Happy Sunday! I know I need to get better about sticking to a reasonably regular posting schedule on this blog. So I’ve started using Google Calendar to schedule writing time. Hopefully that will help.
Before I get to this week’s slightly delayed featured image (i.e., the latest installment of what is usually called “H-Bomb’s Friday Photo”), I would like to announce my latest travel-related news. For the fifth consecutive year, I’m gong to spend a New Year’s Eve overseas. I’ll be ringing in 2014 in Ireland! More on that as those plans develop.
From Europe to Asia: our latest weekly photo comes from the Far Eastern gambling mecca of Macau. About an hour’s ferry ride from Hong Kong across the Pearl River Delta, Macau was a Portugese territory (and the last European colony in China) until 1999. Since then, it has been a Special Administrative Region of China. Geographically, Macau consists of a peninsula plus two islands.
The mega-hotels and casinos that you’ll find on the peninsula rival anything on the Las Vegas Strip, and even include some of the same names (such as the Wynn and the Venetian). In addition, many of those hotels are garishly illuminated at night, with those lights in ever-shifting colours:
In the photo above, you can see the Wynn (where I played some blackjack), and behind it the Grand Lisboa. Of course, there’s much more to Macau than places where you can indulge in games of chance. Reflecting its heritage, the territory boasts some outstanding examples of colonial Portugese architecture. And naturally, I sang karaoke there. 🙂
This photo was taken during my visit to Hong Kong and Macau in December 2009.
Incidentally, speaking of karaoke: as I’ve recently mentioned, I’ve now become interested in country music. The next song that I’ll be attempting in that genre is one that I think has the potential to become my new personal anthem: “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson. You can watch Mr. Nelson performing it here:
I think this song perfectly sums up my worldview, because I truly can never wait to get on the road again!
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H-Bomb's Worldwide Karaoke 
Oooh Ireland! I was thinking of going there this year. But not in the winter or for New Years. I was thinking more of spring/summer. Either that, or fall in Germany or somewhere in Eastern Europe. I am bound by a budget, so my eyes are on sales and deals, and that will determine where and when I go somewhere.
Love this photo of Macau! The reflections and colors are just so amazing.
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@Becca: you could probs get good deals by going in the winter. 🙂 Sure, it can get cold; but just drink some hot toddies or Irish coffees and you’ll be fine!
And I’m glad you like the photo!
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Very exciting about Ireland (and the Google calendar idea…I do something similar and it works like a charm!), and SO excited to hear you are giving country music a go! Some of my personal favorite karaoke songs are of this genre…the rest are Broadway;-)
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@Jess: I’m excited about Ireland too. 🙂 And while country won’t replace the other genres from which I like to draw my karaoke material (especially 1980s pop), it’s going to provide a whole bunch of exciting new songs! I’m also enjoying learning more about the music and the performers (which I’ll also talk about in my forthcoming post about Nashville).
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