Monday, June 1, 2009

Rock-Star Life for a Wal-Mart Price: My Vegas Experience

I received a text message last Wednesday from John who was desperately seeking a last-minute companion for Las Vegas. Needless to say, I was attracted to the spontaneity of the idea and brushed aside my schedule to recreate the experience of San Diego. The amount of fun I had this weekend, I am glad I made that decision.

The last time both of us were there for leisure, was for John’s 30th birthday, nearly a year ago. During the ride, we discussed the plan for the weekend, anticipating an opulent lifestyle, all complimented by his Vegas connections. The eagerness jolted our imaginations as we drove towards sin city on our extended “guys night out”.

“It’s about who you know, Mickey”, John boasted, as we checked into a suite on the near-to-top floor of Mandalay Bay. The suite, priced at $2500 a night, contained a living room, dining area, kitchen, and a 2-part bedroom. The suite offered enough amenities for guests to frolic in Vegas without leaving the room. The hot-tub was perfect for couples seeking a romantic candle-light baths while the surround sound music was idealistic for those who just want to throw a party in their room. For the couch potatoes, 3 large plasma screens pumped life behind the locked doors and another one entertained those who choose company when brushing their teeth.

There seems to be no limit to the celeb experience. Once settled in the hotel, we met Peter, the marketing VP of Hard Rock Casino. Peter was a mid-aged Chinese man decorated with a diamond stud in one of his ears. His hair was distinctively short and reflected a spectrum of grayness. His speech was impaired by the alcohol, highlighting his Asian accent. “This is how we do,” he exclaimed when he led us to the stretch-SUV limo that will be escorting us around Vegas for the weekend. John and I exchanged looks of astonishment, half-convinced that this vehicle was waiting for us, and not Oprah Winfrey.

When the entourage arrived to the club, Sean whispered to the bouncer and we quickly advanced to the dim-lighted foray, skipping all the different people you would normally have to stop for at a club (security, cashier). Halfway to the bar, we were greeted by a table of ladies (Sean’s friends) in provocative attire. Joined with other random people, we drank the rest of the hour away before reaching our next agenda, TOA.

From the luxury of the suite to the celebration in the limo to the women in seductive dresses, this weekend jubilantly colored my outlook on life and redefined the rewards of success. This is what life is about. I am living a rock-star life for a Wal-mart price.

By the way, What happens subsequently at TOA will be censored to safeguard the reputation of others (and not myself). So you complete the story with your imagination as I will leave you with the cliché, “What happens in Vegas…

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