White animal statues stood neatly aligned down the middle of the road. They were beautiful as I observed them one after the other while on the bus with my mum years ago, counting off each one until there were no more. In the eyes of a child, there was nothing in the world that could be more entertaining than that during a long and uncomfortable bus ride to Hac Sa Beach. It never occurred to me back then that I was where several integrated resorts would be erected before long, becoming what we now call the Cotai Strip.
These days, I hardly remember that those statues, which represent the 12 zodiac signs in the Chinese calendar, still exist, undermined by what has since been built in a city that has undergone a lot of changes.
Whenever I look back at what Macau was like when I was younger, I remember when I used to hop on old buses that offered varying levels of comfort and roominess. They were noisy, had a distinct smell, and probably still blew out black smoke from the exhaust pipes. I would observe the place around me from their windows, seeing a world that would become different as the years went by. Eventually the route would be the same, but the surroundings would be different.
The playgrounds I frequented as a child, meanwhile, are nothing compared to what the city has for kids nowadays. For instance, the Leisure Area of Kun Iam Statue Waterfront now has a massive play area for children, among other facilities that cater to all ages. Adding to that there are firsts such as the playground with an outdoor sandpit at La Mau district. The ones I saw as a kid were very different. While some were old, dirty and sometimes had the remnants of cigarettes and beer cans or bottles left by teenagers or adults who hung around there at night, some were then only the foundation for something much better to come.
Later on, I would see the introduction of much more sophisticated public areas, such an the much more exciting version of the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf that still had rides and even arcades that were, in my opinion, in their prime at that time.
Shops would open and more global brands would make their way into the city as it slowly became distant to what it used to be.
Needless to say, Macau has changed a lot. But watching the city go from what it was to what it is now is what I find to be most exciting about growing up here. Even without many of the advancements and modernisations that I mentioned, watching everything happen or fall into place gave me a sense of excitement and anticipation for how much better it could get. In a way, it was almost like seeing a friend grow up with me.
The city isn’t perfect and even with all the welcome additions, I still sometimes look back at the quiet place I once knew and the simpler times it once offered. But its growth and bloom have been undeniable and exciting, being something to look forward to with each passing year while keeping one question constantly in mind: What’s next?
This photo shows my favourite of the zodiac statues displayed along the Cotai Strip.
– Photo: Rui Pastorin
