Writing home from the city that never sleeps

by Aditha Dissanayake in the United States

The first glimpse I have of Las Vegas, at around twelve midnight from my plane on American Airways 636 makes my heart skip a beat or two. The jewelled city I see from my window , nestled between treeless mountains with spires rising towards the skies makes me wonder if this is how hell would look at night in its entire splendour.

Famous, or infamous, depending on your point of view on gambling, prostitution, alcohol, quick-weddings and almost as quick divorces, Las Vegas is surely one of the few places on planet earth where you can let go of all your inhibitions, so completely. In most other states, getting this high is a felony.

So, how high do I get? Not very. For, landing at the airport, with my soul-mate, my other self, my partner for life, I find myself greeted by my brother's batch mate, Asanga, who, now married and living in Vegas, becomes our voice of conscience and keeps us away from hell's doors.

Having offered to drive us to the hotel Circus Circus, yes the word is pronounced twice, which would be our home for the next three days, talking with us in unaccented Sinhala, looking more than ever like a younger version of John Travolta, recalling the days when we shared ice cream sundaes at Carnival's and gobbled the chili paste ravenously while waiting to be served at the Chinese Dragon during our undergrad days, when he offers to take us to an authentic Chinese meal in a restaurant in China Town it is hard not to say yes, please.

As we make our way to the hotel called the Las Vegas Boulevard, or more commonly the Strip on the famous strip of casino resorts where you can eat, drink, shop, party and gamble, , I realize what had looked like jewels from the sky are diadems of electricity and the spires, neon signs, ten stories high.

Heeding the advice written on posters all over the Circus Circus, "Sleep when you get home", regardless of the time, for three in the morning is as good as three in the afternoon here in the city that never sleeps, exploring the Strip on Tuesday night, it strikes me with jaw-dropping wonder, that everything I see, can be summed up in one word, extravagant.

Stepping into the interiors of different casinos, the Caesar Palace, the Venetian, Flamingo, Treasure Island, etc. we find ourselves transformed from Paris to New York, Egypt to Monte Carlo, Medieval England to ancient Rome within the space of a few miles.

Watching the heart pounding all male show titled American Storm at the Rivera I am dragged back into the past through a naughty history lesson I won't forget easily, taught by teachers I wish I had had at school. Among the other interesting shows lined up is Menopause the Musical, an ode to aging, hot flashes, angry outbursts, inexplicable sobs and female bonding with no age or gender limitations as to who can enjoy this stunning performance.

At Madam Tussauds, we are offered the chance to mingle up close and personal with over hundred celebrities like Princess Diana and Whoopi Goldberg, or play a game of poker alongside Ben Affleck. The choice is ours.

Having watched the best free show in the city, the dancing fountains of Bellagio, stepping into the hotel, we realize even though we may not be able to be serious shoppers, there is no one to stop us from enjoying the feel of Gucci's renowned luxurious leather goods or sampling a signature fragrance from Channel at the Via Bellagio.

Ranging from a wide variety of high class names as Prada, Dior, Hermes and Fred Leighton, from the sleek and modern lines of Armani to the cool elegance of Tiffany & Co, Via Bellagio provides an unparalleled upscale shopping experience to the most down and out, window-shoppers.

Shopping aside, if you make your way to a bar called the Big Kahuna and fall in conversation with red haired Sean, and ask him, what makes a good bartender, he won't tell you, he will show you.

Finishing up juggling three bottles of intoxicating liquid, he takes his drink tin, spins it behind his back, spins the bottle and bounces it off his elbow and somehow in the end delivers a beverage he guarantees will rumble out the party animal in you.

If you are not smiling and having a good time when you stepped in here, he says as the hula girls warm up not far away, he can guarantee you will, before you leave. Leave. That's a hint for me. Sorry folks, this is all I can write this week.

Using the Internet costs a dollar a minute, and yes, you guessed right. I have now reached almost the last dollar in my wallet. Sitting at numerous slot machines, playing Double Diamond, Lucky Four, and Triple Black Tie I have successfully made nothing out of fifteen one dollar notes, and realize its time to pinch myself wide awake from my dreams of returning home a billionaire.

Perhaps the safest way to double my money would have been to fold it and put it in my pocket. Perhaps I could have made a small fortune if I had brought a large fortune with me 'perhaps'.

Oops folks, only five more seconds left. Got to send this before I run out of time for I have no more dollars left to pay for accessing the internet.

Catch you next week with an account of my trip to the Grand Canyon, and how I got mesmerized by the dazzling magic amongst the mists of the Niagara Falls.

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