USA Day 4: The Strip

Open 24/7.  That is how The Strip is: non stop .  The place is non-stop gambling, dining, shows, shopping and walking. It is buzzing with activity, at any given time.

Sights at The Strip

Las Vegas Boulevard

Gamble your heart out.

The Strip is the 4.2 miles or so stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard, from Mandalay Bay and Delano to the Stratosphere. The Linq hotel, where I am staying is right in the middle of The Strip.

Street sign near the Mandalay Bay

Mandalay Bay

Street leading to the stratosphere

Many hotel resorts  and casinos mimic famous places around the world, making the cityscape of The Strip very scenic.  It's like being taken to New York, Egypt, Paris,Venice and Hollywood, just in one day.

New York,New York

Paris

Planet Hollywood

Egypt in Luxor Hotel

Resorts, casinos, stores and restaurants also also come in different interesting themes. Visitors will be taken to the Roman time at Caesars Palace, or King Arthur's time at the Excalibur. The Mirage has a Polynesian theme complete with lagoons and dolphins. The resraurant at MGM has rainforest for a theme.  Of course, Hardrock Cafe would have its signature electric guitar and M and M World comes with its M and Ms colors, and one which the kids would love.

Caesar's Palace, infront of The Linq

Lagoon at The Mirage

Rainforest Cafe at MGM

M and M world

The hotels and casinos also offer  free attractions- unfortunately, due to limited time, I only explored a few.  (And this also means, I gotta go back to check out the rest. :) ). The choreographed routine of water, music and light of the  Bellagio dancing fountain is a favorite. It is open daily, and runs every half an hour (or every 15 minutes from 8 PM to 12 AM) . I also liked the Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo.    It has a nice garden, which gives you a break from the hustle and bustle of the Strip.  The Wildlife habitat has pink flamingos, ducks and kois...and a nice wedding chapel. 

Bellagio dancing fountain

Wildlife at Flamingo

Wedding chapel at Flamingo

   

The Strip is a looong walk but free monorails are available, if you do not want to take the Deuce bus.  The Mandalay Bay Tram connects Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur. The City Center Tran connects Monte Carlo, Crystals and Bellagio.  There is another tram connecting Treasure Island and The Mirage.

The Strip spells fun.  I enjoyed people watching, the lights and sights, and just being in the middle of it all.  But at the end of my 3rd day in Las Vegas, I was all worn out, and was ready to head back to San Francisco to meet my high school friends.

USA Day 3- B: Kà by Cirque du Soleil

A visit to Las Vegas will not be complete without watching their famous shows. I have always wanted to watch a Cirque du Soleil show - my friends were all raving about them when they went on tour to the Philippines. There are 8 Cirque du Soleil shows playing all year round in Las Vegas, but then there's also the David Copperfield magic show and ...the Chippendales  :).

I cannot contain my excitement when my friend surprised me with a ticket to Ka, a  Cirque du Soleil show playing at MGM Grand Las Vegas. It's one dream coming true.

After our Red Rock Canyon trip, we had early dinner then we headed to the hotel to dress up for the show.  Then we were off to see my very first Las Vegas show.

All set for the show! Let's go!

Off to MGM! Weeeee!

There were already people waiting to enter the theater when we reached MGM.  I bet I was the most excited of all- having travelled all the way from the Philippines to watch a Las Vegas show.  

When the theater opened, guests were greeted, and seated, by the actors of Kà. The actors also did some flips and stunts and leaps from the left and right side of the stage into the audience, in an attempt to scare them (us). Too bad, take pictures were not allowed during the show.  I was able to take a picture of the very elaborate stage before the performance started , though. It looked lavish.

Kà , which features some 80 actors and actresses, is the story of "the coming of age of a young man and a young woman through their encounters with love, conflict and the duality of Kà, the fire that can unite or separate, destroy or illuminate." I could not concentrate on the story, however, because I was too amazed with all the jaw-dropping acrobatics, pryotechnics, special effects and the costumes. I particularly liked how they used the 2 moving platforms and lifts, which re-configures the stage every time they move them. The shadow play was also a favorite.

An experience I will never forget.  I love Cirque! 

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.