An alley in Macau
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflj-PEcX9KQrwKlCM8m0_6DCk8f4oilS0AWQ2XklnVoUEDNSYmrEJQ69eNFkQg4cAHgUaFJg_W9PyBvq12S97MJPR4oS9HVoEMjVOlODMjXuURfy1YjKDn2HqgE1e7FG_AHPNq3GAOMc/s400/b_Macau+1.jpg)
I love Macau.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRd0EaeIDCLD_qE4RAdxsNIXlyKko0KhkrWzEqC-46iz4dMIHHF8EuoARCnMuU-lGI5VYApgyWcdUhnGJYDmmVTYRQx4-CQv8V9hhdHMF3g9q0Jh8pB-2V6NplQ93F9Xcs1o0pV8356lg/s400/b_Macau+5.jpg)
It is one of the most fascinating and most romantic places in the world. It's almost a fantasy town - the kind of place I dreamed about living in as a child.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FHbL25_VJqhLrmnXIt8b1fqNRQJiwqM3LWbJJ-c9YGXUQ83hLHEa_GRAb-vpaAEW_TVjroCQ6HRS40t5Ofa84suPUH6W1R0v4QkyQeOA-NMMl-6LLdTs6n4kcGoEpC_QIIr97hputcg/s400/b_Macau+4.jpg)
And what I love most about it is its alleyways. I grew up in the bush, so roads were a rarity, let alone the narrowed, cobbled alleys that I read about and fantasised about. I would have given my life to live in an alley, and whenever I go to Macau I look up at the balconies of all the little flats that overlook the alleys and think to myself, "Why can't that be me?"
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWRsIHerlFOzGwZCvUDIgfg_OypubguOgR7qoZLQ5YOwD4XLcC-TZNX7nd6ZGSouemwt198vV0KvpVA5FVU_CZ2I3GHwtpQF5d5WnI09abqlFQ0mGDayYK8nLE2MUsmIQ_We0Gno2WOc/s400/b_Macau+3.jpg)
In a couple of years I plan to go and stay in Macau for a few months and write a book about it. There is surprisingly little about Macau in English (would gratefully accept any recommendations), and I can see myself deep in the old part of the city, my balcony overlooking some travessa or other, munching on a custard tart.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkemCfRpjdSsucV80EMra_eOo9BlabnqLIbizqQdAmfD4UbU3bXtE1awSz9zrYeDjTtRY9uAVX9ni6kf8gfb3PgfHy59F6GVn_J6_kwA_0euq5DWPf2MFpVAqaCPUMZTuxF-7cMW16zmk/s400/b_Macau+2.jpg)
Macau has always held a fascination for artists, writers and misfits. For centuries it has been the home of political exiles, prates, gangsters and other people escaping the world. There is a fabulous old Hollywood film called Macao that captures perfectly this mythically dangerous side of the island.
And while its all very cleaned-up these days, and the casinos have more or less taken over the town, there is still plenty of history and atmosphere to keep old romantics like me satisfied. I am going to treasure ducking down a darkened alley, past a brothel and a mah-jong parlour, on my way home to my manuscript mouldering away on a rickety desk in the hot night air.
And no-one will be able to find me in my alley in Macau.
Comments