What I Like (Or Not) About Las Vegas

Las Vegas, or Sin City, whichever you call it, is a much publicized city in the movies, commercials, anecdotes, that it has risen to that prime spot for reputation internationally.
So much has gone into that fame that Vegas is today a world tourist destination, and I am sure the locals couldn't be more pleased (in whichever context) with that pouring fortune coming in from all the tourism and of course, the investments in their luck here at the well-established landmarks surrounding the center of the city.

Like many around the world (I am sure many have the same initial perception as well), Vegas, to me, is this city of entertainment and filled with many 'interesting' activities; particularly skewed towards the more adventurous side.
The city is like a large Wheel of Fortune to me; where one can spin or look all around the city and rest his/her eyes on something that would catch their eye or that probably just looks fun, in their very own perception.
It sounds like there is something for everyone to do in Vegas, but to be honest, is that really as they make it out to be or is it just another promotional tag for the travel brochures?

For many, there is no doubt Sin City has its own foundations to build to its reputation/name and it is definitely not wrong to land in that perception. Gambling, or trying their luck at making it big at their fortunes (as they call it) is just one of the vices to begin with. Gambling sounds like a harsh word, definitely, but we are not far from the truth. To soften the allegation of the negative aura surrounding the word, it would definitely be more acceptable to look at it, or even refer to it as one's attempt to try their luck.

Sampling your luck, or just taking it up as a challenge is probably a fun way to look at it, and it certainly is when one is just simply in it for the fun. However, often some get too carried away that they no longer focus on the fun and have indulged in the commitment to the table; staying confined to that space until they have lost focus on their loss and are intent on continuous investment of their fortune, just betting on luck. Scientifically, it is not all about luck when it comes to gambling, as there is a certain probability tied to it, but that is only made known to certain individuals who probably wrote a thesis on it (and made big fortunes with their science knowledge).
The point is, when one starts to believe seriously and lose themselves (and money) in changing their luck, and lives on that table, that is when this becomes a vice, and negatively so.

I am not an advocate of gambling; never was, and that was probably why I had never see that as one of the attractions in Vegas. That is just me, though I do find it fascinating the creativity invested in these fortune makers and masterminds behind the casinos, in coming up with many different types of modes/machines/avenues to cajole people from all over the world and we are talking about diversity here in masses, to just place their bets (their fortune) to contribute to these folks' fortunes.
Walking through the casinos, I would never be even tempted to even attempt a coin slot to try my luck; simply because I am not just a strong believer of pure luck.
(That's probably a different topic altogether, and it's not because I am just so negative about the lack of luck or anything like that). Neither am I a weak-willed person who cannot control myself and just fall into temptations; no, it's just not like that. I just don't like to gamble, or placing my trust and fortune on a machine/table, period.

There may be many people enjoying it, but I am saying, that if it doesn't lead to any negative emotions or situations, then it would be considered fun, otherwise, I am not sure that I like the idea of how it changes a person to the darker side.

Las Vegas can be a very vibrant city that comes to life, especially at night, obviously.
I liked how happening and lively the city is like, but at the same time, it could get a little rowdy and packed at the same time. Crowds can be suffocating, merry, gay and yet disturbing all in the same context. I probably made this sound confusing, but you get the idea.
It can be exhilarating and adrenaline-pumping to see how excited people get, and how people are just so open and fun to be around with in the large crowds. It is as though there are no boundaries; it does not matter where you are from, who you are, why you are here - everyone is just there to have fun.
That is the interesting part about Vegas, or even United States for that matter, where total strangers could be hugging or placing that high-five and just start a conversation with anyone in a friendly manner just right there on the spot.
Loud music are playing everywhere in Vegas, and that's where people would sing or even dance along, mind you, and it's all normal to see dancing on the streets.
It is just pure FUN, and I am amazed at how people are able to take that term "Let your hair down" to that extent, and I just love that concept.

At the same time, some could tend to get too close to comfort, especially the drunk crowd or those over-friendly people and social problems tend to come to mind. It is no-brainer that one has to watch out for their belongings; not just in Vegas, of course, but it is good to put your guard on (especially if you are a lady) when being pushed around or shoved(probably squeezed a little) in that mass of crowds. Definitely not for the claustrophobics, I would say.

There are just so many things to look forward to in Vegas, as I have covered in my previous articles, and I am sure there are more on others' lists compared to mine.
It is all about fun, and having a good time in this city, as we have all seen in movies depicting the atmosphere of the city (and it is always at night, if you have noticed because that is when the city really, really comes to life) and I can't say I fully disagree.
That's probably why the city is a little over the top in the commercialization part; and to a certain extent, the city probably is just too commercialized to my liking.
It is not a bad thing, of course, particularly for the financial and commercial growth of the city but when things become provocatively commercialized, identity takes on a different turn and in a totally different light.

In a nutshell, Vegas is a city which is just so full of life and excitement that it is not for the conservatives or the faint-hearted.

Visit Vegas with an open mind, and take in what the city has to offer rather than setting your very own levels of expectations, just like how traveling ought to be anyway, wherever you go.
Some may not find it is their cup of tea, but hey, at least, you have seen Vegas in her true form and you can say, "Been there, done that" and tick it off your bucket list.

I have been to Vegas, and yeah, done that, definitely! :-)

And remember, Vegas, is a large, Wheel of Fortune, spin it around, and take in from all around the angles!

Street-seeing and Terminal 21 Shopping Mall

This is probably my fourth time landing in Bangkok, and it is finally the one that I get to experience Bangkok a little more than the other times when I just stopover for a night, only taking in the night scenery of the bustling metropolis which stands as the capital of Thailand. Being the capital, it is no wonder that most of the flights to the many attractions in Thailand are to fly in to the Suvarnabhumi International Airport before heading to the other destinations in the country.
While Thailand is famous for the many beautiful beaches and vacation getaways, the capital city of Bangkok was not overshadowed; not in the least, as the city was famed for the sprawling streets and many shopping malls which made this city known to many as the shopping capital. Choices vary from affordable to luxurious, and quality for the affordable range will not fail your expectation.
Besides shopping, the city plays up to its name as the capital with the many temples and even the royal palace which wooed many tourists from all over the globe with its striking and stunning magnificence. (I will be sharing on this shortly in my upcoming post)

I was just excited to be able to finally tour the city although this was more of a relaxation trip rather than a itinerary-busted one. Still, it did not dampen my spirit as I was just keen to explore the streets on foot in my first few hours upon arrival; as we arrived in the late afternoon.



At the BTS station






Food stalls can be found everywhere on the streets; around the corner and even below a pedestrian bridge. The Thais do love their street food, and the food selection varies from every stall. While there may be two or more stalls selling the same thing, but in general, there are many options available and it is really interesting to check out what each stall has to offer.







Grilled food on skewers like these are quite popular; and they look amazing though we didn't stop to try.
Prices were quite affordable too, but I am never one who can take street food well. I blame it on my sensitive tummy.




We headed to one of the latest and most trendy shopping mall; Terminal 21 which was famed for its unique design and creativity.
Each level in the mall was modeled after the theme of a famous city, with the decorations emulating the atmosphere/landmarks of those major cities.
Furthermore, the escalators leading to the next level are also designed in a way where they resembled the departure gates in the airport; taking off to another country theme on the next level. I find this concept rather fresh and amusing; and cool too, after hearing and reading so much about this famous mall.





Hollywood level was logically, for the cinemas and entertainment, which just makes perfect sense!




The escalators span for four storeys high~


The iconic landmark of San Francisco; the Golden Gate Bridge!
(It's interesting how I always see things from my most recent travel; I was only in San Francisco a couple of months before this Bangkok trip)






The San Francisco trolley train


The Royal Palace Guards on the level themed after London










Japan






We walked around and enjoyed many unique sights on each level; while taking photos along the way and window shopped for a short while before our dinner.







Dinner was at one of the famous chain of restaurants; MK Restaurant . Well, typically I post about food in my food blog, but this time, I will just briefly share some of the photos from our dinner here.















Dessert at the food court



Wrapped up the day and the night with the famous Mango Sticky Rice which my friends were swooning about (not me as I am not a fan, yeah, sadly)

My Escapade to Bangkok

I have to admit, that when my friends asked if I wanted to join on an all-girls' trip to Bangkok, I was rather skeptical. Security may be one of the reasons of course, but there was also the part of planning six months in advance which posed a lot of doubts and uncertainties especially when dealing with a work schedule like mine (well, even with work aside, personal things could come up at the very last minute too).
I am not one for early travel planning or for making booking in advance mainly because my schedule can be rather unpredictable and I like to play safe. At least I could travel with a peace of mind once I have everything under control.
However, I decided to take the risk this time for; it sounds like fun, and besides, I have not traveled with the girls before and Bangkok was one place where I hopped on and off the plane most of the time for layovers or extremely short trips where all I remembered of the city was how the airport looked like, and probably the busy traffic. (I was in the cab most of the time, trying to get to the hotel or the airport anyway).
It was really a spur of the moment thing and to be frank, I was almost caught in last minute changes prior to the trip! Apart from that, I was convinced by my best gal pal who was really like me in lots of ways, who was rather familiar with the city and could help us get through the itinerary planning.

There were news of demonstrations the same week of our trip, but nothing major and we went ahead on the trip. It was a rather good reason for me to catch my breath from the stress piling up to my chin; and I was really looking forward to having a relaxing time; traipsing the streets for interesting sights, do a little shopping and catching up with my old school girlfriends.

Flight food (to be frank, I personally find that Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines serve better in-flight meals than any other airlines I have taken).


Our luggages; not planned but somewhat turned out to be in a rather unique sequence in height =)


It was a short flight from KL to Bangkok; probably an hour plus with our neighboring country (our destination) lagging an hour behind us. The one-hour difference did get us muddled up at times, but it was manageable as we were only there for a couple of days. Besides, the worst scenario would be either sleeping an hour earlier or waking up an hour later, right?

A glimpse of our hotel lobby;  recommended by our 'guide' - Novotel Siam Square.



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This is just a short post as a sneak peek into my trip and will be followed by more posts on the vibrant and bustling city...

To be continued...