Google Latitude

Google Maps on Android based phones include the Latitude feature which allows you to publish your current location. Using the Maps API, I make my location visible from within this site. Obviously, Latitude is not turned on all the time...people don't need to know where I am 24/7.

HTC Footprints

Android based HTC phones include a great app called "HTC Footprints" which allows you to document places you've visited. The app allows you to export your data to a KMZ file which can be fed into Google Maps. Using the Maps API, I have made my footprints available from within this site.

My brother, sister-in-law, and I went to Macau for New Years. For me, this was my first time there since 1995. I knew alot had changed and wanted to see what it looked like now.

The Venetian

The hotel is incredibly large and opulent, a vast departure from the old rundown Lisboa hotel. Stanley Ho, facing intense competition from these Vegas guys, built the Grand Lisboa. Sadly, I didn't get a chance to see it or the old Lisboa. That will be for next time. I was definitely impressed by The Venetian.

Gambling

When you go to Macau, you can't avoid doing some gambling. Since I'm not a hardcore gambling man, I set my limit at $1000. After 2 hours (just around 11PM), I was up over $2000. My thought was "I still have 6 hours before we leave, what do I do? Watch others gamble. That's not going to be much fun." I should have quit while I was ahead as I ended the evening down $500. Oh well...still had a fun time. On a side note...when the clock struck midnight to mark the beginning of 2011, not a single gambler flinched. Talk about hardcore!!! Another side note...when we started on the tables, we saw a Mainland women who was carrying a huge wad of $1000 bills. She easily had over $150,000 on her. As the evening progressed, we kept running into her on the tables and her cash was getting smaller and smaller. We estimated that she had an unlucky night and lost over $100,000, maybe more!!! That's insane!!!

Mainland Chinese

Macau attracts ALOT of Mainland Chinese who have gambling in their blood. The one thing that struck me was how uncouth they were. With the Chinese economy booming, many have become overnight millionaires. But for all the money in the world, many of them lack class and dignity. Sadly, they come across as the country bumpkins that they are. A very stark difference to the HK Chinese.

In the overall, I had a fantastic time, made all the better by being with two of my loved ones. I was very impressed by how Macau has changed in the last 15 years and look forward to my next trip there. Might just go again over the Chinese New Year holidays which will be in a month's time.

Photos and videos from this trip are in the Gallery.

Welcome to "Through The Looking Glass". This is my little corner of the Net to share photos, videos, Facebook/Twitter feeds, commentary, etc. There are two things I need to mention.

User Comments

The site allows for users to post comments on almost everything but to be able to read/write comments, you need to create an account. It takes a couple of minutes and the link is in the login form.

Site Theme

There are around 30 themes installed. The default is "Skyscraper" but you can change it anytime. The choice is yours.

The site is small right now but will grow larger over time as I add more content.

Peace...