Smell the glove

Otherwise, it's the usual stuff one might expect in this sort of museum - a zombie suit (seen in picture) which was worn in the "Thriller" music video, Michael's autobiography, pictures from his life and a collection of MJ's distinctive autographs, including one version featuring a handwritten arrow and two rings.

Based on the number of publicity photos provided to Lifestyle showing grinning hotel execs surrounding a glass case, it comes as no surprise that the proudest possession in the gallery is Jackson's iconic rhinestone glove from his Billie Jean days. When not monopolized by suits, the glove draws the kinds of fans that only MJ could attract.

"There was once a visitor who was standing by this display window, staring at the glove for over an hour. He had me quite puzzled," Cheng said. "I approached him finally, and he asked me, 'Do you know how many rhinestones it has?' I shook my head honestly. 'Six hundred and thirty-two in total,' he told me proudly, like a happy child."

If you desperately require such a glove for your own wearing, the gift shop sells them for 628 Macao Patacas (MOP), though they were out of stock during our visit. "One hundred gloves were released on the opening day and were quickly sold out," Cheng said, before name-dropping, "Mainlander male pop star Cai Guoqing bought this glove and wore it on the CCTV Spring Gala."

Step into the curved "time tunnel" for an innovative audio-visual showcase of Jackson's lifelong musical vocation. Entering from one side, you walk through to the opening beats of the Jackson Five's I Want You Back, and on into Thriller (1982), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), HIStory (1995), Invincible (2001) and the final scene of Jackson's 2009 concert.

A stone statue of Jackson, modeled after the well-known cover of the HIStory album, is surrounded by a group of young people posing for a photo, while on the right side of the gallery, people are learning the moonwalk from MJ gallery staff. From watching them, we were reminded that while MJ may be gone, his legacy remains eternal, and the MJ gallery is a fitting tribute.

Michael Jackson Gallery.

Inset: The rhinestone glove.

Photos: Courtesy of Sofitel Ponte 16