Hobby and I have been in the big land down under for two weeks as guests of our Australian friend. We've been wined, dined, entertained, and have played many poker games. There are a dozen major casino here, most of which are on the east side of the vast continent.
We started in the south at Melbourne and have been working our way north. Today we're winding up at our last casino on the northeast coast in a colorful town, Surfers Paradise.
"Ready for California, Hobby?"
"Yes, but I'm thinking it would be a pity to go before we scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef."
I was ready to head home, but also curious to see what so many divers rave about.
"You're right, Hobby. We may not get another chance. Let's do it."
After two intense weeks of poker and partying it was wonderfully relaxing to spend a couple days swimming and diving at the reef. "This place lives up to its billing, Hobby.
I'm glad we came. You ready to head home now?"
"Almost, Joe."
"Almost? Now what? Maybe Fiji, Tahiti, or Bora Bora?"
"No... what do you think of Macau?"
"Macau, hmm. I've never been there, but from what I've heard it's booming. Is it hard to get there?"
"Nope. I made reservations just in case. What do you say?"
"You're pretty sneaky, buddy. I had no clue. How can I refuse?"
"Good. We'll fly to Hong Kong. From there we'll helo to Macau. It's only another half-hour. How's that?"
"You just won the job as travel secretary," I said as I gave him a high five. We missed a flight and it was dark and misting when we arrived at the new Hong Kong airport.
From the chopper we could see Hong Kong's lights through the haze and then we were over water. In another ten minutes we were landing in Macau. We were both bushed and since it was already late we decided to crash.
At breakfast Hobby said, "You're looking more energized this morning. Have a good night's sleep?"
"Yeah. I really did. It looks like a great day. Feel like taking a walk?" "Sure. I've got a map. There's a shopper's bazaar not too far away. Let's check it out."
We'd been walking 45 minutes and hadn't found the bazaar. "Let me see the map, Hobby." It was very confusing. "I think we got turned around, we've got to head in that direction," I said as I pointed to an alley across the way. The alley zigged and zagged until we were lost in a dead end. "Sorry, Hobby, I screwed up. We'd better do a 180."
When we turned around three young Chinese men blocked the narrow passageway. "We take money," one said as he walked up close to me.
"No way," I answered and just to reinforce my statement, I let loose a heavy right as he came within range. He wasn't suspecting it and dropped like a rock. Hobby had already knocked one down and was squaring off in a karate stance. The guy left standing shouted in Chinese and seemed prepared to fight. He swung a viscous leg sweep that almost connected. "Hey, Joe this one knows how to fight. It may take a minute."
Hobby feinted with a hand chop and went airborne with a twisting kick that caught the guy in the head. He went down hard, but came up for more. Hobby kept punishing him with chops and kicks until he went down and stayed down. I hadn't noticed but the alley behind us filled with Chinese who quickly crowded in on us.
Someone said, "You come with us."
"Hobby, we'd better go along. There's too many." We were taken into a small hall. An elderly man rose from behind a desk and approached us. He pointed at Hobby and said "You beat my number two man. Can you beat number one man?"
"Maybe, bring him on."
The guy who emerged from the gathering behind us was much bigger than the average Chinese. He looked mighty mean.
"You sure you want to do this, Hobby?"
"Yeah, just let me strip down a bit."
The old Chinese said to me, "You come Macao for gamble?"
"Yes, we did."
"You like gamble now?" He said with a grin as he sized up the two facing off who were stripped to the waist and bare-footed. I made like I was uncertain and said, "I don't know. How much?"
"One-thousand Hong Kong," he answered.
"Gee, I don't know," I said like a rube.
"I give 2 to 1 odds," he quickly offered."
"Okay," I said slowly, "I'll take it."
Hobby said, "Hey, old one, how about some bet for me?"
"Sure, how much you want?"
"How about ten-thousand Hong Kong?"
That got the old man's attention. A hard look came to his face as he said. "Okay, but you lose you better pay."
They went at it slowly at first. The Chinese guy was trying to size-up Hobby, who wasn't looking too sharp. He was purposely misleading the guy who had no idea he was up against an international Karate champion. The old man shouted something in Chinese, apparently to get on with it. Immediately the Chinaman went on an aggressive offensive.
Hobby bobbed, weaved and deflected the blows, time after time. Again the old man shouted and the attack stepped up again, but no serious blow was struck. The frustration of the attacker got the better of his judgment and he launched a roundhouse kick at Hobby's head which missed and left him wide open. Hobby kicked him solidly in the solar plexus and then leveled him with a Karate chop. The Chinese were stunned.
The old man spoke, "We are humbled and will honor our debts. But you gamblers, you play Pai Gow?"
"No, do you play Texas Hold 'Em?"
"No. You teach me Texas, I teach you Pai Gow."
"Let's do it," Hobby agreed.
We learned Pai Gow and almost broke even. Then it was our turn to teach Hold "Em. The old man was an apt student and held his own. The match ended with us losing money to him. He was satisfied that despite the outcome of the fighting match, he had beaten us at our own game.
As we walked back to our hotel Hobby said, "I think it was very smart of you to lose to the old man to save him from losing face."
"Smart hell, Hobby, the old bugger out-played me."
