LAS VEGAS (USA)
28 February - 02 March 2018
28 February - 02 March 2018
Vegas is all go and no whoa, it's 24hrs of casinos, amazing shows, decadent nightclubs, & equally engaging bars, its a complete sensory overload. Outside of New York & London, this the other place in the world where you will be well and truly spoiled for entertainment choices. A-listers are part of the Vegas fabric, being bored in Las Vegas cannot be an option. If you are, then really, you need to have a good look at yourself.
Paris Las Vegas Hotel - Las Vegas - Nevada - USA
The Strip - Las Vegas - Nevada - USA
Inga attempting to 'Go Big'
Las Vegas - Nevada - USA
This time Inga and I decided to stay on the Strip at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino. The location, on the southern end of the strip was very central and gave us access to the bright lights and casino extravaganza that draws all the moths to the eternally burning flame.
The great thing about this city is that it allows you to get a fix of any or all of your vices, and then hopefully, lets you get out with your sanity in check also.
From the Bellagio - Las Vegas - Nevada - USA
The Strip - Las Vegas - Nevada - USA
Las Vegas - Nevada - USA
The Strip - Las Vegas - Nevada - USA
Now somehow, both on our last visit to Vegas, and now this one, we were hyper reluctant to gamble. Well actually, Inga was 'super' reluctant to gamble and her position kind of influenced my hand too. With that said, it's been many, many years since I encountered a short, sharp bite of the gambling bug, which occurred in my first or second year of university (the first time at university), so we're talking 1994 or 1995. I recall at that time, having a few easy wins on roulette and then believing that I had formulated a strategy where easy money could be made. A few times when I should have been in lectures I headed off to what was then the temporary casino site on the first wharf at Pyrmont Bay. I had a few ups and downs but on one of those occasions I lost more money than I should have. Walking out of the casino I had an overwhelming urge to withdraw more cash with the aim of winning back my losses. The internal debate lasted a few minutes before I chastised myself and made a conscious effort to walk away. So, I recognise the buzz and the thrill associated with both winning and wanting to chase your money, the later of which I've never done, but I recognise that I may have come closed.
Every gambler knows, that to lose, it what you're really there for
- U2
'O' by Cirque du Soleil - Bellagio Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas - Nevada - USA
'O' by Cirque du Soleil - Bellagio Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas - Nevada - USA
'O' by Cirque du Soleil - Bellagio Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas - Nevada - USA
The Flamingo Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas - Nevada - USA
'O' by Cirque du Soleil - Bellagio Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas - Nevada - USA
'O' by Cirque du Soleil - Bellagio Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas - Nevada - USA
There's so much competition in Las Vegas in terms of shows that you can't afford to be an also-ran. You have to be quality otherwise people will simply cast their dollar votes elsewhere, because as you know, Vegas is the ultimate democracy, your dollar votes will elect whomever you want to be on stage, just like that. No votes, no show, and that's that.
Las Vegas - Nevada - USA
Absinthe - Caesars Palace - Las Vegas - Nevada
Absinthe - Caesars Palace - Las Vegas - Nevada
Absinthe - Caesars Palace - Las Vegas - Nevada
Now a kind of funny thing happened to me whilst I was here. As we were still a few weeks from touching down in Melbourne, I was earnestly commencing the process of finding myself a job. In all honesty I had allocated myself a time of 4-5 months from arriving to be in full-time work but was secretly hoping that the pick-up time would be much shorter, say 1-2 months. On one of the days I was contacted via email by BAPL who were requesting to interview me. After explaining my position and the fact that I was currently transiting through the US they stated that a Skype interview would be more than satisfactory for them, which we organised for midday on 01 March.
Absinthe - Caesars Palace - Las Vegas - Nevada
New York, New York Hotel & Casino - the scene of the pre-interview Margaritas!
I can't remember any occasion where I've had drinks prior to an interview, but hey, this was Vegas and I thought if anything, a few margaritas prior to getting online might just be a bit of fun. So after having a bit of lunch and a few drinks at the New York, New York Hotel & Casino, I felt ready to have a great discussion. And that's exactly what happened. Feeling confident and pretty damn good about things the discussion went swimmingly, with some good humour and a few oddball jibes about my Bon Jovi-esque hair being thrown into the mix. After a few additional email interactions and some BA style exercises that I completed on the flight back from Los Angeles to Sydney, I ended up getting the consulting gig and was gainfully employed within a week of touching down in Melbourne. Now that's 'for the win'.
As always Las Vegas was a lot of fun, but once again, I left feeling as though we hadn't really taking it for all it was worth. Both this occasion and the last one I felt we had been more timid than the city demands. I promise right now that the next time WILL be different!
