Greetings from Vegas!

[tativale]

Sophoan, I'm still waiting..... LMAO we're still waiting hahaha where is your 10 pages review? lmao hahaha

[Love,]

The moment has come.

 

I will share with you portions of my memoirs from this fabulous trip. I am still working on it.

What you will read are merely my drafts. And they will be posted as they are ready. Please excuse any grammatical errors.

 

Be ready to experience this wonderful journey with me.

 

 

 

What a Thrill!

Memoirs from an Incredible Adventure in Vegas

 

PREFACE

 

Life.

There are moments that leave you feeling so happy, so satisfied, so thrilled, so speechless. Those moments are so amazing that you wish they would not end. But endings are inevitable. However, some moments last forever in our memory. I experienced some of these moments during my recent trip to Las Vegas. Now, I will share with you, my memoirs from this journey that took place at turn of the second half of 2007.

 

June 29, 2007

 

T'was the morning of Friday, June 29, 2007. The alarm clock screamed at 6:00AM. I woke up, realizing that I had only slept one hour. I had stayed up all night, working on some projects, before my adventure to Las Vegas. I also stayed up because in the past several days, I had developed a new sleep cycle, because I felt that my creative and artistic imagination worked better during the wee hours of the night. So, I did not want to miss the seven-thirty train. I got up with my itchy eye, and was warmly welcomed by the gentle gush of water from the shower head. After getting dressed, I rushed to my suitcase, still realizing that I had more things to stuff into its overstuffed compartments. I made sure that I had the main four necessities: my laptop, my wallet, my phone, and my transportation vouchers.

 

As the clock hit 7:00AM, I asked my grandfather to say a little prayer for me before I gave my grandparents each a hug. I took off my with my younger as the driver, heading to the train station. My parents and sisters were currently in Cambodia, and had been for over weeks, during a visit to the country to be my with relatives, and to perform missionary and humanitarian work.

 

A little bit after 7:30AM, I heard the train whistling in the distance. While it was approaching, I snapped a few photographs with my younger brother. Before long, I gave him a big hug, and I disappeared into the train. This was my first time, in a long time, traveling in a train. I had originally planned to enjoy the view, however, my lack of sleep caught up to me. Taking advantage of having no seat mate, I placed my body in various positions on the two seats. I did not care how the other passengers felt, or what their opinions were. I was deadly sleepy. So, I opened up my suitcase, which was next to me, and pulled out two pants and two shirts, and turned them into "pillows." The five-hour train ride from Stockton to Bakersfield seemed to have passed by very quickly, although I did not think I slept at all. Even though, I did sleep; and I did so, in various positions. Because of the lack of space, I became inventive in my sleeping style - my most favorite being the "fetal position." I turned to my side, and crunched myself together like an Anne Gedde's baby. It worked!

 

The train arrived in Bakersfield, and we exited, making our way to one of eight buses. I rolled my mini suitcase and had the strap of the messenger bag around my chest and made my way to the last bus - the bus to Vegas. I noticed a few elderly folks around me; a few mothers and their children; two guys who spoke either German, Dutch or some European language that I could decipher. I let one elderly lady get in front of me because I noticed she had her suitcase, and a gigantic beauty case. She looked at me and said "What a gentleman." I smiled back. I got my ticket and identification card out to hand to the bus driver and his assistant. He merely nodded and said, "You carry a Louis Vuitton, you don't need an ID," although he said that after he had already verified me. Ten minutes later, all of the passengers were aboard. The bus driver was quite entertaining. The first he did to welcome us, was to introduce himself. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard. I want to let you know a little bit about myself. I am a multi-millionaire. I own several Mercedes and a yacht, and I just drive buses on my spare time." He smiled with sparkling white teeth that seemed to pop from his darker skin and well-prepared dreadlocks. The whole bus erupted in laughter. I knew my journey was going to feel shorter because of him. For the next thirty minutes, the bus seemed to have gotten colder and colder. I tried burying my arms in my t-shirt, but it still remained cold. I looked to my left and there was this most adorable two-year-old girl. She was with her mother. She sounded like a mumbling chipmunk, and she kept looking at me and smiling, holding onto her mother's portable DVD player. She was excited about watching a cartoon on there. Her mother, next to her, was still fiddling with different wires, finding a way to entertain her child. I just looked at her and said, "You have the most adorable child."

 

We made two pit stops. At the first one, there was a mini pit town that had Panda Express, to my surprise. So, I ordered some food. The second one, we were at Arby's. On my way out of the bathroom, I realized how hot and dry the weather was. As I approached the bus, I noticed the two European guys from the train. Immediately I asked them where they are from. They answered, "Belgium." I nodded because I realized in the next couple of days, I will be joined by my friend from Belgium. As I told them that my friend was from Antwerpen, they said, "Ah! We're from Ghent." We had a little conversation about Celine Dion, and I was interrupted by another passenger, who did get a chance to see Celine months prior, and was not impressed, because she "was not into Celine." I made an imaginary "eye roll." At that initial moment, I thought in my head that only a person who was both blind and deaf would not be impressed by "A New Day..."

 

On the bus, I turned on my laptop, and worked on some business documents for my clients, because now, I could not sleep. The time seemed to roll faster and faster. I turned to asked a neighbor, "Excuse me. How long do we have left?" When he answered "one hour," my smile augmented. One hour rolled by and I suddenly caught a glimpse of a majestic city in the midst of the desert valley. I turned to my neighbor again, and asked, "This is Vegas, right?" He said, "Yes." Then, I added, "Thank God, this is not another Vegas-wannabe town."

 

The bus depot was about a mile north of the northernmost part of the Las Vegas Strip. After a five-hour journey on the bus, I got out, expecting to find taxis, only to be welcomed by the dry Vegas inferno and no taxis. So, I asked the people waiting at the entry to the depot, and they told me to "walk that way" pointing to an adjacent northern hotel. I noticed an older Filipino couple. They were given that instruction by the same guy, and they had been waiting for a whole hour. Suddenly, when I waved to a moving taxi, they had told me to make my way to an appropriate taxi pad, which was really "that way" up. So, I told the couple to follow me. Suddenly, a taxi van appeared, and I was relieved. Twenty dollars later, I am at the front of Caesar's Palace. I waited about ten minutes. The bell lady hollered at me, and as I followed her pointed finger, I noticed my dear friend Ramona, honking, waving and smiling. I rushed with my belongings to her car. I greeted her with a hug and kiss and and we took off for Caesar’s rooftop parking lot.

 

As we made our way from the car to the entrance, all I could notice from Ramona were her glossy white, red-soled Christian Louboutins. Click, click, click, click - onomatopoeia to describe the sound of her shoes hitting the pavement and then the marble floors of Caesar's Palace. Ramona is quite the shoe lover, and certainly wears only the best. While in Caesar's, we ate briefly at the Cypress Cafe. Ramona left to check on tickets for the show. As I finished eating the chicken tenders, I walked over to the Celine Dion store, where I noticed a familiar blond haired lady - it was Diana! I rushed to give her a hug and kiss. I remember meeting Diana for the first time in January, and ever since then, I did not know that she was a member of the Celine Channel forum under the name of "Dianaluts." I remember asking months ago if Diana was in sight at all on the forum, and I did not get a response from anybody. Well, it was nice to see her again. Moments later, I noticed another familiar face. It was Erin, a local Vegas dweller who is my friend. So I gave her a hug and she introduced me to her friend, Lucie. They were going to see Celine together that evening. We talked briefly and we parted. I went alone for a little while, I find a shirt at Armani Exchange, to compliment my self-proclaimed "hot pants," that I had planned to wear at Sunday night's Celine Dion show.

 

As I entered Armani Exchange, I went up and down the aisle, and I pulled about ten shirts, and had a sales associate prepare a fitting room for me. A week prior, I had looked at a white shirt with diagonal horizontal stripes in grayish blue and pale aquamarine. The shirt itself had a textured fabrication, and I envisioned that it would go well with my pants that I amazingly discovered a a few weeks prior at H&M. The pants were thin stripes of burgundy and white, and appeared as a warm, paler pink color from a distance. As soon as I put them on, I realized that they fit so well, and that they would be perfect wear on what I had imagined to be - a magical moments on July 1st, 2007 - as I experienced another performance by my most favorite singer, Celine Dion; and sitting next to one of my dearest friends. As I tried on all ten shirts, I realized that the white shirt was the only one that made me smile. So, immediately, I put it back on its hanger, buttoned it up and walked to the counter to purchase it.

 

Around 10:15PM, Ramona and I drove out of Vegas, making our way to Lake Las Vegas. The drive was quite serene, and before long, I noticed a beautiful resort-like community. As we entered deeper, I noticed the breathtaking Pontevecchio-style bridge of the Ritz-Carlton resort, inspired by a Mediterranean village. Soon, we pulled into the underground garage and settled in Ramona's condo. The first thing we did together was grabbed our laptops and connected to the internet. Then, we took some funny photographs together. I had brought with me some gifts for Ramona including photographs from our rendezvous with our English friend Jane in San Francisco, and a framed art encasing a photograph of the magnificent Angkor Wat that I had captured in Cambodia in 2005. Around 11PM, Ramona made a phone call to a friend named Tal, whom I had been acquainted with for over three years. I did not tell many people that I was going to be in Vegas this weekend. As Ramona left her cell phone on the speaker, she said, "I have a friend here with me tonight. He likes to be called Love." I could nearly hear a gasp coming from over the phone and then "Oh my gawd. Are you serious?" Suddenly, I said, "Hiiiii, how are you?" Later that evening, we were joined by Ramona's friend Tandra, who showed up with two of her friends. I was ironing my clothes when Tandra arrived. Immediately, she said, "You must be 'Love'." I smiled and said "Yes I am." The three of them made an abrupt landing in Vegas due to a very, very sad reason: One of their friends and her sister were killed in a car accident. Tandra and her pals had driven all the way from Utah to be at the viewing and funeral, which were to take place the next morning. That evening, we all became acquainted. I made a funny comment, smiling "This feels like camping." Then I looked over and noticed Tandra's two friends brushing their teeth next to the sink. "We are camping," I reassured them, smiling. The three of us laughed together. Prior to bedtime, we took some photographs together. There was one, where Ramona, Tandra, Tandra's friend and I took a photograph together on the sofabed. All the gals flashed their pearly whites, while I flashed my legs and thighs.

 

more to come!

 

P.S. Tandra, I forgot the name of the two friends you brought with you. Please provide their names. They were so sweet.

Edited July 5, 2007 at 01:21 AM by Love,

[tativale]

haha thank you Sophoan! I traveled with you reading your review!!!!!!!!

[Bellamy]

P.S. To my Scandinavian friends, my pants are from your region!

Please don't tell me, it's H&M.

[nano]

.....pants that I amazingly discovered a a few weeks prior at H&M. The pants were thin stripes of burgundy and white, and appeared as a warm, paler pink color from a distance. As soon as I put them on, I realized that they fit so well...

P.S. To my Scandinavian friends, my pants are from your region!

Please don't tell me, it's H&M.

 

H&M rocks.

Love the review..I felt like traveling with you.

Edited July 5, 2007 at 05:28 AM by nano

[Love,]

What a Thrill!

Memoirs from an Incredible Adventure in Vegas: II

 

June 30, 2007

 

It was a beautiful Saturday morning.

Ramona and I gave hugs and said our goodbyes to Tandra and her friends, and we both walked over to the Montelago Resort for breakfast. Ramona took me into a little boutique at the edge of the resort, next to the courtyard of the Ritz-Carlton. She has made many spontaneous purchases of the clothing to wear to many of Celine Dion’s shows.

 

Ramona and I entered the cafe, took our seats and began our conversation. Soon, our glasses of orange juice arrived. I asked the waitress to take a picture of my friend and I, as we toasted to orange juice. Ramona, whom I nicknamed “Ramama” from the previous evening, is truly a generous and sincere person. I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting her back in January during the taping of Celine Dion’s DVD for her extraordinary Las Vegas show. As of today, Ramona has attended the show 104 times, and a couple of weeks ago, she celebrated her 100th show experience. Last night, I had also brought her a printed and signed congratulatory note that I had written for her during the moment of her celebration. We had become friends almost immediately, and have been in touch ever since January. Now, we were eating omelets together and talking about her most favorite subject - the divine Ms. Dion. Moments later, we were joined by a friend of Ramona’s - Kim, along with her friend, Taylor from South Carolina. We took the next few moments to introduce ourselves, and Taylor made a little joke about her accent - “Saaaaouthe Care-ro-line-na!” As I mimicked her, we all laughed together. The two gals had worn bathing suits under their thin clothing, because they were ready to go kayaking on Lake Las Vegas.

 

In the late morning, Ramama and I took off for a drive around Lake Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada. At the South point of Lake Las Vegas, we spotted Kim and Taylor kayaking, and I snapped a little photograph, and we took off. We headed to Wal-Mart. Ramama wanted to purchase some giftboxes to put her “secret-recipe” chocolate chip cookies. Celine and many of her associates have received boxes of these chocolate chip cookies as friendship gifts from Ramama. One time, when Celine walked of her stage to give a rose to a person near Ramama, she looked over to her, and said, “Thunk for thossse Kooookies.” This was during one of the shows after Celine’s appearance on American Idol with that technologically-advanced duet with the late-Elvis Presley. So, I now have nicknamed Ramama, “Cookie Monster.” So, we were in Wal-mart, and we could find the right boxes. So, Ramama picked up some thin poster boards, to cut and create later at home. While we were outside, making our way to the car, three teenage girls stopped to gasp at Ramona’s shoes. “Look at those cute shoes! Hey you guys, check out her cute shoes!” Ramama smiled and thanked them. All of a sudden, one of the girls said, “Let’s go to Payless.” As I got into the car, I just laughed and turned to Ramama. I am sure they did not realize that Ramama’s shoes were high-end and were worth more than thirty pairs of shoes from Payless Shoe Source. What I realized at that moment was also that they were inspired by her.

 

That afternoon, I packed all of my belongings back into the suitcase and my messenger bag. We took off in Kim’s car towards the Strip. Ramama, Kim and Taylor had great tickets to see David Copperfield. As the car rolled closer and closer towards the Strip, my excitement rolled more and more into a full circle.

 

While on the bus on Friday, I received a txt message from my dear friend, Dee, in Belgium. Six months ago, we were planning to have a rendezvous together in Vegas, to celebrate his graduation from the University as a pharmacist. I had become friends with him at the beginning of his last year and his residency program as a pharmacy student. Each time we were communicated, he was telling me about his progress and his overload of studies to achieve excellence in his education. In the txt message that I received on Friday on the bus, he had announced to me that the University declared that he has completed all of his requirements successfully and was now a graduate. As a close friend, I felt his happiness and his joy. This trip to America was a celebration of the completion of his educational endeavor. Being the kind and considerate person that he is, he made all of the arrangements with his travel agent, and requested that I joined him only during his stay in Vegas. For ten days, his itinerary scheduled him to be in Vegas and other locations in SoCal. He also brought a friend of his to journey with him to the other places. So now, on Saturday afternoon, as I was riding in this car, I knew he was flying overhead, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. My plan was to drop my suitcase to be held at Treasure Island, his place of stay in Vegas; to go around the Strip unti he arrived at 8:00PM; and then come back to load my suitcase into his room. So, I was dropped off at Treasure Island, while the three ladies left for the Copperfield Show.

 

When I arrived at the Treasure Island hotel around 3:30PM, I asked the bellhop to hold onto my one, little suitcase. He gave me a notion through his words that he needed some incentives. I honestly did not know the procedure, so I reached into my pocket to find larger bills such as $20’s and $100’s. I could not find anything smaller. To guarantee that everything was okay, I gave him $20 in tip. I took off for Fashion Show Mall to roam around and relax. While walking around Saks Fifth Avenue, I chatted with my older sister on the phone. She was happy to hear about my vacation, and we talked about her potential visit in the near future. I made a little visit to Nordstrom, and sat down for a treatment with the Clinique folks. I had an endless conversation with the associate there, and we talked about the Spice Girls’ return to entertainment. When the treatment was over, I received a txt message from Dee. He said that he had arrived on US soil (in Philadelphia), but he was delayed. I txted him back. I tried calling him. I txted him again. There was nothing. No answer, no response. So I thought that maybe he was in the air again. I walked over to the Forum Shops and noticed the beautiful cathedral ceilings with the massive sculputured pillars and ceiling paintings - very majestical and classical. I entered into the store by the brand Fresh, and experience aromatherapy that left me relaxed and cooled. The three associates in this store were all Filipino women. I’m not Filipino, but many of my friends are, so we shared a familiarity and we got acquainted. The associate, named Angie, introduced me to her favorite scent, which was the grapefruit. She even gave me a sugar spa treatment to soften my hands and arms. I purchased a lotion and a bath soap. Around 7:00PM, I received a phone call from Ramama. I was not able to pick it up in time, and I received a message which I misunderstood her saying “Meet me at the patio of ‘Crabbies.’ “So, I roamed around the Forum Shops looking for “Crabbies.” The people at the information desk told me that there was no such thing as “Crabbies” and there was a restaurant named Joe’s which had a subname that included the word crab. As I made several rotations around, I realized they were not there, and that I misunderstood. As I made it towards the center of the Forum Shops, I noticed a restaurant named Trevi. As I scanned the patio area, the three ladies were not in sight. So, I just made my way to Cypress Cafe and ate a pizza. I had txted and called Ramama many times, however, her phone was completely put on silent.

 

Around 8:00PM, I was walking away from Cypress Cafe towards the Forum Shops, and coincidentally, so was Taylor. Ramama and Kim had tickets to Saturday night’s (tonight’s) show of Celine Dion. So, I invited Taylor to go shopping with me. Taylor’s first thought was to go to GAP to get some something more comfortable than her formal shoes - like flip-flops. We roamed around for the next two hours. At one time, we landed at the Ralph Lauren boutique. I was at their basket of what they called “luxury” boxers. I realized I had no need for them, since I was wearing Burberry already. I joined Taylor on some comfortable sofas in the middle of the shop, and as I looked over to the left, I realized that I needed a belt to go along with my outfit for Sunday. We walked over to the belt section together. As I was scanning through the different belts, Taylor mentioned how ridiculous Ralph Lauren were to make a belt from a rope. I turned my head over, and immediately, smiled, thinking I had an epiphany. I pulled it off the hanger, and noticed this white rope with black leather ends, and thought that it would go perfectly with my outfit. My mind was 50/50 at this moment, so I put it back on the hanger and decided to exit the store. Suddenly, I pulled one foot back and decided to go back and grab the belt. I looked at Taylor and gave the biggest smile. As an artist, at many times, I get these creative vibes and thought I could do something with this robe belt. To my surprise, the store had made a mistake in the pricing of the belt by giving it a sale price. The sales associate gave me the benefit of the doubt, and so I felt that it was just meant to be. Around 10:30PM, Taylor and I made our way to the exit doors near the Celine Dion boutique. I had brought with me photographs that I had taken with Celine’s dancers back in January - to be signed. Immediately, I spotted one of the guys that raps during her show - whom I was ready to give a photograph to. I had me three copies, one for myself, and two to each of them. As they received my gift of photograph, they gave me the biggest smiles and hugs to thank me; and gladly signed the photograph. We had a brief conversation together, and they were telling me about their future endeavors after Celine’s finish with her gig this December. I joined the group of Ramama, Kim, Sarah, Sarah’s mom, and Taylor at Slice after this moment. As we were talking, Ramama looked up and said, “There they are.” I turned around and noticed some familiar faces - Tal, Sophie, Celi, and Cara. I placed my things down, got up to give hugs to each of them. They were able to attend Celine’s show this evening. We talked for a little while. They said they were a bit exhausted from only four hours of sleep. It was wonderful have finally met them, because we had been acquainted for a few years now. While at Slice, in our conversation, Taylor told me to show the gals my belt. In my defense of the belt, I said that it was made from Egyptian Cotton - NOT hemp! Afterwards, Ramama, Kim, Tayor and I decided to take off from The Strip. Before we left completely, we went to pick up my bag from Treasure Island, because my friend Dee had not arrived yet.

 

Nearly 1AM, after I had finished showering and preparing to go to bed, I decided to make a call to Treasure Island to see if Dee had checked into his room yet. To my surprise, the hotel associate told me that they had just checked in about seven minutes prior. As I was connecting to the room, I became excited. Suddenly, I could hear Dee’s familiar voice, “Hallo.” I just smiled and said, “Welcome to America.” He told me about some unpleasant things that occurred during his delay. I told him that I was so happy that he and his traveling partner had arrived safely to America. I told him that I would do everything possible to help him out. He sounded so happy over the phone. We both said our wishes, “good night.” Finally, my bed felt more comfortable and I slept so well.

Edited July 5, 2007 at 07:03 AM by Love,

[Love,]

.....pants that I amazingly discovered a a few weeks prior at H&M. The pants were thin stripes of burgundy and white, and appeared as a warm, paler pink color from a distance. As soon as I put them on, I realized that they fit so well...

P.S. To my Scandinavian friends, my pants are from your region!

Please don't tell me, it's H&M.

 

H&M rocks.

Love the review..I felt like traveling with you.

Thanks, friend! H&M is one of my fav. stores!

 

:w00t:

Well, you know, hopefully we will get to travel together when I hit Europe next Summer!

[paradox]

Nice one!!! Can i get one hug too

[Love,]

Nice one!!! Can i get one hug too

:mdr: :mdr: :mdr: :mdr:

I know I give too many hugs! As testified in the memoirs so far...

 

To answer your question:

Hmmm... let me think about it! :hmm:

SURE!

Anytime, Amir!

 

Thanks bud

Edited July 5, 2007 at 07:33 AM by Love,

[Love,]

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q97/Sopha85/036-SophaRamama1.jpg

Ramama et Moi

The Orange Toast to Kick-Off This Fabulous Experience in Vegas!

06/30/2007

Edited July 5, 2007 at 08:23 AM by Love,

[nano]

.....pants that I amazingly discovered a a few weeks prior at H&M. The pants were thin stripes of burgundy and white, and appeared as a warm, paler pink color from a distance. As soon as I put them on, I realized that they fit so well...

P.S. To my Scandinavian friends, my pants are from your region!

Please don't tell me, it's H&M.

 

H&M rocks.

Love the review..I felt like traveling with you.

Thanks, friend! H&M is one of my fav. stores!

 

:w00t:

Well, you know, hopefully we will get to travel together when I hit Europe next Summer!

woot..that would be great.

[Clari]

Awesome review Sofa, thanks for sharing!! Sounds like SO MUCH FUN... I hope to see you in December! :) Edited July 6, 2007 at 01:27 AM by Clari

[Love,]

Awesome review Sofa, thanks for sharing!! Sounds like SO MUCH FUN... I hope to see you in December! :)

 

Thanks, Clarissa! I'm looking forward to meeting you as well, this December.

 

 

 

There is still more to come, folks!

 

I have to give you my review of Sunday and Celine's performance on Sunday evening.

That will be posted either later tonight or tomorrow.

Edited July 6, 2007 at 03:50 AM by Love,

[kathyc25]

Such a great review Soph, I love getting "lost" in it...makes me feel like I`m there!

[Love,]

Thanks Kathy!

December's gonna rock 'cause of people like you

 

 

 

 

Ah... another photograph:

 

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q97/Sopha85/106MisRaSoDee-WHIR.jpg

After the Show with Mischa, Ramama, Moi and Dee

07/01/2007

 

 

 

Day #3 and Celine Review still to come!

Edited July 6, 2007 at 08:08 PM by Love,

[Elaine]

Thanks for the review Sop.!!!

Can't wait to read the rest!!!!! I guess you had lots of fun!! Can't wait for December to come to see all of you!!!!

[Cheerfuljane]

[Love,]

 

Awwww, I send the BIGGEST HUG for my dearest Jane!

[Cheerfuljane]

Awww... And I send a LOVing hug right back to ya my comfy sofa http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/froehlich/m030.gif

[celinerific]

Awwwe. That sounds lovely! I'm glad you had fun!

Maybe... if I win the lottery some day before December, I'll go! Or you know... if my dad wins the lottery he promised to give each of us $100,000.00... So I'll go if that happens too!

 

You know... if only Vegas wasn't so far away from Canada. It costs nearly $700 just to fly there.

Ah well... it will be accomplished someday! Most likely on DVD though.

 

I'm waiting to read day three!

[Tal]

a gasp, huh?

[tativale]

Sophoan, I know you've been busy.... heh but we are still waiting for your Sunday review!!! hehehe Based on what you told me, the best night of them all hehehe lol