Trip To Las Vegas

Las Vegas, just 100 years back was a desert surrounded by hills. But today its one of the most attractive tourism places in the US. This city has both an ugly side and a pretty side.

First let me describe the good part of Las Vegas.

- Las Vegas is a lovely and beautiful city. The entertained hub of the city runs along a road called “The Strip”. Both sides of the Strip are filled with Casinos. A Casino traditionally is a gambling center, but the Casinos here are nothing but a luxurious Resort, based on a theme with accommodation, restaurants, gambling centers, spas, entertainment shows etc all under the same roof.

- The strip has many Casinos; each casino is based on a theme. The Las Vegas city is wide spread but most of the entertainment is situated along the strip. People need not go any where for entertainment; every thing is available in the strip itself.

The other side of Las Vegas is very sinful. Las Vegas is also popularly known as the ‘Sin City’. Thousands of people pour in day after day with hefty purses and return home as paupers.

- It is not only popular for spectaculars but for gambling, night clubs, alcoholism, drug addiction, suicide rate, bankruptcy, commercial ‘wedding and divorce’ etc.

- Nude, semi nude and topless dancers make the guests immoral. Las Vegas night life is full of sinful activities throughout the night. This is the only city that’s completely functional all thru the night. All casinos and restaurants are open thru the whole night.

- Semi nude posters of dancers on advertisement vans make the decent visitors to close their eyes.

 

GAMBLING IN LAS VEGAS

All Casinos in Las Vegas are equipped with vast gambling facilities. The most common and easiest gambling device is the slot machine. Previously these slot machines were coin based, but to-day these machines are converted into “token’ slot machines. Though these machines are based on coin denominations, they take only currency or cards. At the end of the session a token is printed which can be exchanged for cash. 

Apart from slot machines, there are different types of gambling played by using “cards”. Poker & Blackjack is very popular. In the gambling area, the bartender girls wearing minimum dress with a tray hanging around their necks server hot drinks, soft drinks and cigarettes to the gamblers free of cost. Only some tip to be given to them. It is a business tactics, by supplying free alcohol on the floor, the gamblers are encouraged to sit and gamble for hours and lose everything.

To get some experience, I gambled with $50 (Rs 2500) in a slot machine for more than one hour and finally lost $50 but gained $18. In average, everybody will lose at this ratio; the machines are calibrated to work like that.

The pleasure during gambling is boundless. The temptation is so powerful; whatever is gained would also be gambled and finally lost.

In these gambling centers those who are less than 21 years are strictly not allowed, those who had just completed 21 years should have an age proof. When we took little Ronan who was ten months old, baby was not allowed in the gambling area, they said that the gambling centers are ‘smoking’ allowed centers and the smoke will affect the babies. 

 

CASIONS AND ENTERTAINMENT: Every Casio has a theme; I am describing  a few of them:

BELLAGIO CASINO: Entertains the guests with most ambitious water fountains dancing beautifully according to the romantic spirit of the resort. It also features an in house floral garden, which is changed every season.

TREASURE ISLAND CASINO attracts thousands of people for its evening Pirate show. In the front of the casino there is big canal in which a ship moves, pirates from opposite ship attack the ship. A fight using acrobatics and pyrotechnics is exhibited in a daring style, which keeps everybody spell bound.

HOTEL MIRAGE transforms into violent and spectacular erupting volcano, the flame goes to a height of 54 feet with a large smoke creating a fear among people.

PARIS PARIS: This casino has created a mini Eiffel tower, there are tower rides. The interior looks very much like Paris and mimics historical places in Paris.

VENETIAN is dedicated to the beauty of Venice. The Casino is built to resemble Venice; there are gondola rides and shopping malls.

MAGIC Shows using hi- tech gimmicks are conducted at many Casinos. Shockingly hilarious magic show of the Amazing Jonathan,  illusions with a mix of comedy of Nathan Burton, death defying escapes of ‘ Princes of Magic’ Scarlett are very popular shows.

BALI HAI GOLF CLUB has seven acre of water features, 4000 trees including 2500 palm trees, 100,000 tropical plants- it’s virtual Golfer’s paradise.

MUSIC SHOWS of Jersey Boys, Donny and Marie, Barbra and Frank etc are very popular shows conducted live without using tapes.

SHOPPINGS of casuals, sports, swim, jewelry, perfume, lotions, soaps, hosiery, gloves, gowns etc of high quality are spread for shopping in almost all the casinos.

 

 

RESTAURANTS

Las Vegas is known for its lavish buffets. Each buffet features a different cuisine and culture. The famous celebrity chefs of US are associated with restaurants of Las Vegas. Each restaurant is famous for its signature items. People visit these restaurants for special items to which these are known. McCormick & Schmick’s for sea food, TJ Steak House for Colorado lamb chops, Benihana for Teriyaki Steak, David Burke for roast California, Zeffirino for decorative desserts etc. For food lovers Las Vegas is a paradise.

In one of the restaurants I tasted Fried Calamari fish (made into bajji like fry), it was so tasty, because calamari fish flesh is very chewy like bubble gum, and one can chew it for a long time and enjoy the taste. This fish is not available in India

The Caviar (fish eggs) is extremely tasty, which is prepared with a special recipe and served in gourmet dinners. It is a rare fish and the eggs of it are very rarely available. It is served in restaurant Aquaknox with traditional garnishes. (I had read about caviar fish egg long back in Deccan Herald, where it was mentioned that it was a favorite item of Russian Tsars)

In my next post, I will write in detail on “Venetian Resort & Casino”, where we stayed. Here, wonderfully the city of Venice (Italy) has been created. It is replicate of Venice. We feel as if we are in Venice, a wonderful experience, it an architectural splendor.