Macau

Team “Will you marry me?” burst onto the Adventure Racing scene this weekend (11/6/06) in it's first campaign. However the race really began long ago...

Stage One: Convince Corinne to Race

This was much easier than expected, “Wouldn't you love to be able to say to our kids (future) "I did an adventure race where daddy asked me to marry him”. Stage one, accomplished.

Stage Two: Physical Conditioning

The Macau Action Asia was going to be tough. We expected to take up to 9 hours to complete the 42km course. We entered a series of “sprint” races which were about 12km long but only involved trail running and rock scrambling. Corinne was the only person I know to complete ALL races in the series. Stage two, accomplished...... pretty much anyway.

Stage Three: Passport's aren't waterproof

Personally I wouldn't even say they are water resistant because after one time through the washing machine mine was not looking too flash at all. This discovery was made on Wednesday night with us due to leave for Macau (considered a foreign country) on Saturday morning. Thankfully the Australian Consulate was able to give me an emergency passport, after I told them I was planning to ask Corinne to marry me. Stage three, accomplished.

Stage Four: The Race Begins

We started at the very back of the field, quite literally last. This was a well thought out psychological plan so we could kick some butt from the start, however it all began to unravel as we “accidentally” passed a team within the first 700m of running. Then into a 300m lake swim we went. Somehow by the time we exited the water we had over taken about another 5 teams (they must have been horrible swimmers). Then it was about two and half hours of running, coasteering (rock scrambling on the coast) and some more swimming. Stage four, accomplished.

Running through a coastal village

Stage Five: Biking in Macau

When I stated that we “pretty much accomplished stage two", mountain biking was the part we missed. Thankfully we'd only be on them for about the next 4 hours. Also Macau is not know for it's mountains like Hong Kong however the route we took managed to find nearly every incline possible on the island. There was a lot of stairs in these sections meaning we had to carry our bikes uphill much of the time. Corinne's bike was a rental and as a result, a bit of a tank. Much to her protesting sometimes she even let me carry hers...

Stage Six: Fixed lines of DOOOOM!!!

Most of you would know Corinne and I met rock climbing so I assumed that the rope sections of the race would not be too confronting. However when everyone else around you is freaking out on a rock face it's as contagious as yawning. People with bad shoes, no co-ordination and fear pulsing through their bodies were falling all-around us, and even on top of us. Corinne “I'm not enjoying this” was very happy to be off the fixed lines. Even my “Look, no hands!" antics didn't seem to lighten the mood...

Stage six, accomplished.

That's Corinne telling the next guy "DON"T RUSH ME!!!"

Stage Seven: More Swimming, Ropes, Biking, Running... when will it end?

“It just seems to keep going and going”. There was about 5 swims totaling about 1km, coasteering and running of 15km, mountain biking 20km and 1 hour of rope work (fixed lines, abseiling, cargo nets, ladder climbs). We missed the kayaking cutoff unfortunately.

Mmmm...peanut butter sandwiches...the fuel of champions!

The rockface behind Corinne is the one we had just come down.

Close your eyes...and....splash! The end of a bridge abseil.

Stage Seven... Mission Accomplished!!

As the rain poured down and the clock ticked over to 7hours 43mins team “Will you marry me?” crossed the finish line holding hands. I got down on one knee AGAIN, and asked Corinne to marry me. This fulfilled my promise to the Australian Consulate and gave Corinne a second chance to reconsider. Thankfully she still said yes.

Even though we weren't the fastest team on the day, we were definitely the strongest.

I'm sure it will come as no surprise to many of you but Corinne and I got engaged on the weekend. Apparently the TAB had us with one dollar getting you $1.15. It was at the Macau foreshore (with the neon casino lights providing plenty of "mood lighting") at the stroke of midnight of our four-year anniversary. She said yes (many of you may not have seen that one coming). We spent the next hour cruising the "entertainment" districts of Macau trying to find a bottle of bubbly which we later shared with Corinne's folks back at our hotel.

I was originally thinking of asking in Beijing at Christmas, but after a friend asked me why I was waiting, and I had no answer I decided on Macau. Corinne's parents flew in on Friday that was a birthday surprise for Corinne and allowed me to ask their permission in person (after great discussion and compromise over the dowry we eventually came to an agreement).

On the Saturday night we had dinner on the 63rd floor of Macau tower in the revolving restaurant. The views and food were incredible and a MUST for anyone in Macau. They had a melted chocolate fountain... many dreams came true this weekend. Honestly when I booked I was expecting to pay for the view and end up wanting to eat out afterwards... boy was I wrong. It you ever make it to Macau Tower don't eat the week before you go… and wear a flower in your hair. Truly the best buffet I've ever eaten at (YES! Even better than Sizzler)

We have no wedding plans yet as it would cost us a living allowance over here which is a pretty considerable portion of our pay.

Corinne's Notes:
1. He did get down on one knee
2. Although I wasn't shocked I certainly wasn't expecting it that night - a great surprise!
3. Yes, we are being fiscally aware and hence will probably have a long engagement - and ultimately an Australian wedding.

The Sands, the Pharos, the mini Venice. European architecture and Cathedral ruins - where are we? I had to keep reminding myself I was only a 1 hour ferry ride away from Hong Kong and a 20 minute walk into mainland china - we were in Macau. A fantastically odd little island of Portuguese and Chinese heritage with a HUGE obsession with casino's or more to the point Hong Kongers have the obsession and the Macanese have the right (gambling is illegal in HK) to exploit this market - and they do - with all the style of Vegas.

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So anyway, we were brought there by one of Tim’s races and while he was kayaking through South China Sea surf and abseiling down mountains I was roaming the alleys and markets reminiscent of a small Portuguese village. Macau was a great little place and having spent only 2 days there Tim and I will surely be back (I mean we still have the casino's to explore, need I say more!)