam the casino floors offering loan-shark services and charging customers a fee to use the high-roller VIP rooms, Mr Neves is adamant that those days are over.
He said: "The police lost control back in the 1990s, but now with co-operation between Macau, Hong Kong and mainland China, the situation has improved." Even so, metal detectors remain at all casino entrances. At the Sands, they euphemistically say they are there to search for cameras, while the older establishments still post a "no guns or knives" sign beside the detector.
"Of course, the Triads are still here," noted one taxi driver, as ever a reliable source of popular sentiment. "But they are frightened of the Communist Party; they fear the Liberation Army," he said, forming his hand into a gun and then pointing it at the nape of his neck, China’s preferred method of execution.
Even so, a long-running family feud between casino mogul Stanley Ho and his 81-year-old wife Winnie has led to claims of possible ties between Macau’s casinos and organised crime.
The allegations and counter claims have made essential reading in Hong Kong’s press. According to reports released by his sister, Stanley Ho’s casinos were being used to funnel some of the billions of Chinese renminbi (people’s currency) that illegally exit China every year.
Using go-betweens, people could allegedly make a deposit in Renminbi on the mainland and then collect a cheque, cash or gambling chips for the same amount in Hong Kong dollars from one of Dr Ho’s casinos.
Mr Ho, whose gambling interests have made him one of the most powerful men in southern China - has vehemently denied the allegations made by his sister, who has been engaged in a long-running legal dispute with him.
As his business empire accounts for around two-thirds of the Macanese economy, it is unlikely that anyone will ever be able to get to the bottom of Dr Ho’s finances.
But it is against this background US investors arrive on the islands to redevelop the gambling business.
Bound by the strictures of the Nevada Gaming Commission, many of the locals hope these investments will bring a much-needed breath of clean air - and, at the very least, a bit more colour on the casino floor.
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