JP found this little building on a seemingly un-inhabited tiny island off Macau. Written on the roof is some Chinese characters and the word “ZAO” - secret lair perhaps?

A bit of investigation let me to this KML file which is a collection of all the VOR and NDBs in the DAFIF database… Um, yeah.

It turns out that the this is the Zao VOR, a VHF Omni-directional Radio Range, which is a worldwide navigation system for aircraft. It broadcasts a radio signal which allows the pilot to calculate exactly where he or she is. This is all explained in great detail on the Wikipedia page.

Thanks: JP

The is the Macau Sky Tower which at 338 metres, is a very tall tower for such a little place. Macau is a bit of a gambling mecca, and this tower was built by local casino-billionaire Stanley Ho Hung-Sun after he saw the New Zealand Sky Tower, and decided he wanted one for himself.

The Macau Tower is also yet another member of the World Federation of Great Towers to add to the collection.

Thanks to Mark and Rob B.

Have you ever wondered what happens to traffic at a border between two countries that drive on opposite sides?

The Lotus Bridge between mainland China and the former Portuguese colony of Macau was completed in 1999 and is a fantastically elaborate construction, featuring three lanes in each direction and dual bridges which loop around each other by 360° to swap the direction of the traffic. Amazing.

There’s much more on this subject available on the rather good Wikipedia page about the rules of the road.

Many thanks to Nicholas Hodder and Todd Day.