Day 1 of fieldwork

This morning we set out on a bus to explore Macau and to scout for filming places. We drove through the almost rural-like Coloane where gambling is non-existent, and started to come across signs of money games only as we approached Cotai. Among the first signs was a bus stop which had several free casino shuttle buses were parked. Then we arrived at Cotai Strip, the street around which most gambling activities south of central Macau are located. However, we decided not to step off yet but continue our bus tour as long as it would last. We drove through Taipa and crossed a bridge over to central Macau, ending up at a bus stop close to the border to mainland China. There as we stood waiting for a bus back to the center we admired a floating casino.

The floating casino.

After a bus ride back to the center of Macau we visited Casino Lisboa and Wynn, our first casinos in Macau. They were pretty impressive experiences.

Wynne and Casino Lisboa, downtown Macau.

After visiting the casinos we walked about a kilometer to the Macau Tower, and saw what Macau is like from over 300 meters above the ground. Amidst taking some pictures and footage we watched a few bungee jumpers take a plunge to a certain death(-like experience).

Macau Tower.

From the Macau Tower we took a free shuttle bus to City of Dreams casino in Cotai, and from there to Venetian Macao, the sixth-largest building in the world by floor area, and one of our most surreal experiences. Ever thought of taking a gondola ride inside a house? Well, someone has.

City of Dreams.

The blue "skies" inside of Venetian Macao.

Tomorrow, we will meet our local interpreter who for the rest of the week has promised to show us around Macau and arrange us interesting Macanese to be interviewed. More about that in approximately 24 hours.