Vegas is about 280 miles outside of LA which seems like a bit of a trip but thanks toludicrous American speed limits we reached Vegas in less than 5 hours with a 1hr stop for lunch. The trip through the desert was very reminiscent of any Hollywood movie with the 4-5 lanes (each side so 8 lanes or more in total) interstate stretching in one long line into a hazy distance. The roads were clogged with convertibles, SUV's and Hummers all tearing along at 70+ mph.
Vegas just in regards to the strip is pretty massive where if you want to actually have a good look at everything could take you a day to walk up and down, to which I attempted but could not complete before it all started taking a horrible toll on my available energy reserves and more importantly my feet. I spent a good 5 hours on the strip taking photos in both day/night shots. Turns out the MGM grand doesn't just have a giant gold Lion but several real ones inside which was pretty cool. Sure they don't eat tourists but they are still real Lions damit!
As impressive as the strip is in full light it is amazing at night with everything lit up and I mean everything, I have seen nothing like it and I have been to Tokyo and Osaka. Of course just like when Homer said it about New York it is true for Vegas; 'when the sun goes down all the weirdos turn crazy'. Random people walking up the strip mumbling nonsense, public drunkenness (you are allowed to walk the strip with alcohol - there's a bad idea), guys in hotted up cars revving their engines (and stalling) and just random events of nonsense and screaming. However most of the pedestrian traffic is tourists taking photos which means waiting patiently to get a shot you're after.
We indulged in American decadence with the buffet at the Luxor (the giant pyramid which had a Transformers ad on it - awesome) which put anything we had in Australia to shame and the Luxor is one of the smaller major strip hotels. I wanted to stay at Caesars Palace because I am just a massive Roman fan but the place is too expensive to justify the cost when there were luxurious enough suites at much more reasonable prices. Maybe next time. Also the fountain show at the Bellagio is indeed a sight to behold and pictures cannot really capture the awesomeness that is 20+ metre geysers of water shooting in a highly choreographed routine to rock music.
The only downside to staying in a giant Pyramid. No free wireless and I am not paying $15 US for a connection I'd only use for an hour or two. So it is true, reasonable room rates but you will pay for everything else.
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