April and the first half of May weren’t all that eventful…until this week which has been an avalanche of panic, pain, strangled houseplants and (hopefully) things working out in the end. Things started out rather mellowly. Miwa and I attended an event at the MGM Cotai run by this mainland dance organization. The actual performances were just fine, but good god the audience participation sections were like half of the show. We were both looking at our cell phones toward the end. I really could have done without the karaoke contest…
At least it was a nice night for a walk down the Cotai Strip afterwards…
I visited the Galleries Lafayette right across from the Grand Lisboa. It’s a new mall with a few lame brand stores, a Five Guys with a nice patio and a movie theater that apparently nobody knows about. Maybe worth looking into if you miss your bus…
https://www.galerieslafayette.mo/
Time for a Cuppa Coffee (Taipa) rant. Everyone knows the place, it’s an ex-pat institution. But when they have a promotion, they kinda find it hard to stick to. Case in point: free refills of black coffee. Day 1, I come in and ask for black coffee. They give me an Americano. I point out that I should have ordered “brewed coffee” if I’d wanted free refills. Despite the sign plainly saying “free refills of black coffee”. Fine, whatevs. Day 2, “I’d like some brewed coffee”. Oh, it’s too early. And also the coffee machine is on the fritz. Okay, sure it is. Day 3: I come in after 8:30, I order a brewed coffee. Um, yeah, ok, hold on a bit. They quickly brew a pot. It tastes BAD. Like old beans. Great. The guy nicely around to give me a refill of that swill without me having to ask at least. Moral of the story: stick with americanos at Cuppa Cofee.
https://www.facebook.com/cuppacoffee.macau/
Or better yet, just go to Woop Woop, my favorite new cafe just around the corner. They have new hummus toast and it’s pretty darn good. Keep it in business, it deserves to survive…
https://www.taipavillagemacau.com/directory/woopwoop/
Another takoyaki party! This time we let Julio make all the takoyaki. The curse of being good at something…
We also had lunch over at Hatago (旅籠炉端燒居酒屋), not too far from Woop Woop. The lunch is pretty good and tastes reasonably Japanese (at least compared to some unmentionable Japanese restaurants here in Macau.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/P56Ya3BmSEKQuDLu8
Hugo took a pic of me as I returned to campus. I look intent on something. Probably police body cam videos you YouTube…
Moon Chun (MCMC), my affiliated residential college, awarded me with a “Half-Blue” distinction at their Valedictorian Dinner this year. Basically because I went the extra mile to be active in volunteering last semester. The food wasn’t too bad, but the speeches were long…
Some sad news. The Portuguese Spot in Taipa Village has closed. It was sort of souvenir store and local hangout for the local Portuguese and expat community. I’ve gotten many a Mother’s Day and birthday present here. But the rent just proved too expensive, I think. Best of luck to Sarah and Miguel on their next endeavor.
On the other hand, Lotus seems to be gaining momentum in recent days. It’s a Portuguese cocktail bar right around the corner from Macalhau and the Harley Davidson bar. Good mojitos and cheap Super Bock. And they have a secret rooftop space when the weather is nice.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084412531081
Sean and Michael joining me for a post-dinner drink.
End of the semester is here! And all my grades in early this semester. This is one my best students this semester in the background…
Vicky is back from maternity leave. I was in charge of organizing the end-of-the-semester lunch and many thanks to Sumi for buying the flowers and offering advice.
Oh, and Miwa and I also joined some of the local freemasons for a meal at the Sands. It was interesting to see the mostly Hong Kong Irish Lodge hosting the local Portuguese speaking lodges. No word as to whether or not I’m worthy in their eyes, but we’ll see how it goes over the next few months. The food was pretty good.
The masonic wives (and Miwa). 🙂
The bar at the Artyzen was jamming with oldsters. Wait, I’m an oldster now, too…
We learned from a French mason that there was a ‘little’ art exhibit on campus with a few big names. So on the last day it was open we headed over.
My coworker Azita was nice enough to take all of us out to lunch (Dragon something, I forget the name), in honor of the return of Stephanie, one of the teachers I was instrumental in getting hired a couple years back. She has gone on to bigger and better things since then (a PhD program, basically), so it was great to see her again.
I took a visit down near the Ruins of St. Paul on my walk. Food Truck is bigger and better than ever. https://www.facebook.com/foodtruckcompany
Later in the day I visited St. Joseph’s theology college to hear a lecture on researching religion. It was a little dry, and I left after the first presentation. But the campus was very cool. https://www.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/sightseeing/churches/st-josephs-seminary-and-church
On the book front, I was pretty lazy. I only finished Freemasonry for Dummies. Was it interesting? Actually yes, much better at outlining the basics than the previous book I read.
https://www.amazon.com/Freemasons-Dummies-Christopher-Hodapp/dp/1119843421
Movie-wise, I did inflict a few more RiffTrax B-movie monstrosities on my psyche. Basically a mummy movie from the late 50s (Teenagers vs. The Thing) intercut with angry 70s academics and just a smidgin of a homicidal monster that in no way resembles Bigfoot. So…not a lot of Bigfoot in your Bigfoot movie…
https://youtu.be/LMja1RufhYg?si=rBWDEqJ5Ag2gDCGM
Much more entertaining was the Rifftrax Live version of Jack the Giant Killer. I believe I saw this as a simulcast event in theaters with my parents when it happened live. And it’s a lot of fun. https://youtu.be/urSgdV4dodc?si=xb7kMarm2vz65dPD
Mutant is basically a zombie movie featuring Wings Hauser at his sexiest. Everyone else is repugnant as well. https://youtu.be/R7eIatSvoDY?si=bm_2bGaNXctP4G7B
Prisoners of the Lost Universe has Richard Hatch and John Saxon. Otherwise very Gorean issekai.
https://youtu.be/qv6W2y5Yk4k?si=enXL8dXrGaad7JK1
Bloody Pit of Horror is an Italian ‘horror’ movie that’s unpleasantly kinky when its not being plain old dumb. Torture porn for the Frankie and Annette fan club…https://youtu.be/7oSOKlw60MA?si=5v8H3UZGYoBFM5j-
And finally, Future Force. David Carradine is a bounty hunter in the future that looks exactly like the present. Hard to believe this exists…https://youtu.be/12rrE7rzOkE?si=VImDs9swif1oTyeE
And to finish things off, the really big news is that Alex will be headed for Honolulu, not Tokyo! Watch this space for updates, because last minute vaccinations and apartment hunting are the order of the day. And I thought this was going to be a relaxing summer. Anyway, off to Madrid this week, so I should have some good pics next time around.
Duking it Out 