Vice City

Las Vegas & Grand Canyon
24 December 06 - 27 December 06

Greed, lust, money & neon lights. Throw them all together, you have Las Vegas. This place is really a vice city. The moment I step out of my plane in the McCarren Airport, I am greeted by jackpot machines. I was like whoa!

Jackpot Machines in the Airport

Haiz, and to think that I was expecting some grand Xmas celebration in Vegas. Oh no, how wrong I am. People still get on with their daily lives of gambling and gambling and gambling. The moment you step into any hotels in Vegas, you will probably struggle to locate the lobby to check into your hotel. I have to navigate across the gambling table etc.. before I can make my way to the check in counter. They probably need a map at the main door for tourist like me to get past all these "Black jacks", "Poker", "Pai Gow" tables. But nevertheless, it was really an experience ( Come to think of it, this word "experience" must have appeared countless times in any Student's blog on an exchange). By the time I arrived in Vegas, it was nearing midnight. No fanciful coutndowns but plenty of really cool hotels. No wonder they call it a city of neon nights. The decor is really fantastic.

MGM Grand

On the whole of Xmas day, I spent the whole day walking the Vegas Strip. Immersing myself in the way of life of Vice City. As I was looking around, I realise that alot of celebrities have decided to ply their trades in Vegas exclusively. Jerry Seinfield and Celine Dion in Caesar Palace, Toni Braxton in Flamengo and apparently they are paid alot alot alot of money to do so. As the night descend, you will start to see the nice and cool lighting of the hotels. From the lion of MGM to Coliseum in Caesar Palace and the Spinx and Pyramid of Luxor. It was absolutely fantastic. But this trip was marred by the many attempts to contact Papillon to arrange a pick up time from my hotel Sahara to Grand Canyon. I even have to bother my sis in Singapore to help me log on the internet to blast them over email. (Internet in Vegas is freaking expensive). Other than this small glitch, it was pretty ok. Of course, there are many pimps around in Vegas at night soliciting for business. Haa, Vice City at its max. There are also plenty of strip shows. For the guys, its the "Crazy girls" at Rivieria Hotel, "Bite" at Stratosphere and "Fantasy" at Luxor to name a few. For the ladies, there are "Chippendales" and "Thunder from Under" to name a few. There are equal chances for everyone so no worries.

The Pilot and the Chopper

Yup, this is the nice chopper that brought me to the foot of Grand Canyon. The view was really really really breathtaking. The only sad part is that it was too cloudy and the sunset view wasn't as great as a result. Once we descend, the pilot would prepare a nice lunch and pop a champagne. Pretty neat stuff to celebrate the descend to the foot of Grand Canyon. After flying around Grand Canyon, I went back to Stratosphere to enjoy the thrill rides. Seriously, throwing you around from more than 1000 ++ feet above ground is no joke. It was really thrilling and my hair literally stand up. Should really try them out if anyone of you guys happen to pop by Las Vegas. Alright, after this, its back to NY for New Year celebration at Times Square.