Vegas. 08 Oct - 16 Oct.

My first trip out of Asia. Thankful for the opportunity amidst the many hurdles to get here. This is a city that never sleeps, a paradise for high life, everyone from the concierge to the uber drivers to the FnB servers to random strangers, people are generally in a constant party mood. Parties dont start at night, it never stops, Day Clubbing and Night Clubbing all over. Majestic landmarks towers the two sides of the Vegas Strip, they were so scaled up that one building to the next one looks near but it takes a 20 mins walk at least hotel to hotel. Shows are nightly basis, Comedy Night are full house, Show Girls swamps the streets. 

Due to me changing passport, I had to re-do my entry permit ESTA on the spot, which had caused me to be 4 mins late to the counter closing time, as the application is not an immediate approval. At that time, I was enraged, the built up anticipation and the idea of such a long haul flight, weighs down to my clenched fist I was so angry that they did not have any directives what to do if I change passport despite me contacting, or logging into the application (cannot change passport number). Joke! The lack of sympathy and bureaucracy with non chalent staff attitude and all, got me a very very very bad first impression on ANA. At that point, am I ready to forgo a $10k or so opportunity for the trip? NO! So I booked a last minute fight on United to catch up over at Vegas. United Air experience was a whole lot of different form of entertainment. I asked if I could get a last minute ticket the country staff asked if I had done ESTA which I said that was the reason I missed by ANA flight that I gotta resort to United. She asked the counter to hold up, asked me to book on spot, everyone around was on standby to receive my booking and hope nothing goes wrong to my booking as it would usually be immediate. Then, there was an announcement for me to run to the gate for that 15 hours flight. Rushing like hell but the treatment made it such a memorable and worthy spending. I experienced a 1 hour transit too as San Frans Airport is HUUUGGEE they had to have separate call to give some of us priority to transit immigration areas. Another mad rush but fun! Then I reached Vegas. Finally.  

This is a Holiday Destination for sure, im loving the vibes so much.  The Vegas Strip for shows, casinos, specialty restaurants and supercars rides. The Fremont Street for Music, Busking, Street Food and Pubs. Area 15 for futuristic, modern, artistic, psychedelics, rebels. Chinatown for comfort food, which never thought it would be a problem for me but im proven wrong, just 2 days in im already searching for something that dont require me to chew so hard like rice and noodle. Or the magic of soy sauce, sesame and chlli. As a tourist, treatment was wonderful, everyone so chill, lifts conversations, random street passer bys, the concierge at random hotels, the retail staff who offered boba tea even though I didnt buy any of their products. Just wonderful and friendly. Understand that it would be different as a Citizen and as a Tourist, but in this side of the fence, I am truly vibing. 

Lost a lot of money in the casinos as usual, but at some point its really not about the money anymore, no more maths or probability or whatever formulas or strategies, its the thrill of the impossibles, its the hype when the whole table with the dealer are fuelling the hope for the million dollar win. Learnt many many new games such as High Card Flush Poker, Three Cards Poker, Pai Gow Face Up, Let It Ride, Mississippi Stud, Caribbean Stud, Crabs, and even the usual games have so much side bets and bonuses. So friendly to teach, to wait, to help, very friendly for new players! Small talks are constant be it with table players or dealers. Love it sooooo much. 

We concluded that US food culture may not go too deep in terms of taste profile and etymology, but more of a quantity and glamor gourmet scene. Often people always say food tastes differently in other countries as it has been modified to suit their taste, I would like to challenge that, that would not explain the obsession and admiration to try the authentic local food of the destination country every time anybody travels. The chefs and manpower are also diverse, so skill is out of the equation too. That leaves with the only reasonable explanation of consumption behavior and accessibility to ingredients. 

All in all, great trip, great experience, and escapade to the glitters and glamours! I know its not reflective of US as a whole but it makes me wanna come back to US to explore the whole spectrum of cultures in its entirety. All my life I have always thought that I need not explore beyond SEA but Vegas widened by horizon, expanded by world map. I would like to touch all continents before the age of 35, let's aim 30 though, before more routines and responsibilities piles up and have lesser friends, lets do this travel thing asap!