Macau, a Chinese peninsula, was a Portuguese colony until 1999. Portuguese and Chinese influence are both prominently evident in Macau. I took this photograph in a square in the historic heart of Macau. The architecture of the building in the background is notably European, while the parade sculptures and drum are obviously Chinese.
The inflatable pagoda on the left is set up for the Mid-Autumn Festival, as are the barely noticeable lanterns in front of the building. There is a market behind the inflatable pagoda that has a stunning variety of shops. Ice cream shops from around the world litter the streets. Haagen-Dazs faces LemonCello, a Chinese ice cream shop that serves square cones and pyramid shaped ice cream. Mango and lemon smoothie stalls are everywhere. Clothing shops owned by small Chinese women squat in back allies, just across the street from glimmering, air-conditioned stores with names like Bauhaus and 27-3. Creaking signs swing above wooden doors leading to small rooms full of beautifully carved Chinese furniture. Men holding sheets of hard meat, break pieces off with metal tongs and offer the glistening treat to the crowds of people swirling by.
The people themselves are very diverse. Many tourists come to Macau to gamble and see the historical sights. German, Indian, French, Spanish, American, Chinese and native Macau people wander across the small peninsula. Native Macau inhabitants have a very good grasp of English as well as their native language, Cantonese. They also can get by in Mandarin and many speak Portuguese.
Many tourists travel to Macau to gamble, bringing with them different perspectives and cultural ideas. Macau is filled with flashy casinos, like the Grand Lisboa. At night, rainbow lights flash across the Grand Lisboa, lighting up the streets below. Stanely Ho decided to reap the benefit of belonging to Portugal and being so near to mainland China. By creating a peninsula full of casinos, Stanely Ho made Macau a frequent vacation area for foreigners and mainland Chinese. Travelers did not only bring money and prosperity with them to Macau, but also cultural ideas. Lebanese, Korean, Japanese, American, and Indian restaurants sprung up to please the hoards of tourists. The Macau tower, offering the highest bungee jump in the world at 233 meters, is an example of other attractions created. Starting in the 1600, when Portugal claimed Macau, and still continuing today, Macau is a collage of cultures and a concentrated example of globalization.
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