Portugal's maritime power

MACAU, China - This city is the last vestige of the maritime power of Portugal of early times that was lost because of its weak national leadership.

In the 15th century, the Pope in the Treaty of Tordesillas divided the world between Spain and Portugal. I am writing based on raw memory and do not know the names of the Pope and the king of Portugal then.

But at that time Portugal had better sailors, Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan. They believed the world was round and one could reach the east by sailing west.

But the Portuguese king did not believe them. So they went to Spain's Queen Isabela who approved. So Columbus discovered America and Magellan discovered the Philippines.

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It was also a Portuguese sailor Vasco de Gama who rounded the Cape of Good Hope.

The Islam religion was already strong and its leaders did not want Christianity to spread in the Far East. They even attacked Europe and established the Ottoman Empire but when they lost in the Battle of Lepanto on Oct. 7, 1571, they were stopped in their tracks.

After Portugal failed to expand in the Far East, it went to South America and colonized Brazil.

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Going around with our group here and visiting historical landmarks has made me conclude that colonization had its many advantages.

The blending of the Western and Eastern cultures improves people's outlook.

When we went back to Hong Kong we toured the place by pairs to be sure no one would get lost.

Ric Yanson is paired with Ed Mercado, Pompey Querubim with our big man Toti Ramos, Manolo Lopez with Hermes Aguilar, Nordy Diploma with Alex Mirasol and Mirianing Tuvilla and myself.

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Ric Yanson has proven to be a good shepherd of the flock. When Hermes Aguilar was lost, Ric left us to look for him. Pompey accompanied him. While going around Hong Kong, Mirianing and myself lost the rest of our group mates.

Marianing is recognized as good in navigating the waters. He retired from the Navy with the rank of Commodore. But, the group gave the verdict he is not good at navigating on land.

Toti Ramos is really a good accountant. In the casino, before Ric Yanson knew how much he won, Toti knew it already.

All our expenses are shared equally. But our dinner was paid with Ric's winnings that night.

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Shopping in Hong Kong is difficult if after seeing the price you mentally multiply it by 6.8, the rate of exchange of the Hong Kong dollar to the peso.

But as travelers the advice always is stop multiplying. Or you cannot buy.

We will be home by Sunday. And I want to write more on how to enjoy traveling.*

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