Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

Sizzling in the Valley of Fire

July 8th, 2009

Have you ever wanted to visit Mars or some other strange and wonderful planet? Well that is apparently where I ended up on this +45 degree celcius day. This valley was loaded with gigantic, martian red, orange and white rocks as far as you could see. I would not be surprised if many space movies were filmed here. Please note that the objects are a lot larger than they appear. CLICK ON THE “Read more: Sizzling in the Valley of Fire” to see all the pictures.

The Valley of Fire

The Valley of Fire
It is hard to tell from this photo but that is actually 4 miles of valley behind me.

The Valley of Fire

» More: Sizzling in the Valley of Fire

Shooting Things Up at the Gun Store!

July 8th, 2009

Anything is possible in Las Vegas – including shooting machine guns. I had heard of the Gun Store from some guys who went to it as part of their stag party. But I never expected it would feel so good to hoist several different machine guns and shoot the heck out of various targets. What a jolt! What a bang! Look how happy I am!

The Gun Store in Las Vegas

The Gun Store in Las Vegas

The Gun Store in Las Vegas

The Happi Inn for Happi Times?

July 8th, 2009

Located at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip is the Happi Inn. What could that possibly mean?

The Happi Inn, Las Vegas

Another Photo of the Luxor Hotel and Casino

July 8th, 2009

Here is another view of the Luxor Hotel and Casino… the place I stayed while in Las Vegas.

Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas

The Fountains at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino

July 7th, 2009

Watching the Fountains at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino was quite possible one of the best experiences of visiting Las Vegas. I was literrally mesmerized by the explosive water jets that were choreographed with some of the most well known songs in North America. Some of the featured music includes: CON TE PARTIRÕ, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, SIMPLE GIFTS, VIVA LAS VEGAS, RONDINE AL NIDO, HEY, BIG SPENDER, STAR SPANGLED BANNER, LUCK BE A LADY TONIGHT, etc – sung and/or produced by artists such as Sarah Brightman, Elvis Presley, Luciano Pavaratti, Frank Sinatra, Faith Hill, Celine Dion and more.

I visited the fountains each night between 11 pm and 12 am. However, this evening I sat at the middle of the fountains from 8 pm to 12 am to watch a fountain show start every 15 minutes. I could not leave! Here are just a few of the many photos I took of this event.

The Fountains at the Bellagio

The Fountains at the Bellagio

The Fountains at the Bellagio
» More: The Fountains at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino

Getting “Girls Direct” to your Hotel Room?

July 7th, 2009

Upon my first walk along the Las Vegas Strip I noticed a clicking sound from the edges of the moving crowds. Looking over I noticed lines of short hispanic people (mostly illegal immigrants) handing out business cards with phone numbers. They would make the clicking sounds with the cards and then try and hand them to you. Some people would take the cards and then throw them to the ground immediately. Some were collectiong them like baseball cards. Looking down, the sidewalk was littered with these cards that featured pictures of naked women, a sexy sales ploy and a phone number. Essentially, these cards are advertising that you could have a stripper in your hotel room in as little as 10 minutes. According to the people I spoke with at the hotel these ’strippers’ were actually prostitutes. In Las Vegas, prosititution is illegal so ’they’ get around this law by advertising these girls as ’strippers’. Here are some pictures of the people handing out the cards that I took early on in the evening. As it gets later more and more of these card givers appear and the sidewalks get covered in a thick layer of discarded girlie cards.

Girls Direct in Las Vegas

Girls Direct in Las Vegas

Girls Direct in Las Vegas

Girls Direct in Las Vegas

The Coca Cola Store in Las Vegas

July 7th, 2009

Looking for everything and anything COCA COLA? Have a hungering for the most popular soda-licous drink on the planet? Well I think I found it along the Las Vegas Strip. Although, I have been banned from bringing soft drinks into my home I could not stop from visiting the Coca Cola store in Las Vegas. It actually felt like a big sin to immerse myself in the glorification of Coca Cola but secretly I liked it. And, I admit, I still like the occassional sip of the yummy sweet cola sauce especially when mixed with rum. Anyway, if you are interested in seeing how you can join a major corporate brand celebrate itself than there is no other place than the Coca Cola store in Las Vegas. My pictures only show parts of the store but you can see that the product selection is extremely Coca Cola centric.

Coca Cola Store Las Vegas

Coca Cola Store Las Vegas

Coca Cola Store Las Vegas

People Walking the Las Vegas Strip after 7 PM

July 7th, 2009

Here are some random photos of people walking along the sidewalk of the Las Vegas Strip. It was actually not very busy during supper hours (5-7 PM) in Las Vegas

People Walking the Las Vegas Strip

People Walking the Las Vegas Strip

People Walking the Las Vegas Strip

» More: People Walking the Las Vegas Strip after 7 PM

Exploring the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

July 7th, 2009

Having walked through the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino daily I decided to take a closer look at its offerings. Without even going 30 metres I could see a lion habitat, shopping, a massive casino floor, a sports wall, more shopping, snack bars, drink bars, lounges, poker tables, Club 54 and even more shopping.

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino
THIS WAS a glass roof. The Lioness was sleeping on it.

» More: Exploring the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

MORE The Buffet at Luxor!

July 7th, 2009

Finding a place to dine in Las Vegas is the easiest thing to do while cruising the strip. However, with so much choice it was hard for me to decide what I wanted to eat. Somehow I discovered that the best way to eat in Las Vegas was to choose one of the buffet restaurants which literrally have everything you could ask for. And luckily I did not have to look far. While cruising the casino at the Luxor I came upon ’More’ the Buffet. The food selection was fantastic. And best of all… it was all you can eat for $21. My first heaping meal included: pizza, sweet n’ sour rice, watermelon, fried vegetables, chicken chow mein, mac and cheese, humous, french fries, pasta salad, penne, cheese cake, pudding, and a rum and coke.  

More, the Buffet at the Luxor

» More: MORE The Buffet at Luxor!

The Excalibur Hotel and Casino at Night!

July 7th, 2009

After going for a hot dog, a Krispy Kreme dohnut and a beer at the MGM Grand I took this photo of the Excalibur Hotel and Casino on the way back to my hotel. Last photo of the night!

The Excalibur Hotel and Casino

The Flamingo Hotel and Casino at Night

July 6th, 2009

Here is a photo of the Flamingo Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

The Flamingo Hotel and Casino

Exploring the Venetian Hotel and Casino

July 6th, 2009

Here are some photos within the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

The Venetian

The Venetian

The Venetian

» More: Exploring the Venetian Hotel and Casino

Views from the Sidewalk in Las Vegas

July 6th, 2009

Here are some random photos from the sidewalk along the Las Vegas Strip.

The Flamingo Hotel and Casino

Las Vegas Strip

Sidewalk View

50 Dollars?

Views from the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel

July 6th, 2009

Here are some views from the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. This is probably the best view of Las Vegas you can get for $12.

Shane Keller

View from the Eiffel Tower

View from the Eiffel Tower

 

Amazing Construction in Las Vegas

July 6th, 2009

Here is an impressive new set of buildings being constructed along the Las Vegas Strip.

Las Vegas Construction