Inside a Pop Can: 07.2004

Did you miss me??

Vegas was great. It's "crazy" there. Its a place where people are very "uninhibited." I had more strangers talk to me than ever before. very good place to let loose. Guess that is why they call it “sin city.”

Visual sensory overload- that is the Strip. The hotels were stunning. New York New York is quite interesting to look at from the street in my opinion but The Bellagio and The Venetian are my favorites. There is something about Bellagio, especially at night. Don't know if it’s the luminated name on the top, or its pond with its stunning fountain effects...but just staring at the Bellagio is breathtaking. ok i am getting carried away... ;) very prestigious looking.

On this trip, I saw lions and tigers, met the bus driver from hell, and learned to appreciate the "clinging" sounds of slot machines when you win. I think I managed to see most of the big hotels on the strip and the attractions each had to offer (in addition to Fremont Street downtown and the Las Vegas Outlet Center (Nike outlet rocks!)). Think that next time i go i will do more lounging and partying instead of hotel-hopping. Didn't really get a chance to enjoy all the different types of entertainment that it had to offer (lounges, clubs, pool parties??). However, we did manage to watch a Vegas showgirl show, Jubilee. It was truly spectacular with its grand sets and impressive and flashy costumes. and of course the pretty showgirls !! (my do they have the most perfect buttocks ??!!). And oh yes...will also allot more time for shopping!!

I was also happy to see all the places that I had saw on tv before (eg. MGM). And to be honest it looked better on tv !

My sleeping schedule is totally out of wack. I am still kinda on vegas time meaning waking up at noon and sleeping at 3am. this is made worse when i had to get up “early” to get ready for check out and didn't sleep again til 7am yesterday morning since our flight was delayed and didn't arrive in Vancouver til 4am !!

Anyhow, being home is great. After being in 100 degrees weather for days, I don't find it that hot in Vancouver anymore. :) Vegas is HOT !

Top 3 shopping places on the strip (that I am aware of and went to):
3. Las Vegas Outlet Center
2. Caesar’s Palace
1. Aladdin

Top 3 things I like most about Vegas:
3. attractions at each hotel
2. shopping
1. lounging and partying and show watching (eg. live music and shows) - during anytime, day or night

Top 3 "Waaaahh"s in Vegas:

3. Fremont Street Experience
2. The stunning ceiling at the Venetian by the Grand Canel Shoppe
1. Bellagio’s fountain show.

VEGAS BABY !!

Pictures are up !

www.sfu.ca/~sst

(password: my last name)

What is great about the hot weather these days?
I get to wear all my pretty summer stuff without being cold.

What is bad about the hot weather??
It's just really really hot !

I am so excited ! I just received my first cheque book ever today......Cool !

Isn't great when the doorbell rings and you find a cute telephone repair guy at your door?? how often does that happen? What a treat !

What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks,
has a head but never weeps, has a bed but never sleeps?

Answer revealed at the end of the day

This morning I took the bus to work and it was semi-crowded. The bus must have been running late due to the road work on my street and the bus (and the bus behind it) had more people than usual. It was full but luckily still manageable and i still had some elbow room, ;)

The skytrain was a different story. It was like in the subway scenes in movies where people would pour out to get off (or to let others off) and then awaiting people would hop on immediately after. Quite interesting to watch and be a part of. I had to squeezed on to the train with its doors barely able to close behind me. Everyone around me was taller than me and i had nothing to hold on to but the door. I really did feel like a sardine ! kinda neat but wouldn't like to feel like that for long periods of time. I wonder how people in Asia and places like NY manage cuz it must be 10x worst there....imagine all the little fishies in one tiny car...maybe that is why people are smaller in Asia (so they can squeezed in.... :D)

Excerpt from July 5:

People in Vancouver and Toronto are so different. We are definitely more laid back here in the west. you could just tell by the clothes people wear. Torontorians are more trendy and fashion-forward. Their clothes are more colourful and unique which I really like. Shopping is great there ! so much more variety and neat things. There are also alot of festivals and events to see in the community. Toronto itself is so much larger and more happening due to the about of people traffic everywhere. Its definitely a more animated city. I had a really good time and definitely wouldn't mind going there again. I actually wouldn't mind living there for the short term.

Mingling is part of the culture there. Clubs are in one central area and even at 3 in the morning, there are still crowds in the streets, still trying to have a good time. I am glad that i was there during the Canada Day long weekend celebrations. It allowed me to see many events and even fireworks at Ontario Place. However, apparently the big festival is happening next weekend (don't know what its called) where they close off Yonge Street and have a festivals set up at each intersection. oh well next time.

I also love the fact that even though you are amongst many tall high-rises that the streetscape still seems so spacious. I think its because most of the major streets have streetcars in the middle which widens each road considerably.

I also noticed alot of new things about myself during this trip. I realized that people don't bother me as much and that i don't take offense as easily. I really enjoy that and so i hope that lasts ;) I exercised successfully how not to backtrack on things as much. I noticed that I am getting the same feeling as i did couple years back, when things were calm and i was happy being me (although i am still working on a couple of things and in a wiser more mature kinda way). Realized that i don't mind living in TO for a couple of months to a year for the short term or s/t since i need some peace and quiet for my own sanity. Learned to relax in every sense of the word. Realized that i feel healthier when i am on vacation (yes, doesn't everyone), but i also walked away feeling like a better person as a whole.

All in all, the trip was great fun. Thanks to T & D for putting up with me and for showing me around.