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The biggest surprise Vegas had in store for me were not the adult entertainment, or winning at the slots, or the breathtaking view at night. It was that it wasn't as expensive as I thought it would be. Seriously! Well, that is if you don't figure gambling in all the days that you spend there.

I only gambled on my last day in Vegas and the rest of the time I spent walking around town and going to shows.


***** THINGS TO DO IN LAS VEGAS*****

1. Get some adult entertainment, and don't blush, you prude! Come on, it's Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world! You have to see some showgirls and some topless revues! If I may say so, the show I saw, "Fantasy" was beautifully choreographed by JLo's ex-beau Chris Judd, the girls were lovely and there was a scene-stealer named Sean Cooper who was a wonderfully funny standup comedian. (Nooo, he did not strip but he well stole the show coz he was just damn funny!) Great show.

2. Go to a magic show but skip Lance Burton. His show is too family-oriented. Go to "The Amazing Jonathan" show which fuses comedy and magic, or splurge and watch the gorgeous Criss Angel at the Luxor. Better yet, try a hypnotist show! (I didn't dare, but perhaps you're more adventurous?)

3. Eat at the buffets. Vegas is famous for abundance of food. Buffet brunch go anywhere from $17-70, depending on where you go but there, you can eat Italian, Asian, American, Mexican dishes and alcohol at your pleasure. Of course, gotta show 'em your I.D. The Mandalay Bay's brunch menu has a beer-battered shrimp that is just heavenly!

4. Get adventurous, try the roller coasters at either the New York New York (three negative g's!) or at the Stratosphere. It's two-minutes of thrilling corkscrews, vertical drops and loops. Whaddaya say?

5. Vegas is a great city for walking, but when you get tired of all that casino-hopping, there are walkalators all over to aid your cause. To further help you, get the $7 24-hour tram pass to go from the North to the South strip, it makes everything easy. Or hop on to the double-decker bus called "the Deuce", get the 24-hour pass and you'll be golden for the day. Hop in, hop out from the Strip to Downtown. Trust me, you'll be thankful for The Deuce.

6. Head Downtown! Not many people go downtown but if you want to experience true Vegas culture and the spirit of old Vegas, downtown is the place for you. That's where locals hang out, where blackjack tables can go for as low as $3 a game, where you can get the Margarita by the yard (yes,a yard-long flask of 'Ritas) and some cool stripclubs. And of course, the Fremont Street Experience is a must-see.

7. Gamble for pete's sakes! This is Vegas. But have a budget. When you're over and you have not made any profit, walk away. Go shopping instead. But if you win, it's never bad to tip the dealer too.
If you ever get a gambling high, don't worry, when you leave Las Vegas... there are plenty of slot machines at McCarran Int'l Airport.

8. Have loadsa fun, even though I didn't get a chance to, I'm sure any one of the many Cirque du Soleil's shows will be worth the more than $70 ticket. Or catch Bette Midler...

9. Oh, yeah there are plenty of chapels, too. So if you wanna get hitched and have Elvis do the honors, you'll be in the perfect place.

10. Just do what makes you happy. Prostitution is "illegal" in Las Vegas, but in the outlying suburbs, it's perfectly fine and brothels--er, "ranches" abound. It's not a sin to have fun, is it? Whatever. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. ;D

It's been a month since I was there but the memories are still fresh... ;D
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Wait! Lookee here!

My friend made this lovely photomanip...


And made this dramatic photo...


And my crazy sister made this cool, cool art...


Okay, now, I'm outta here.