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M
y journey to Macau for the 50th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix didn’t get off to the best of starts. I’d just boarded my flight from Madrid to London and discovered my tablet and laptop were missing from my bag. After a few moments of panic I came to the conclusion they must have been stolen. I’d spent three hours in the lounge at Madrid, someone must have taken them. It then slowly dawned on me; when going through security I had taken the laptop and tablet out of my bag as normal. After scanning my bag the security guy wanted all my camera gear out and sent me back.
I’ve no idea what makes Madrid security different to any other I’ve ever gone through but obviously I wasn’t going anywhere if I didn’t do as instructed so I emptied my gear into several trays and sent it back through. Once everything was cleared I packed all my gear back into my bag but left leaving my laptop and tablet behind! Sitting on the plane I started to ponder what the hell to do. Aside from losing an expensive laptop, I had nothing to work on in Macau. When I arrived in Heathrow I asked the security guys what to do. After laughing at my stupidity they collected their thoughts and advised that I should call the lost and found at Madrid airport. I quickly called my partner at home and she got straight on the case while I boarded my flight to Hong Kong. Upon arriving in Hong Kong I was greeted with the news that my laptop and tablet had been found and she was going to arrange to have them couriered home. Having them sent to Macau would have cost too much, and knowing my luck they wouldn’t arrive until after I left.
Feeling a lot better I continued on my journey to Macau thinking I’d pick up a basic cheap laptop to get me through the weekend. The first thing that hits you when you arrive in Macau is the heat, or more accurately the humidity. It’s not the worst place I’ve been to on my travels photographing motorcycle racing (Malaysia has that honour) but it made being outside a little unpleasant, especially when carrying heavy camera equipment. The heat and humidity wasn’t what I found hardest to deal with though. It was the sheer number of people out on the streets, all moving at a frustratingly slow pace. Forget trying to get anywhere in Macau in a hurry. Discovering that it is the most densely populated region on the planet came as no surprise.