Las Vegas is my Disneyland

Las Vegas was a place for gamblers who smoke cigars, have cheap steaks and watch sleazy shows.
All that changed overnight. The next time we went to Vegas was when we had our kids with us. We had a ball. The new hotel then was Excalibur and we all enjoyed it. They had a small circus going around the hotel lobby entertaining guests. Personalities such as Princess Guenevere and Lancelot during the period of Camelot were visible and we took pictures with them. There were a lot of activities for the kids. There were Circus Circus, Mirage and Treasure Island to name a few of the newly-built hotels. We hopped from hotel to hotel and having a grand time enjoying buffets, going to theme parks and arcades and of course shopping. Gambling? Maybe we play the slot machine from time to time but for the most part, there's more to gambling than meets the eye.
Hotels mushroomed in the past 10 years and we have become regulars in Vegas. Thanks to my mom who brings us at our whim. She always has an awesome suite reserved for her. So we take advantage of it. The suite at the Venetian is as beautiful as the hotel and we always go swimming at their magnificent pool where the water is warm and relaxing and the towels smell good. There's a french corner Bouchon that I love going to for my morning coffee and beignets.
We always watch shows when we're in Vegas. Cirque du Soleil shows like KA', Mystere, OH! and the latest LOVE by the Beatles were all amazing and spiritual. It touches your soul. My son loves Vegas and so does everyone else in the family, young and old. There's always something for everybody.

These pictures do tell. Vegas....You are my Disneyland.

    Buffett dining at the Wynn hotel  

                                          
                          

     The grand lobby of Encore, Steve Wynn's newest Vegas hotel. 

                                      

The beautiful and colorful hanging lanterns at Wynn. Notice the mosaic floor tiles. Exquisite.

        

 Crystal and Murano glass chandeliers adorn the ceilings and decorate the walls of Encore.

Magical visual delight of floating colorful umbrellas at Encore.

 

                                              

One of the magnificent pools at the Venetian hotel. The water is warm and refreshing           

        and they play soothing and upbeat music all around. I could stay here all day long.

      

Beijing no.9, where we had our lunch before heading back to Sta Monica, Ca. What a scene!

Paris hotel on the strip. They have one of the best buffets and my mom's favorite.

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Las Vegas at night. Exciting and quite spectacular!

                  

New York New York is one of my fave hotels. They have the best deli in town and my son's favorite.

        

The Getty Museum

Going to the museum by taking the Sta. Monica Blue Bus line is much easier for me than taking my car. It only takes one short bus ride from Bundy and Sta. Monica blvd. to the museum and you're there in 10 minutes. You walk in, take the tram to go up the steep hill and enjoy the fabulous view West of Los Angeles. If you opt to take a drive to the museum, you need to call them first for reservations which will take weeks, and you have to pay for parking.

the 405 freeway going north. 
Freeway leads to San Francisco, Sta. Barbara, North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, etc.

Humble Administrator's Garden

It is the largest of all classical gardens in Suzhou and 
the most representative of Chinese classical gardens in the Ming Dynasty. 
The name for the garden came from an essay called  "To cultivate my garden and 
sell my vegetable crop is the policy of humble man".

Suzhou is a city with many beautiful gardens. A visit to the  Humble Administrator's Garden was the most amazing and humbling experience. We enjoyed the walk admiring its ethereal beauty which gave us a feeling of tranquility and serenity. 

The layout of "water" characterized the Humble Administrator Garden,
 because a pond takes up 3/5 of the whole garden. 
You will come across the pond almost everywhere when walking in the garden.

It is listed as a World Cultural Heritage site and has also been 
designated as one of the Cultural Relics of National Importance
under the Protection of the State.

                               The exuberant trees and flowers bring delightful effects of nature.
                                   There are numerous scenic spots that combines both
                                          the human ingenuity and the beauty of nature.

Eclectic Shanghai

I decided to meet my sister in Shanghai. Anda is on a business trip so I hung around with my sister-in-law Imelda who lives in Shanghai and my niece Robin who happened to be taking classes in Fudan University. So the 3 of us did what tourists normally do, sight see and eat. Imelda took us to Hunan restaurant and the food was hot hot hot but they were so delicious.

We headed off to the Shanghai museum where they showcase the most incredible chinese artifacts and once outside the museum,  you can admire the modern Pudong skyline.  It was a good day to be outdoors.

 

 

We visited temples after temples that house a variety of Jade Buddhas.We tied ribbons to have our wishes fullfilled and lit incense for our good fortune.

 

 

 

 We dropped by a tea salon and we were educated on the different types of teas and how you serve them........What a full day........Now what to do tomorrow...hmmmm....