The Sin City Adventure

After walking this earth for almost 25 years, I finally made it to Las Vegas, the sin city. Last I heard or saw in movies, this city was filled of excitement and crazy stuff going round the clock. I found out that they even have slot machines installed on gas stations. You think of a place, and you can gamble there. I found it crazy that McDonald’s there haven’t yet installed any slots. Anyway, so here is how my own trip comes out.

Friday Night

I landed on airport at 10.30 PM and met Atul at baggage claim. He was already cursing me for checking in my bag and making us wait to enter the Vegas. To make things worse, the bag never arrived. Apparently, someone forgot to put the bag in flight from Atlanta itself and I had to finally wait in a long baggage claim queue. The bag arrived next day at the hotel.

We reached the hotel at 1 AM, and here is how it looked

It was tall; tallest in city. I never stayed in such a tall hotel. But it turned out that the tower is just the show off, the casino and main hotel building was on side. Tower had a few rides and the most romantic restaurant in town, which we had no use for. So we stayed there. Oh yes, we came down at 1.30 AM again to eat something and had our first touch of alcohol.

Saturday

We woke up at 7.30 in the morning for that England soccer match. But I fell asleep again and learned later, waked by Atul’s scream, that damned Rooney got a red card. England lost of course, and Atul almost lost his mind screaming all the abuse. Later, Brazil also lost. But we still somehow managed a long walk to the vegas strip. It was almost 2 miles, which Atul forced on me, with a burning sun, tanning everything with 115 degrees (F). We hopped around a few Casinos and there began my beginner’s luck. I won 40 dollars in a slot machine at Mirage. And out of those 40, 20 were Atul’s…;). Luck was with me after all, and I was thinking, “where the hell did that Murphy go?”. Anyway, we were back into the hotel casino by late evening and I won another 40 on a blackjack table, can you believe it?

I was +80 by now. Even after walking all day in Atul's t-shirt. Now to tell you, in gambling, many people have to lose in order that the few may win. Atul was among the many to loose, and I was among the few who won. But a man's got to make at least one bet; else he could be walking around lucky and never know it. I made a bet, and it was my lucky day.

Sunday

Started the day with a phone call from Atul’s Mexican friend at 10 to get up and get ready by 11. We were to go to hoover dam. To give a snap of how deep that was, take a look. I think it’s the biggest dam in world. (Damned blogger isn't letting me upload the picture. Well, will do that later).

In the evening we hopped around 8-10 Casinos including all the ones shown in Ocean’s Eleven. Man, it was amazing walking amidst the filthiest rich guys in the world, who could afford playing at a 1000 dollars minimum bet table. Most of them were Japnese. I can simply waste many pages if I start describing all the people and places there. So I leave it to your imagination.

Sin city never lets you get away with your money. That’s how they even out all the free drinks they give. This evening, I lost all my 80 dollars which I won yesterday, and I was even now. Atul lost a few more bucks. Poor chap never even won a single dime. Bad luck needs no explanation. And I guess, neither does good.

Monday

I started the day with checking my luck for the day and played 10 dollars on a slot machine. I lost it all, in a row, without a single win. It was a sign to caution me. But casinos wouldn’t be making so much money if people started having so much of a self control.

And I was still all excited to screw the casino, ignoring the slot machine’s gesture, and get away with all the winnings and free drink, and show them that not everyone they can fool. I started on a blackjack pit and soon converted my 40 bucks into 100. I Somehow managed to get up with winning and controlling my desire to win some more. But as we hopped on from table to table, we finally picked the table which was about to blow everything up.

In the beginning, it started all right and I soon converted my 100 to 150. But soon it was proved that gambling with cards or dice or stocks is all one thing. It's getting money without giving an equivalent for it. How else do you explain four 21s in a row in a game of blackjack? The table screwed everyone, including me, and the fact that I was doubling my bet with each loss (that’s how I made the money initially) I soon lost all 150 and 100 more. Seemed like I didn’t only believe in miracles, but depended on them. Atul did tell me in between to bet 5 instead of doubling. But I betted 5 chips instead of 5 dollar, and lost it all. It sucks. I wasn’t enjoying it anymore, and I quit. I was -150 now. Murphy dude was back.

I finally made up my mind to see some dances after so much of loosing, although loosing was part of fun, but a promise made by Atul to someone screwed that plan too. A promise is a promise, and now I have to handle all the mocking coz of not seeing even a single dance. That too in Vegas. Damn.

We finalized our trip by loosing some more and taking a walk again to the strip. Had the best time with some more drinks amidst a free city… loud music... and streets packed with crowd, with no one caring about anything. It was surely a cool trip and I will remember it in time to come... Vegas Baby!!!