Las Vegas.
The city that appears almost like a mirage, rising from the Nevada desert.
After hours of driving through dry, dusty landscapes, we rounded a bend and there it was—an incredible skyline of glass towers, giant hotels and flashing signs that seemed completely out of place. It felt as though someone had dropped a city into the middle of nowhere.
Our timing couldn’t have been better. We arrived just as workers were dismantling the barriers from the recent Formula One Grand Prix. Driving onto sections of the famous race circuit made our arrival feel even more surreal. Only weeks earlier, the world’s fastest drivers had been racing where we were now cautiously navigating our way to our hotel.
When it came to choosing where to stay, we happily handed that decision over to my godson, who just happens to be a travel agent. Having travelled extensively himself, we trusted his advice, and he couldn’t have picked better. Planet Hollywood sat right in the heart of the Strip, allowing us to explore north one day and south the next instead of exhausting ourselves trying to conquer the entire Strip in one marathon walk.
It turned out to be the perfect base.
Las Vegas, unlike anywhere we’ve ever visited.
Every hotel seems determined to outdo the next. One moment you’re wandering through streets that look like Paris, the next you’re stepping into Venice where gondolas glide along indoor canals beneath a painted sky so realistic you almost forget you’re inside a building. Egyptian pyramids, Roman palaces, New York skylines… every few hundred metres you’re transported to another part of the world without ever leaving Las Vegas.
And almost everywhere you looked…
Casinos.
Rows and rows of poker machines, roulette wheels and gaming tables stretching further than you could see. Girls dancing on tables and wasn’t me! You don’t simply walk through a casino—you walk through one to get to your hotel room, another to reach a restaurant and probably two more before finding the exit.
One of the absolute highlights of our stay had nothing to do with the city itself.
We caught up with friends we’d met on our cruise from Singapore to Long Beach. There’s something special about reconnecting with people you meet while travelling. You share experiences that no one back home quite understands, and seeing familiar faces again in a city as extraordinary as Las Vegas made the reunion even more memorable.
Our visit also happened to coincide with my birthday.
Now, anyone who knows Russ knows he’s not particularly interested in concerts or big stadium events anymore. Imagine my surprise when he agreed to see Billy Joel and Sting performing together at Allegiant Stadium.
It wasn’t just a birthday present—it became one of those travel memories we’ll never forget.
Well… perhaps not for the reasons you might expect.
The concert was fantastic.
The seats, however…
Let’s just say they were very, very high.
Anyone who’s travelled with me knows I have a healthy respect for heights. As we climbed higher and higher through the stadium, I became less confident with every step. By the time we reached our seats, I honestly couldn’t walk while looking towards the field below. I had to turn around and shuffle backwards, facing my own seat because my brain was convinced I’d somehow fall into the stadium.
Russ, of course, found this highly amusing.
Once I finally sat down, relaxed and stopped imagining my dramatic plunge onto the ground below, I could simply enjoy two music legends performing together. It turned out to be one of the best birthday celebrations I could have asked for.
Not every Vegas adventure involved bright lights and world-class entertainment.
After several weeks on the road, reality caught up with us.
Laundry
Google Maps directed us well away from the glittering Strip into the suburbs to what looked exactly like the laundromats you’d expect to see in an American movie. It wasn’t glamorous, and it certainly wasn’t somewhere you’d linger. To add to the experience, the bathrooms had been vandalised the night before by drug users and were completely out of action.
It was a timely reminder that beyond the famous casinos and luxury resorts, Las Vegas is still a real city where everyday life continues.
We also learned another valuable lesson.
The colourful showgirls, superheroes, movie characters and cowboys wandering along the Strip might happily pose for a photograph with you—but don’t assume they’re simply being friendly.
Before you know it, there’s an outstretched hand expecting a tip. Around US$40 for a quick photo certainly caught us by surprise, and we quickly learned to admire them from a distance instead!
it wasn’t me!
Five days gave us enough time to experience both the glamour and the reality of Las Vegas.
It’s loud.
It’s extravagant.
It’s over-the-top.
It’s fascinating.
And despite its reputation for keeping secrets, we’re more than happy to share ours.
Because some memories are simply too good to leave behind.
Las Vegas was never just about casinos.
For us, it was about celebrating another birthday together, reconnecting with friends, facing a fear of heights, discovering hidden corners of the city and realising that sometimes the places you least expect end up leaving the biggest impression.
What happens in Vegas?
Well… in our case, it became another unforgettable chapter in our journey around the world without ever stepping onto an aeroplane.
