Week 3 in China

May 2nd, 2016

Another great week here in Macau, China. 

On Wednesday I ventured out around the hotel here in Macau to do some exploring! There are the big luxurious western style hotels and within a block you find streets like below. The stores are on the street level and there are apartments above them. Lots of jewelry stores with a few clothing stores and places to eat or buy food. Their jewelry is still expensive even on the back streets, especially the brand names. 

This is a little place you can pick out your fish and take it home or they will cook it for you there. Red Lobster has nothing on this place, and you know how much I like fish. I just gazed and walked away!

This is how you get across the busy streets. You take these underground walkways. They made me a little nervous at first.

Some apartment buildings across the street. You have big hotels and apartments right next to each other...some really nice and some more run down.

The MGM is just behind us. 

Inside the MGM...

A good spot to relax and enjoy people watching.

Then heading back to our 'home away from home' .... Wynn Macau

I love to just sit out on the benches out front and watch the water shows. A different one goes off every 15 minutes.

I tagged along with John to work on Thursday morning and when he got done with his early meetings, we went grocery shopping at a 'Western' grocery store he found over in Coiti. (The only one we've found over here.

The boss taking care of business!

We bought granola bars, some fruit, nuts, Oreos, and and we even found some iced donuts at the little bakery counter (a rare find over here). Of course we couldnt eat just one!

I also took a cab over to the Macau Tower this week and rode up to the top to look out the observation deck. I wanted to bungi jump off the top, but I knew John would t approve. So instead I watched others (who were a slight bit younger than I) try it and had to be content with taking a few picturesque photos!

FYI $135 their money is like $16 US currency

Zooming in on Wynn Macau

This is about as clear as the skies have gotten since being here...and it is hot and very humid! 

This is a zoomed in pic of the big boats that I watch going by all day long out our room window. They are hauling dirt over to reclaim land for more buildings. Both Wynn properties over here are built on reclaimed land. (Meaning land that was once under water). 

The observatory on the top of the tower

My little friend! She's a good listener!

This is a picture the lady on the left sent me from the church activity the other day. She leaves her family in the Phillipines to come here to work in Macau. We communicate almost daily.

This past Monday was a holiday over here (their Labor Day) so John took me on a tour of the new project (Wynn Palace in Cotai). It was fun to see the progress in the past couple of months!

These gondolas will go around the huge lake and water show out front. 

Getting closer to being done! The construction in a lot of the areas (including most of the rooms in the tower) are complete and have been turned over to the operations people. Still much to finish though.

The workers make the most of their breaks by taking a little nap. It was around lunch time so there were workers sleeping all over!  

One of the hallways where the stores will be

One of four rotundas 

One of the back of house areas yet to be complete. Some areas were like a maze to get through.

Out by one of the suite decks. Mr. Wynn calling John to get an update on the progress.

One of the restaurants

All the lights and water sprayers under the lake out front. Getting ready to begin refilling in the next week or so. Was done once but they decided to drain and add more lights and sprayers. 

Getting a chance to pretend I'm the boss, but didn't want to stay there long! John fits the chair much better than I.

After our tour we went to a movie and dinner at the Galaxy Resort. Hard to find a movie that's not rated R and is in English over here (we saw the new 'Avenger' movie). It was fun to spend the day together! 

Back in China Week #2

Highlights of the week:

...John working six days a week and long hours. Enjoys Sunday's to unwind and attend church.

...I got my yearbook caught up, put in some time at the gym, enjoying Alma (B of Mormon) and found several new names for Temple work.

...highlight of the week for me was attending a church 'beach activity' over in Coloane at Hac Sa' Beach (black sand). The Holbrooks (senior couple missionaries from Utah) invited me to go with them and we were able to enjoy lunch together here at the hotel before we went. Not quite the same as having the missionaries over back home, but it was the best I could do here). The Holbrooks are awesome and it was so fun to spend the day with them! The activity was fun and well attended, and I enjoyed getting to know the members on a more personal basis! We played games, visited, and enjoyed some catered food. All three branches in the district were invited, and although I couldn't understand the game rules in Chinese, they were good to explain them in English also. The members are so friendly and welcoming here! 

...John and I attended church on Sunday and we both were asked to give prayers. So neat to experience being a part of the branch!

Hac Sa' Beach

With Sister Holbrook

The path to the beach...

Playing group games....

One of the branch presidents who has done well financially

and helps to put on a lot of fun activities for the members.

The two sisters on the right are two of the original converts in Macau.

Refreshment time

The Holbrooks and myself  with a newly activated Sister (Christina) and her husband (investigator).

I have felt such a connection with Christina , and am enjoying having the opportunity to fellowship she and her husband! 

One of the Sister Missionaries who is from Utah! 

This girl leads the singing in Sacrament Meeting and is

Planning to go on a mission soon!

I was also able to get a picture of the sisters after Relief Society

on Sunday...

Yes I know I kind of stand out...good, bad or indifferent, but they make me feel such a part!

Think I may not wear the white skirt again!

Two of the Young Women in our branch

Back together in China - Week 1 (April 12-18)

Tuesday, April 19th  

It's so great to be back with John again even though I did have to come to China to find him! He was waiting for me when I arrived in Hong Kong so he could ride the ferry back to Macau with me..."Reunited and it feels so good!"

It took a few days to get my days and nights straightened around after arriving, but life is good! It feels much more at home coming back this time as everything is familiar!

It's been pretty rainy and foggy here, so I'm content to stay put in the hotel while John's at work! It's a nice relaxing life for a change, and I've decided it's nice to be spoiled once in a while! I'm loving having the time to work on our yearbook and family history! I usually get a good workout in at the gym too! John has a lot going on with work, and puts in long work days, but we look forward to our evenings together and usually order room service and watch tv, visit, or read together. (We're into 'Downton Abbey' and 'The Voice'!

The gym in Wynn Macau! I'm trying to wear a few machines out!

On Saturday, John got off early and we met up in Coiti and went to a movie and had dinner at the Galaxy Hotel.  (Below)

Waiting for our theatre (3D glasses)

Now why don't they have movie theatres like this at home?

As if I have a hard enough time staying awake in a movie! The guy who sat next to us actually did fall asleep and was snoring pretty loud! 

Inside the Galaxy lobby. This was way cool!

It was great to attend church here and to see all the members and missionaries again! They are all so friendly and welcoming! It felt like coming home!

One of my favorite sisters 

John with the Branch President (left) and his counselor

Some of the sisters after Relief Society

One of the Elders from England