Macau

Like Las Vegas, Macau is a city within a city: the veneer of gambling etched in meganeon on the surface diverts attention from the Portugese-Chinese cultural blend thriving just beneath the bling.
Long walks up narrow hills reveal this culture. Similarly, the Portugese architecture+decoration illuminate the exterior, while the Chinese underbelly exposes another reality.
The European gloss carries a sentimental familiarity, but for me, it's difficult to turn away from the Asian texture and visual richness.
Local cuisine is where both collide in unexpected, extraordinary ways.
I've been back several times since Macau is just a five minute ferry ride from Zhuhai, China.

Hungry Ghost

Singapore has celebrated its version of Halloween already. Mid-September is the time for a month of Hungry Ghost rituals.
Local legend tells tales of the Gates of Hell opening for a short time to allow earthlings to make ammends with unhappy ancestors.
In order to keep them placated so they won't create mischief or bad luck for the living, food is piled onto makeshift altars and incense is burned around the clock.
A huge yellow tent was set up in Tanjong Pagar park to mark the highlights of on-going rituals. Monks show up to chant and keep the peace.
It's a scary time for people in their heads but no costumes are worn---the Monks are the only people in drag in their saffron robes.
Unlike U.S. Halloween festivities which can be just another large moneymaking holiday, Hungry Ghost in Spore is just an annual local Taoist event.