« The giants of basketball - missing stunt photo! | Homepage | Don't mention the Olympics »



August 29, 2008

The origins of "Macau"

Whilst we were in Macau, we visited the A-Ma Temple. This was built on the sea shore, at the spot where the Goddess A-Ma is said to have ascended to heaven. The buildings and shrines were beautiful, but it was bustling and absolutely hectic, so there wasn't really much chance to take photos or to take it all in.

55atemple

55btemple

It isn't as close to the sea as it used to be. Reclaimed land has formed a small area in front of the Temple, and it now features one of Macau's main roads.

55ctemple

55d_innertemple

However, ships still approach as close as they can get to the temple, and then let off noisy firecrackers - A-Ma is the goddess of fishermen.

55efirecrackers

55f_templeship

She is also the reason that we Westerners call the place Macau. It is thought that when the Portuguese first arrived in the area, and asked the name of the place, they mistook people saying "A-Ma Gau" for the actual name. What they were being told actually means "The bay of A-Ma".

Tourists, eh?

« Previous | Homepage | Next »

Comments

The comments to this entry are closed.

« Previous entry: The giants of basketball - missing stunt photo!
» Next entry: Don't mention the Olympics

A lemon tree of our own

  • The journal of a British couple who left the UK to set up home in Hania, Crete.
  • Homepage

Search this site

Powered by TypePad