VIVA LAAAAAS VEGAS!

This is Vegas!!

This was the main reason Gary's parents came to visit us, Vegas trip via Houston!! Haha

After Houston city run was done, we went to Vegas for 4 days 3 nights. Main activities: watch Mystere, KA, The Beatles LOVE, rides, and visit Red Rock.

To the left is Stratosphere Hotel, the tallest building located at the end of The Strip, where we stayed. At the top of the tower there were several rides--one that shoots you up, one that dangles you over the edge, one that spins you off the tower, and a sky jump like free fall off the tower.

Yep, like that, off the edge at the top of the tower!

First thing first, up the tower we went. Behind was the Vegas Strip

You can see Vegas' landscape in the background

Boys will be boys

Walking on the Strip to the main bit and the popular hotels

Inside the Venetian

Finally got to Bellagio--the famous Bellagio fountain! Water dancing in sync with Chorus Line's "One"

Back to the hotel before going out again... spending away Gary's dolla dolla bills!

On stage with Seb after watching Mystere!

Next evening, dinner at a very posh looking teppanyaki restaurant at The Hilton, Benihana. First time for Gary's parents to try

Our chef showing off his skills!

Gary's getting good with chopsticks

Vegas' Brooklyn Bridge

New York New York. We went on that roller coaster ride the next day

Where you can easily spend $20 in 2 minutes

Ching! Ching! Ching! Ching!

An escape from the slot machines, the hotels, the city was so refreshing!

Drive to the Red Rock Canyon took only 30 minutes from our hotel. We drove on the Scenic Drive and stopped time to time at different look out spots and even went on an easy 40 minutes hike and found a seasonal waterfall. We recommend visiting Red Rock if you don't have too much time to spare but still want to get away from the city. If you have sometime, go for a hike (ranging from easy, moderate, difficult) but PLEASE wear proper footwear!

Take a hike!!

There IS a waterfall in the back!

Our last show of the trip

Vegas, DONE! (But will be back next time to watch "O" and Zumanity, woop woop!)

Gary's Mum and Dad Visiting!

Geared up for Texas!

Gary's mum and dad came to visit during our last week in Houston (and then off to holiday we go together)!

Although there wasn't too much to do around without transportation, there was definitely sunshine and hot enough to sit by the pool and relax :)

We did, however, watched 4 days straight of the show, of which Gary's dad Eddie was picked from the audience and stole the spot light for a little while.

Just sitting by the pool

Photo in the Artistic Tent

An evening at the Movie Tavern, where you can order food and eat while you're watching a movie in the cinema.

BBQ by the pool

I'm the chicken wings master!!

Last night at the Stats bar for Bingo! They reserved a table for us with balloons and cake!

Awww from Stats

Let the dabbing begin!

So it all looks little bit chaotic.. Here's what was happening in the photos to the left:

Gary, his parents and I,  were playing one of the "Horse" games (small games played between Bingo games). The game is to have one end of the string (which was tied to a spoon), thread down 1 person from inside of their clothes, and up the next, and down the next... you get the idea. After it was threaded through all 4 members, we had to thread it all the way back to win. 

Houston, we have a problem

We were actually faster than the other team by 2 people, until we were threading it back and somehow the spoon and the string got completely tangled inside Eddie's clothes (and he was the last one too!). 

He had 3 pairs of hand attacking him at this moment, exposing him to everyone in the bar! Good laugh!

"BINGO!!"

And this is what we do every Monday night in Houston :)

This is how excited we get for Bingo!

A surprise discovery at Stats Sports Bar Monday night Bingo on the very first Monday when we just arrived in Houston. That is one of the reasons why we kept going back, 7:30pm on time, and we brought more and more friends with us each time!

From 7:30pm-10pm, we play several rounds of Bingo for free. Every round of Bingo, there's also a special number that, when it's called, everyone gets a free jello-shot! Throughout the night, Stats also give out 2 shots for free to everyone. Prizes are gift certificates, except for the last round of Cover-all Bingo, you get to win $100+ in cash (or whatever amount that is in the pot as money is carried over to the next week if nobody wins it) if you call Bingo within 55 numbers called, or $25 after 55 numbers. Between each Bingo round, we also play little games! Check it out!

Gary trying to knock down the cups with elastic bands

Mich won a round of Bingo!

The Quarters challenge

Witnessing Ludo losing a rope skipping challenge

Sandy's got The Tank for her birthday!!!

And the Beer and Cup Flipping Challenge. That is legendary Clinton "Weeman" by the way!

And you'd think with that many sheets for the Cover-all Bingo within 55 numbers is easy, oh it ain't! It's INTENSE!!

Just Around the Museum District

Since we live in the outskirt of Houston, the only way really to go to downtown Houston is by car (which would take about 45-60 minutes, and more if it's during rush hour). Sandy came to visit for 2 weeks, and we were able to borrow Vedo's Jeep for the day time. We ventured deep into the maze of highway to downtown Houston :)

For your information, Houston is not the easiest city to navigate... in my opinion. First of all, there are many lanes that you need to watch out for especially when you need to exit and merge into another highway.. it's not easy to cross 6 lanes in 200 yards. Not to mention the average Texan driver is not very friendly nor patient and can be quite aggressive. Like I've mentioned in the previous post, although everything is built around the highway, no particular landmark stands out because all the buildings are the same colours, they are all about the same height and tell me which strip mall in America doesn't look like any other ones? Most of us rely on GPS, but even the GPS is lost--it's always recalculating!!

Downtown Houston

We parked the car in the Museum District, at Hermann Park, just by the Hermann Park Golf Course in the park (golf courses are very popular here) and just took a walk around. On the other side of the park is the Houston Zoo. Near the park is where most of the museums are: Holocaust Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Health Museum, and many more!

My only touristy photo in Houston. Behind me is a statue/monument of Sam Houston*

*Sam Houston: was elected as the first and third President of the Republic of Texas, then US Senator for Texas after it joined the United States, and finally as governor or the state in 19th Century.

Rose garden

Texas felt the necessity of building their own Washington Monument in smaller version? haha

Choo-choo trains going around the park :)

Does anybody know what these are called?

Outdoor theare

Beach in Galveston

Just an hour drive from where we live, it's like we've arrived at Miami! Well almost.. 

It was a nice change of scenery upon arrival. We have been in Texas for almost 4 months now, and all we really see are highway, grass, strip malls, cows and more highway. 

To get a better idea of what Frisco and Houston are like, just think of:

1. a BIG highway --- 5-6lanes for each direction.. 
2. then more roads (and I mean another 3 lanes) alongside of the highway, which people drive on if they do not want to pay toll, and 
3. EVERYTHING else is built around it. 
4. average building -- less than 3 storeys
5. colour palette: earth tones (brown, grey, khaki etc.)

So, yeah, it's nice to see water!

A visit to Galveston on a Monday for some beach and sun, and found another mini golf place en route. Life in Houston, 25-27 degree Celsius, day off getaway to beach in MARCH? Can't complain.

Our first hole-in-one! Laura Houson!!

Hole-in-one for Mikey and Gary

Some football throwing "Go loooong"