Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Today, I have a choice of following the girl around to their various photo and video shoots. There is even a rumor that Stacy Wang will be bungee jumping for the cameras . . . and to relieve stress, but even that doesn’t entice me away from enjoying some personal time on my last day in Macau. A gambling mecca of the East, Macau provides a Vegas-style glamour to East Asia housing only one of three Venetian hotel casinos in the world, a Wynn, and dozens of luxury hotel casinos. Riding up and down the elevators all day, I realize that the Galaxy provides families, couples, and individuals an all inclusive getaway with several pools, a health club, dozens of restaurants to choose from a mall, bakeries, pharmacies, and even a food court for those who want a quick, international bite.
Breakfast at the Terrace Restaurant is an international buffet. I stuff myself silly on congee, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, and tiny pastries. Some of the girls have already finished breakfast before I even get a chance to start. The morning is scheduled for shooting photos and video around the complex. I take the opportunity to send postcards on my very last full day of the trip because it has been about the only chance to do so. Sitting in the elevator lobby on the 23rd floor of Hotel Okura, my backdrop is the Galaxy Hotel and the big wave pool. I sun a bit as I write my postcards. This is the one hotel where free wireless is available anywhere, so I take advantage of it and Skype® in the elevator lobby while I write. Finished with chatting and writing, I make my way down to the lobby to mail the finished products. After a little back and forth about how to pay for the stamps, I spot Jasmine (Contestant #14) sitting down in the lobby. The rest of the entourage can’t be far behind, and it is nearly lunchtime, so I go see what’s up.
Chatting with Kim, Peter, and Michael, they have already done a lot of shooting. They just have a couple more places before lunch, so I follow them around. Luckily, I’m useful extra security since they are shooting in wide open spaces with very persistent people trying to photograph them without the girls’ permission. The fountain in one of the lobbies has a dancing fountain, and the show is starting as we roll up to it. The girls’ reactions to the light and water show are captured on video. They pose for pictures in front of a stylized peacock feather backdrop, and the entire entourage move into the casino. There’s a stage show depicting China just before World War II. A prosperous time with international influence, the actors and actresses provide a spectacular show of dancing to a constantly changing background. Here, the girls are asked to react a little more flamboyantly than usual for the cameras to make it a good show.
With only a few minutes for lunch, we are herded into Park Liu Chow, an extremely well known brand name in Chiuzhou cuisine. Duck and dim sum dishes appear in quick succession. Discussion of the afternoon events revolve around skywalking and bungee jumping. Kim challenges Stacy to the bungee jump, and for her, it is less of a challenge and more stress relief. Logistics of filming the jump are discussed over a lovely orange and jasmine scented dessert soup. A quick call out to the troops have the girls meeting in the lobby of our hotel at 3pm after rehearsal at 2:30pm for this evening’s events. As exciting as the afternoon’s events sound, I choose to sty behind and experience the Galaxy.
The complex is huge and confusing for a lot of people. In my wandering, I happen across several people from the trip who are lost. Luckily, I inherited my father’s sense of direction, so I am able to at least get everyone back to our specific hotel lobby. From there, they should be able to find the others. On the East Promenade where Hotel Okura I located, there are only luxury stores like Van Cleef & Arpel – not my normal price range. A quick look at the directory, the more affordable shops are on the West Promenade on the other side of the casino which takes up the middle third of the complex. I admired the Tastes of Asia food court, but I’m still pretty full from lunch. I do indulge in a crispy caramel ice cream sandwich during my walk. Macau is known for its Portuguese custard tarts, and I thought I had lost my chance to savor one by not going with the girls this afternoon, but luckily, there are two famous bakeries in mall. I shop for gifts for the family and stop at Mannings pharmacy to pick up a few of my favorite toiletries from Taiwan. I feel so selfish for indulging today, but I figured it’s my last free afternoon, so I might as well take advantage. With half a dozen fresh out of the oven Portuguese custard tarts in my bag, I get back to the hotel to get ready for the evenings festivities.
Tonight, the girls are doing pretty much the same as last night, having a turn on the catwalk in their cocktail dresses and impressing the crowd. Those of us who are no important to the production are asked to go ahead and get ready and bring our bags down to the lobby so that we can all attend the after party. I’m going to miss my five star hotel room and being able to actually watch music videos on television. I pack my little bag and head down to the lobby ahead of everyone. A lot of hugging and group photos are taken as start filling the bus. Stay tuned for the final installment including the after party and a most adventurous route to get home.
Stereotype Rebel 