I’ve always heard stories on Vegas and of course, the famous tagline, “What happens inVegas, stays in Vegas.” I’ve always wondered why must it be Vegas and not anywhere else! Upon reaching Vegas, first thing that came to my mind was, “Okay, now I know…..”

Vegas is about 4 hours flight away from Toronto. The 4 hour flight was very much bearable as compared to the many long haul flights I’ve been on lately, especially when I encountered some beautiful sights as we were cruising our way through.

As soon as we arrived in McCarran International Airport, we claimed our luggage and headed to board the bus to the Rental Car Centre. Initially before we left, I was so not looking forward to this part of the trip but I was surprised as everything was linked rather systematically and never once did I feel lost! Very well organized system I must say.  

View from the plane

View from the plane

From the plane, as we were approaching Vegas

From the plane, as we were approaching Vegas

Landing in vegas

Landing in vegas

Bus connection from McCarran International Airport to the Rental Car Centre

Bus connection from McCarran International Airport to the Rental Car Centre

McCarran Rent A Car Centre

McCarran Rent A Car Centre

Our ride in Vegas

Our ride in Vegas

As soon as we got our car, we headed off to check into our accommodation  at the Caesars Palace. The roads and surroundings of Las Vegas, seemed very desert like. Las Vegas is in fact built on a desert area. Looking at how built up some parts of Las Vegas was, I was quite impressed – to think that someone would think of all that! 

Roads of Vegas

Roads of Vegas

 It is indeed a land of Casinos, not that we gambled. Apart from work commitments, we filled up our time other ways, like taking the opportunity to watch shows. We managed to catch a Cirque Du Soleil show, a David Copperfield Show and we enjoyed walking around the many shopping centres – an interesting one would be the Palazzo, with the Grand Canal Shoppes. We also watched the Bellagio Fountains Show – amazing and very pretty!

We also enjoyed Seafood, heaps of seafood and Gourmet Sushi like Sushi Samba and Nobu. We found a Halal Thai Restaurant, Sakinah Thai, which served really yummy food – who would have expected to find such nice authentic Thai food in a places like Vegas – so authentic that we kept going back almost everyday during our time in Vegas. 

The amazing Bellagio Fountains

The amazing Bellagio Fountains

The Palazzo

The Palazzo

Outside Grand Canal Shoppes

Outside Grand Canal Shoppes

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Surroundings of the Grand Canal Shoppes, beautiful illusions of artificial sky

Inside the Grand Canal Shoppes

The Grand Canal

Almost every hotel in Vegas has a Casino attached – the lobby areas are covered in Casino tables, jackpots, everything to do with gambling, you name it and they have it. For non-gamblers like us, it may not be as meaningful as those who gamble but then again, primary reason we were in Vegas was for the Mister’s work. Also, we just don’t gamble – as ironic as it may be, life is already so much of a gamble, don’t you think? 🙂

A snapshot of a 'Casino Lobby'

A snapshot of a ‘Casino Lobby’

Just as well, there is so much more to Vegas than just gambling, of course the various shopping centres and their close to surreal ambience makes you feel like you are in a totally different world altogether. We also enjoyed the various sweets and desserts we could find, like Carlos Bakeshop and Sprinkles Cupcakes! We also did some outlet shopping and went on the High Roller – world’s highest Ferris Wheel. 

Some parts of Vegas kept bringing me back to Singapore, particularly, The Shops at Crystals which is linked to the Aria Casino and Resort. The Shops at Crystals brought back images of Marina Bay Sands Shopping Centre, Singapore. Very similar yet different. 

Paris in Vegas

Paris in Vegas

Eiffel in Vegas!

Eiffel Tower in Vegas!

Louis Vuitton flagship store, The Aria

Louis Vuitton flagship store, The Shops at Crystals

The Aria Shopping Centre

The Shops at Crystals, Aria Las Vegas

Statue of Liberty in Vegas

Statue of Liberty in Vegas

 

Surroundings of the Aria

Surroundings at The Aria

Above all, I must say Las Vegas is an interesting place to be at, very, very busy – one of the places where the city almost never sleeps, where shopping centres close at midnight, where Buffets are almost everywhere, where losing money somehow makes you wanna lose more money, where us non-gamblers survived and still had fun; where it all happens, in fact, where too many things are happening, all at once, in one location! If ever you are under the perception that you gotta be gambling to go to Vegas, now you know, gambling does not necessarily have to be the number one item on the agenda to be in Vegas. We definitely weren’t the only ones. 

Nevertheless, after 5 days in Vegas, I started to reminisce on the relaxed moments of Miami Beach and somewhat missed our San Diego trip! Nevertheless, it was indeed yet another enriching experience and opportunity to have seen Las Vegas. I’m sure just when I thought I’ve seen it all, there’s still much more yet to be seen and discovered!

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