UNIT 23: HONG KONG AND MACAO
Part 4: A Trip to Macao
  1. Excuse me, are you Miss Ma, Miss Ma Zhuli?
  2. Yes. And you must be Mr. Lei?
  3. Yes. I’m Vai Pan Lei, your father’s friend. Welcome! Is this your first time in Macao?
  4. Yes. I’ve long heard that Macao has a long history, and what’s more that Portuguese-Macanese delicacies are most attractive. I really can hardly wait; I’ve long wanted to come visit and sample them. Could you first give me a general introduction to Macao? Whether it’s geography, history, or culture, I want to know about everything.
  5. No problem with that! We’ll talk about it while we tour. Let’s go! Macao is located at the mouth of the Pearl River. It’s made up of the Macao Peninsula and the two offshore islands of Taipa and Coloane. It’s about 65 kilometers from Hong Kong, with a population of over 500,000 and a population density that is the highest in the world. In the 16th century the Portuguese first came to Macao, and in the latter half of the 19th century Macao formally became a Portuguese colony. This was the first colony of the European colonialists in Asia, and it was also the last one. On Dec. 20, 1999, Macao followed Hong Kong in reverting to the PRC, and like Hong Kong became another Special Administrative Region of China. Under the policy of “One Country, Two Systems,” except for foreign relations and national defense, everything in Macao can maintain the status quo, not changing for fifty years. Come on, let’s go in the little side alley and try Macao’s famous egg tarts!
  6. What other famous dishes does Macao have that are worth sampling? What characteristics do they have? Can we order some?
  7. Of course we can! Macanese food was uniquely created by mixing together Chinese food and Portuguese food, which has a saltier flavor, and then adding spices such as curry, coconut juice, and cinnamon, which come from Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. Famous dishes include African Chicken and Large Chili Shrimp. Macanese food is a perfect combination of color, flavor, and taste. When you eat it, it makes you savor the aftertaste for a long time. (looking at a casino across the street after dinner)
  8. I’ve heard that gambling is legal in Macao?
  9. That’s right. Tourism in Macao is very developed, and about 50% of the government’s sources of income come from gambling. Macao’s casinos are the most profitable in the world. But there are age limits; foreigners must be 18 and residents of Macao have to be 21 to be admitted. The funny thing is, Macao is also one of the areas whose residents have the longest average life expectancies in the world.
  10. That’s interesting! I wonder if it’s the legal gambling that makes them relaxed and happy? Ha ha!