Macau Patacas and Hong Kong Dollars

Thought I’d share a little practical info on the usage of Macau Patacas (MOP) and Hong Kong Dollars (HKD).

Both rates fluctuate a bit – but currently in 09/08 the Macau Pataca (MOP) is about  774 to 100 US dollars. Most of us just figure 8 to 1 and leave it at that. 100 HKD is worth 103 MOP.

Businesses in Macau will accept Hong Kong Dollars, but Hong Kong will not accept Macau Patacas (MOP). Unless you are making a large purchase many businesses do not give an exchange rate for HKD – so when shopping in Macau you will save some money by purchasing in Patacas instead of HKD. Most businesses have signs that say: 1 HKD = 1 MOP . In other words, no exchange.

Macau Patacas only have value in Macau – my understanding is you cannot change the money outside of the general area of Macau. So if you’re going to stock up on cash, better to do it in HKD for when you travel.

When going into China I have heard that they do not accept either MOP or HKD – so you have to exchange for Chinese currency.

I’ve made the mistake of trying to give Macau coinage in Hong Kong – and the retailers really scoff at it – as if you’ve presented them with bottlecaps or seashells.

Freddy Fender ALMA Awards Show on ABC

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPx9EsvGqxs

Video when I played with Freddy Fender on ABC at the 2002 ALMA awards (American Latin Music Awards). He was starting to be very ill in 2002 and had a kidney transplant the same year (and a liver transplant in 2004). Freddy passed away on October 14, 2006. Vaya Con Dios Freddy!

FREDDY FENDER RECIEVING PIONEER AWARD ON NATIONAL BROADCAST ON ABC. BAND MEMBERS CHRIS JURADO (BASS) AUGIE MEYERS (PIANO) CONRAD ASKLAND (DIGITAL KEYS) RHYS CLARK (DRUMS) MARK TATE (LEAD GUITAR)VERN MONNETT (STEEL) 

Sven and Ole Joke #274

Two young men from up in Minnesooooota were looking at a Sears catalog and admiring the models.Ole says to Sven ‘Have you seen the beautiful girls in this catalog?

‘Sven replies, ‘Yes, they are very beautiful. And look at the price!’ Ole says, with wide eyes, ‘Wow, they aren’t very expensive. At this price, I’m buying one.

‘Sven smiles and pats him on the back. ‘Good idea! Order one and if she’s as beautiful as she is in the catalog, I will get one too.’

Three weeks later, Sven asks his friend Ole, ‘Did you ever receive the girl you ordered from the Sears catalog?’

Ole replies, ‘No, but it shouldn’t be long now. I got her clothes yesterday!’

Opera

 pavarotti2.jpg

Det er temmelig hårdt at gå på arbejdet efter en dejlig lang ferie. Men i morgen er det weekend og vi skal til Svendborg, ja nærmere Valdemar slot og hører opera.

Her i huset er vi store fan af opera, min mand mere end andre. Men især disse udendørs operaer er dejlig at gÃ¥ til. Sidste weekend var vi til opera i Teater Hedeland (tæt ved Roskilde), og se Turandot. Det er den med arien”Nessun dorma”, som Pavarotti udødeliggjorde. Lyt til den via youtube linket i højre side af bloggen.

Men altsÃ¥, udendør opera er dejligt. Vi medbringer picnic kurv og sidder og hygger os et par timer før forestillingen, læser om handlingen i “Bogen om opera”. Stemningen til disse arrangementer er meget afslappet, glade, positive folk der er interesseret i opera. Og denne gang bemærkede vi at mange unge mennesker havde fundet vej. Det er mÃ¥ske ved at være moderne at hører opera.

Website Outages

A handful of sites in my networks are currently down. They will resume operation by middle of September. Thank you for your patience. Most of the free public service sites are currently running and accessible.