Me Likey Las Vegas and Grand Canyon.

Las Vegas The Strip

Travelling is my favorite activity. As I turned into 25 years in last August I decided to give myself a present. A special present to celebrate a quarter of a century of my life. It's a travelling ticket. I've been living in the East America for almost one year so I think it's gonna be cool if I go to west side of America, to see the difference. After thinking and counting a lot of stuff, finally Grand Canyon was my choice. Yes, it's like my dream. I had a strong memory about Grand Canyon since I was a kid. I used to see it on magazines, encyclopedia, TV documentary, internet, and so. Than I did a small web surfing about Grand Canyon, and bang here I go, Grand Canyon is close to Las Vegas. Didn't think twice, this both places were my final destination.

  

Thought that I will go by myself so I have to considering a lot of stuff. Simply a good plan. I bought returned airplane tickets from Charlotte to Las Vegas, booked the hotel room, and the most important thing was The Grand Canyon tour from a month before I go. Actually, Grand Canyon is not far from Las Vegas, it takes only five hours driving. But, I don't want to take a risk with driving by myself and rent a car to get there. So, I prefer to take a tour.

I went to Las Vegas in 23th of August around 3.00 pm from Charlotte. There're three hours different time between Charlotte and Las Vegas. I didn't count how many hours I had flight. I just arrived at the airport in Las Vegas around 8.15 pm. On my first step at the airport I was so surprised. Gambling machines were welcoming me. Hahaha. Here I am, Las Vegas, the sin city. Where gambling or gaming are legal.

 

 Casino inside the hotel

 It didn't take a long time and so easy to get out from the airport. I walked to the place where I supposed to wait the shuttle bus. Oh ya, I stayed at Silver Sevens Hotel and Casino and this hotel offers free shuttle bus from and to airport. While waiting for the bus, I was talking to a nice lady and her husband. Apparently we're waiting for the same bus. Knew that I'll stay for a couple days in Las Vegas, she just gave me cards to play gamble. She said it costs $25 and she gave it to me for free because she's going home at that night. I was like, OMG. What is it? Is it a sign that I should play? Haha.

Early on the next day I started to walk through The Strip area. The Strip is a stretch of South Las Vegas boulevard (about 4 miles) where big hotels and casinos concentrated. I started to walk from the hotel around 9.00 am. I was thinking to grab some breakfast on the way to the strip. While walking, I didn't see people walk like me. It was deserted and I felt weird. What's going on people?

About 15 minutes later I found the answer. OMGoodness, it was crazy hot and hot and thirst. My wet heir abruptly dry. My skin and lips screamed and my water bottle half empty. Geez. I got headache. Yes, Las Vegas is a desert and it was 97F and dry. No wonder. I just didn't prepare for this climate.

I walked faster to catch some shades to rest. Thank God I survived to get the strip. Then I just ate breakfast and observed. I opened the map and made a decision. Ok, I'm going to the south first. I visited every single hotels and casinos they had. So beautiful and WOW. The facades and its interior awed me a lot. I also went to M&M and Herseys buildings. Yes, I love chocolate. Luxor hotels was the last hotel in the south I visited. Then I went back to the north. I visited Aria, Bellagio, Caesar Palace, Treasure Island, and Fashion show mall. At Bellagio hotel I saw Fountains of Bellagio. It was so beautiful. The water fountains looked like dancing following the music. I could get daydreaming over there. Haha.

Luxor

Fountains of Bellagio

 

Eiffel Tower a la Las Vegas

 

Statue of Liberty Made with Chocolate Herseys

We are Ready to Safe the City!

 I saw a live fashion show at Fashion Show mall. It was my first time to see it and was nice. I went to Venezia hotel and it was amazing. Its design is similar with truly Venezia in Italy. Yup people said. There are gondola and artificial river inside the hotel. I didn't go back late at that day because I had to prepare for Grand Canyon trip early on the next day.

 

Hotel's Interior



Live Fashion Show

Venezia a la Las Vegas

Riding the Gondola

On the second day, at 6.10 am the bus tour picked me up from the hotel and headed to their office for the trip explanation and so. We started to go from the office around 8.00 am. Firstly we stopped at Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between Nevada and Arizona. It was so windy over there, I had to hang on at the walkway border and hold my hat and sunglass, unless they would fly away.

Hoover Dam

After took some pictures we directly went to The Grand Canyon. It took five hours. To kill the time I just slept and talked to a nice young boy from India who sit beside me. It just was Ok. Finally, around 2 pm we arrived at the first stop at Grand Canyon. OMGato, Amazing. I couldn’t stop smiling, hahhaa. Thanks to that young boy, he took a lot of my pictures here. Oh ya I think his name is Sit..

We spent about one hour here and then go to the second stop point. Here, I got closer with Shin. He’s a nice Japanese guy who was being my new friend. We walked together to explore a tiny part of Grand Canyon. It was really nice. I could feel The Grand Canyon even just for a while. I wish someday I can stay longer, for a month may be. Haha.

 

The South Rim Grand Canyon View

Me and Shin

On the third day, it was Tuesday. I planned to enjoy the rest of the strip in Las Vegas. Most of my friends suggested me to watch the shows in Las Vegas, at least one of them. So after road walk from The Mirage up to Strathosphere I enjoyed The Zarkana by Cirque du Soleil. This is the best part of Las Vegas for me. I couldn’t describe it better, just take a look from the photos. It’s beyond what I’ve seen from the TV.

Zarkana, the Opening

My Favorite

Finished from The Zarkana, I walked around for a while to see the Las Vegas views at night. I felt that a lot of pedestrian crowd the walkway more than at the day time. They’re dressed up with full make up and of course plus high heels. Yup, they’re going to the night club or the casinos. Besides that, the views in Las Vegas was spectacular. The strip was so colorful with the light. The girls with super sexy wings dresses added its color. Haha. Oh ya, some topless handsome cute unyu-unyu guys also appeared there. So, it’s balanced.

Las Vegas at Night

 

 

I really enjoyed The Fountains of Bellagio at that night. It was more beautiful than at the day time. The lighting set and the song were completely made my day.

On the fourth day, which is mean my last day in Las Vegas was so tight. I made it tight so I won’t miss anything and regret it someday. I went to The Springs Preserve in the morning. This place is located about three miles from the strip. Oh ya, from the third day I always took RTC bus (Regional Transportation Commition) to accommodate me. It was so easy and comfy. For six hours ride it costs six dollar, 24 hours is eight dollar, and three days is $30.

Anyway, I took the RTC really in the morning at that day and arrived safely at The Springs Preserve at the time I planned before. This place has galleries contain exhibit about Las Vegas in the past, present, and in the future. I saw so many interesting things, Hoover Dam history, animal desert, succulent, cactus, and run water show. It was hot over there and I really walked on the desert. Done with the desert then I went to Circus Circus. This place is a hotel which has a free circus show in every half hour. Oh ya, in this place also I tried to play some games. Haha mostly I lost, but lucky me I got a cute shark doll when I played the last game. It was so easy, I just need to blow a balloon with a little square stuff.

At Springs Preserve with Cactus

 It was already afternoon when I left The Circus Circus. Thought that I had some time, then I rushed to check the shows list on that day. There’s a booth which has name Tix4tonight and had a good price for the shows. They had discount, I think up to 40% for the shows. I was confused to choose which one is good for me. Then a friendly guy was suggesting me to pick Vegas the Show for that night. I was like, Okay why not.

And here I go, Vegas the Show!

 

WOW, I really enjoyed the whole thing of that show. The singers and the band were perfectly hypnotized me. The dance was so magnificent well. It’s kind of sensuous dance but not erotic. Seducing but not bitchy (ugh!). The dresses of the girls were so sexy. Even almost naked. I think that’s why the audience couldn’t take pictures. I highly appreciate all the girls. They are all beautiful and have a perfect skin and body. Yes, I didn’t see any cellulite on their skin. No tattoo and no tan. I was thinking, do they ever go to the beach and get suntan? Or do they ever walk on the desert? Ok, the last one was a stupid question.

After the show I ran to The Mirage Hotel. A nice girl told me that this hotel has a volcano show at night. It was a nice show. This show was also closed my Las Vegas trip. On the next day, I spent all the time to go back to North Carolina. It’s a long trip.

The Volcano Show

 I’m so happy that my trip to Las Vegas was as smooth as I planned. I think I did well. Btw, this trip was my first solo trip. At first when I planned it, I felt a little bit nervous. Everybody knows that Las Vegas is a big city where gambling is legal and famous with its slogan “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”. Everything is possible to happen. Includes if I suddenly get rich. But yeah, thank God I survived.

Actually, it doesn’t matter where we are, bad things could happen to us if we’re not be careful and pay attention with the environment. I mean the situation or condition around us. For example, when I was in RTC I totally forgot to zip in my backpack after I took some candies. I didn’t realize it until a nice lady told me. She said “It’s better if it’s closed”, I was like, OMG where’s my brain? I said thank you a couple times to her. I couldn’t imagine how if it’s open all the time.

I think it’s a good idea to have a solo trip experience. Based on what I’ve gotten, I felt I know myself better. For the best solo trip, I have to think a lot what I’m gonna do, where will I stay, what will I eat, what time I should wake up and go sleep, how to get that certain place, how to make a friend, how to entertain myself and so. I can say that it’s more challenges.

Now, the ice has broken for me. Travelling isn’t only fun with friends. This thing makes me scare of myself. OMG, I’m thinking what will happen next. But yeah, as we know a couple is better than a single, so do about travelling. A friend besides us would be helpful to take the pictures J. More friends more pictures J.

One more thing, good thing happens to good people.