Macau remembrance

Do you remember the shining shop neon signs,

The colourful spirals hanging over hairdressers’ doors,

The pawn shops bat signs?

 

Do you remember the streets fuss and noise,

The crazy traffic the town pours,

Crowded with people, all day long?

 

Do you remember the street names signs,

both in portuguese and chinese language,

tradition kept, over time vanquished?

 

Do you remember the Pearl River delta

brown water smooth lines

Junk boats sailing in shelter?

 

Do you remember the hot wet weather,

The sound of mahjong tiles,

Wander about the streets and alleys?

 

Do you remember the Taoist temples,

the burning incense sticks for blessings,

A-Ma guarded by stone lions,

Roof ridges with green glazed tiles,

The sound of cymbals,

the far away bridges?

 

Do you remember St. Paul’s ruins,

An ancient façade of a church on fire,

Macau acropolis desire?

 

Do you remember the typhoon warnings,

The dark sky and strong winds surging,

the plastic shoes,

the heavy warm rain coming?

 

Do you remember Cheoc Van beach

Hac Sa dark sands, hot algae waters

The custard tarts in Coloane,

within silent reach?

 

Forget the triads, the gambling,

The smuggling and prostitution,

Land of casinos and fortune,

This is capitalist evolution!

 
2nd variant (no lines)

 

Macau remembrance

Do you remember the shining shop neon signs, the colourful spirals hanging over hairdressers’ doors, the pawn shops bat signs? The streets fuss and noise, the crazy traffic town pours, crowded with people, all day long. The street names signs, both in portuguese and chinese language, tradition kept, over time vanquished. The Pearl River delta with brown water smooth lines, Junk boats sailing in shelter. The sound of mahjong tiles, wandering about the streets and alleys. The Taoist temples, the burning of incense. A-Ma guarded by stone lions, green glazed tiles in roof ridges, the sound of cymbals, the far away bridges. St. Paul’s ruins, an ancient façade of a church on fire, Macau acropolis desire. The typhoon warnings, the dark sky and strong winds surging, the plastic shoes, the heavy warm rain coming. Cheoc Van beach, Hac Sa dark sands, hot algae waters, the custard tarts in Coloane, within silent reach.

Forget the triads, the gambling, the smuggling and prostitution, land of casinos and fortune, this is capitalist evolution!

 

 

Obs: Macau is a small territory located in south east Asia (about 70 Km from Hong Kong), which remained under portuguese administration till 1999, two years after Hong Kong handover to China.

The portuguese landed in  Macau by 1513 and established an agreement with the chinese in 1557 to use the territory as a trade route. Macau is a world center of gambling and Las Vegas promoters in the last decade made it more profitable than ever.

Macau has preserved and invested in the portuguese heritage that makes it so special. Many old buildings, bilingual street signs, portuguese cobblestone paving the streets and squares, catholic churches, fortresses.

Macau tour – https://youtu.be/VcHpih87Aec