The day has finally arrived to head to Vegas.
The
others are heading home to the Gold Coast with all their goodies. I have a snow
globe and popcorn.
I've
watching the weather app - nothing under 40'c everyday. Now that's my type of
heat!! I might be able to wear the dresses I packed.
The trip
to the airport was more dodgy than the back ally's of NY. I swear the driver
took us the longest possible way ever. Maybe we got the "Back Industrial
Street" tour.
Now to
wait 3hrs for the flight. Old mate stressed about missing flights and being
early it was ridiculous. But I go along with it. It is a "group" trip
after all.
I
pre-booked all my flight seats a year ago - whereas he didn't. We were then
told the plane was over booked (well done Delta) and some people will miss out
on the flight. Oh great. Stress level was already at 6 now it's 8. I'm all
good. I've got my seat. I'm going to Vegas. Cya!!
We catch
the same plane. 5 hours later as the sun sets over the hazy desert we fly into
Las Vegas. The plane lands there is our hotel. Now that was pretty cool to see.
Once
again we walk a million miles through the terminal. But catch a turbo'd tram to
the baggage pickup. Wow that was fast and kinda scary – I hate public transport
at the best of times and this super speeding driverless tram is heading straight
to the end of line.
Walking
outside to catch a cab, the blast of heat nearly burst my eyes out. It's 8pm
and still 39'c. Holy shit balls it's hot.
MGM Grand
please.
As things
are still a bit tense between old mate and myself. We don't say much. It's
kinda awkward but we make polite convos. I'm
still highly irritated by his nasty comments towards me. And waiting for the
next outburst from this grouch.
The
check-in lady loved my earrings. She
was so flirting with me LOL
Heading
up to the room we get lost through all the pokies. But when we finally found
the room wow what a view. 20 floors up and we have a spectacular view of the
southern/western end of the strip. My phone nearly went flat just taking
pics of the buildings and the pretty lights of Vegas slowly coming on show.
As the
sunsets it's time for a nap. Well I am around an old person. It's New York all
over again.
Dinner
time and I dress up all pretty, so we had out and have a bite to eat. Well
don't I look overdressed. Everyone in shorts and thongs - my favourite attire.
And I'm in heals. So everyday after that, shorts and thongs it was. Its too hot
to wear makeup.
It's
Grand Canyon day, alarm goes off at 4:30am. It's dark and we all know how much
I love getting up in the dark. The bus is full, we are last to get on and I get
the shittest seat ever. I'm so pissed off.
First
stop is meant to be Hoover Dam but oh no we get to go and see a bridge. Yes it
has a view of the dam but it's just a bridge big fucking deal. Back on the bus
in the shit seats and it's another two hours to the rocks, only to wait in line
for 45mins to go on the skywalk. Well I nearly shit my pants it was so high I
couldn't walk on the cracks. It began to move and I was like get me the fuck
off this thing I'm outta here. Caught another shuttle to see more rocks and
have some crap food they called a buffet lunch - I called it one plate of
prison slop. That was at a place called Guano Point. Which I called Poo Point.
Rather fitting really. Onto another bus to see the Ranch.
I just wanted to see the horses. I was there for 5mins. Patted the horses and
back on the shuttle to the main terminal to find old mate who didn’t want to
see anymore and sat back on our coach in the aircon. Another trip pretty much
done on my own.
It was a
12 hour tour on a bus the whole time. I was ready to stab the driver and take
control. He just wouldn't SHUT THE FUCK UP. The whole 2 hours he talked. And
repeated himself over and over. Then he had the audacity to ask for a tip. I'm
like. NO FUCKING WAY mate you don't deserve it. But grumpy had a whinge about
their wages etc. mate this driver earns more than me in tips than I do per week
at the shed. He gave him $10. Me $0. We
stopped off at some gas station where they had live gun firing. I went in for a
look – I think they get paid to stop here because it was a complete waste of
time and then I got a splinter. Better than a bullet I guess.
Travellers
tip: don't do the Grand Canyon. It looks better on tv.
Well I'm ready to head out to the strip and see the
wonderful lights of Las Vegas.
One thing
I did notice was how clean Vegas was. The streets look clean the buildings are
clean they even had people cleaning the buildings. New York should take some
advice from Vegas as this is what we want to see - clean stuff , not shit all
over the streets. There were a few quite pungent smells of cat piss –
but nothing like the putrid spells of New York City.
Each
night I headed out on my own and explored the nooks and crannies looking for
bargains and looking at the cards that people give gave out... boobies.
You have to go and see the flamingos. They are really cute. I've never seen "mingos" before. And could have spent more time with them.
Also headed to Shark Reef. You get what you pay for. $20 entry. I got told off for using my underwater camera - apparently fish don't like electricity. Last time I checked, my camera was battery operated not plugged into the power point. I would pass on going to this "attraction".
I managed to get the free wifi from all the casinos, so every time I walk past a wifi spot I get
a message from old mate asking if I've had dinner. Or what am I doing. Shit man
just leave me alone. You didn't want to come out. Stop annoying me.
Bellagio
Fountains - oh my god well they are spectacular either day or night. Yes it
draws the crowds but doesn't matter where you stand you still see that
magnificent water as it dances to music. Definitely
a must see!
Day three
of four and my feet are killing me that's what I get for wearing thongs every
day. I reckon I've walked 20 miles.
My hotel
has the best pools!! And no one gave a fuck about what you looked like. I'm a
huge people watcher so I couldn't help but look at everybody. But for once
nobody judged each other. I got my deckchair by the pool sat in the water and
soaked up the sun and heat. Surrounded by palm trees. It's the closest I'll get
to the beach. This is living this, is my type of holiday. I could stay here
forever-ish.
I've
pretty much done all the tourist things. I'm running out of money fast so I'm
mainly looking and taking photos by this stage. Then I come across a street
artist I'm blown away by his skills. Just take my money!! I got an amazing art
work done of the Vegas skyline definitely a keeper. I got back to the hotel
around 10.30pm and got the third degree on where I had been. Just out!! I
showed old grumpy - he hates it. Wasn't impressed at all. Then asks me what's
for dinner tomorrow night. I don't know. I haven't had tomorrow's breakfast
yet.
His negativity
puts a downer on my night. Oh well. I'm used to this daily occurrence.
In the
mornings I like to wake up naturally around 8.30ish. As soon as my eyes even
slightly open - grumpy who has been awake for hours starts talking to me. I
grunt as a response. He's having full blown convos. Fuck man I've been awake
for not even 2 mins and you wanna know what's for breakfast. FFS. I just roll
over, put my ear plugs back in and pillow over my head. Get the hint buddy.
Just shhh.
Travellers
hint: let your room mates SLEEP.
It's our last night in Vegas and I'm not going to
make the same mistake as New York. Went on the giant Ferris wheel. What great
views!! I watch the fountains for the 3rd time - old mates first. We then walk
the streets until my feet decide no more. And I'm in bed by 10pm.
So much
for getting an American style burger I was craving for in New York.
I repack
my suitcase to fit all my trinkets in and my awesome artwork. My dresses are
still all rolled up from 3 weeks ago when they were fist packed.
It's
checkout day. we stay in our room till as late as possible, looking out at our
view that no matter what time of day it is – it still look amazing. Then we go and sit in the foyer for three
hours until we head to the airport where we sit for another three hours. I'm so
cold from the aircon I go outside where it's 44° just to warm up. I think I'm
getting the flu from being inside and outside - hot cold hot cold.
I really
just wanna go home now.
But it's
just not that simple.
Apparently
our plane has too much fuel and has to burn it off before we take off so we sit
in the plane for two hours on the tarmac. No wifi. No food. And I'm getting a
numb bum.
After
many complaints that at least 6 of us are all catching the same connecting
international flight to Brisbane. We take off. Arriving in LA with 40mins to
get from terminal 5 to terminal 3. We hitch a ride on a security buggy. I was
on the back... Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
I only
had time for a real wee before boarding.
Travellers
Tip: learn to read your boarding pass. So when they ask for seats 35-59 and you’re in row 28 that doesn't mean
you. Unless you wanna look like a moron and be ridiculed that is. I might have
suggested to security to not yet them into the country. We have enough morons
already.
Yay for
another 13hr flight. Being served "food" and sitting in a seat which
reclines to make you feel like rigamortis has set in.
I wake up
dazed and pretty sure I've crossed over or at least crossed over the
international date line. Just in time for what the flight attendants call
breakfast. I call this some weird shit in a wrap that has the consistency of
clag and the taste of yuck. Get ya shit together Virgin. Plane food doesn't
have to be worse than hospital food. Even the prison slop was better.
Bags, car
and home.
Where I
thought I would have a great home coming.
Wrong.
I walked
through my door and I thought I had been robbed. Well at least had squatters in
there. My place had been trashed well probably not trashed but was a shambles.
I went into complete shock. I've just been on a 16 hour flight and to come home
to this was horrific.
I grabbed
Tia and assessed the situation.
I just
wanted to curl up into a ball in my bed with my cat but that couldn't happen.
Three hours later once I cleaned the mess, re washed the dishes did the washing,
made my bed and cleaned up I finally got my 10 min nap.
It's nice
to be home but gee it's cold.
