USA Day 3-A: Red Rock Canyon, Nevada

I love road trips- and I wouldn't miss it even when I am in one of the world's biggest gaming and entertainment center.  You can imagine how excited I was to go to the Red Rock Canyon on my second day in Las Vegas.

On the way to the Red Rock Canyon

Less than an hour drive away, the Red Rock Canyon is a stark contrast to the cityscape of the Las Vegas Strip. I found myself in this part of the Mojave desert ("mountain-and-basin topography with sparse vegetation"). The scenic rock formation and cliffs in very vivid colors, in a desert landscape is very striking.  

To the visitor center

We headed to the observation deck in the visitor center- where one can have the best view of the Calico Hills.  We could not help but click our cameras away! 

At the view deck

Calico Hills from the view deck

Calico Hills from the view deck

  

The fee of USD7 per car includes the 13 mile scenic drive within the canyon. Calico Hills, a beautiful red sandstone formation, is by the entrance of the scenic drive loop.  We stopped to take pictures upclose. 

We drove onwards, and I cant help but be in awe at this beautiful landscape.It amazes me that the same rock formation would have different view, depending on your angle. 

Next  stop was the Sandstone Quarry, where many hikers were resting at the nearby parking lot. 

The next stop is the High Point Overlook, which gives a breath-taking 360 degree view of the canyon.  

And then from that point on,  everything looked the same (haha!) We did enjoy the 13 mile drive singing Tagalog songs. 

Too bad we did not have the time to do horseback riding, or biking or maybe at least trekking.  But I was driving in a beautiful car, through a beautiful scenery. What more could I ask for?

Cheers to more road trips! 

USA Day 2: Las Vegas, Baby!

I took the 9AM JetBlue flight from San Francisco to Las Vegas on my 2nd day.  The BART, which goes all the way to the airport, made things very convenient (I wish trains in Manila would go all the way to the airport too!).  

It was a short flight-less than an hour.  From the plane, Las Vegas looked out-of-place: huge buildings in the middle of a desert. It kind of looked weird.  As the plane was descending, I can see the details of those big hotels- wow! 

In no time, I found myself waiting for my luggage- and for my friend Aldwin, at the Terminal 3 of McCarran airport.  And I cant help but notice the slot machines near the conveyor in the airport :)- I have never seen one outside a casino, and never in an airport. Welcome to Las Vegas, baby!

From the airport, it is easy to go to and from the major hotels in The Strip- there is a shared airport shuttle which would cost around $7 (one way),  which can be found outside of door 52 of Terminal 3. But I was glad Aldwin volunteered to pick me up.... in his new mini cooper (I want one too!). 

It was a joy to see Aldwin after a decade! We were classmates in photography class, way back 2000 or so and we became good friends along with a bunch of other guys. We lost touch when I got very busy with work (and other stuff)  and then he had to move to the US. But some things never change....he's still my buddy. But then, some things did change...his weight! He's a lot slimmer now! :)

On the way to the hotel, we cruised The Strip. I was amazed with the hotels, and the vast number of tourists who keep on walking from one end of The Strip to the other, and back.  Aldwin booked me at The Linq Hotel and Casino, a  month before I arrived. Being a resident, he got me my room at a discount. I paid only around $220 for 3 nights, inclusive of the resort fee. The Linq is a chic hotel in the middle of The Strip and very close to everything. The room design is minimalist and modern and I liked it!  There are many restaurants, bars,and shops connected to The Linq.  Behind the hotel is the High Roller, the 520 feet-in-diameter ferris wheel, where one can see the beautiful lights of Las Vegas at night. 

The Linq

The Linq

The Linq at night

The High Roller at night

My room

The hallway

We had lunch and spent an hour catching up. Aldwin has been doing 3 jobs, one of which is as stylist, which was one of his dream jobs.  He took out his huge make up kit - and made me up (Thanks Aldwin! ) . The make up session was fun!  It's little things like this that makes my day.

Aldwin's Make Up Kit

My make up artist and me

Me

It was Aldwin's birthday that day- talk about timing.  We headed to another casino, 30 minutes away from  The Strip to celebrate his birthday with his family. 

Off to Aldwin's birthday dinner

Happy birthday, Aldwin! I am glad I made it to your birthday party.  And I am happy we're friends and I would gladly meet with you anywhere in the world, anytime. I hope the next time would be with the other guys: Reg, Rowi, Mari, Ron and Darius.

Aldwin and his birthday cake.