Back to the Yesteryears...

My mom (and brothers) came here for a short 3 weeks visit and because we teased our mom that this vacation was for her. We actually decided on a couple of shows that my mom would surely enjoy and remember from before.

This was highly recommended by my brother, Eric. Jersey Boys and Frank Valli do rang a bell and I decided to go for it when I found a ticket on sale for a weekday spot. I told my mom that we are watching Jersey Boys and she said she doesn't know what Jersey Boys was... Ooops! To make the long story short, we did enjoy the show (a lot) with the rest of the senior citizens in the audience. I guess a lot of the younger set of audience decided to watch a different play that they are more familiar with. My youngest brother was blown away with this play and the songs that goes with it. Rated AAA :)

* Jersey Boys- September 19, 2012

* * * * *

JERSEY BOYS

September 19, 2012

Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Vancouver, B.C.

We also decided to do another oldies but goodies show for our Vegas trip. Australian Bee Gees looked like a promising show with a good rating online so we went for this. 

My youngest brother looked wide eyed and out of place as they sang their songs but he ended up enjoying when he heard some songs that he finally knew which was a total of 2-3 songsl. Me and my younger brother, Eric knew a bit more but my mom enjoyed it and danced to the last few songs by the end of the show. 

* The poster

We also got the chance to take a picture with the Australian Bee Gees... Mom was like a Starstruck fan excited to get a picture taken with the group lol

* Not a wax figure...motion at the end :(

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THE AUSTRALIAN BEE GEES SHOW

September 30, 2012

Excalibur Hotel and Casino

Las Vegas, USA

M Resort's Studio B

There are so many things happening after we came back from Las Vegas that I kept on delaying on the entries. 

One of our "must do list" is eating a buffet in Vegas. There are so many ads regarding the "BEST BUFFET in LAS VEGAS". We decided on M Resort's Studio B. I love the reviews about them and about the idea of live cooking studio in monitors which we weren't able to see since we were seated inside :(. The interior was really good though and I love the different textures used to make up the entire eating area. 

* This is the area that will greet you upon entering the Dining/ Buffet area

The wait was really long. We had to go through two lines to get into the eating area. One was a looong line to pay and then another one to enter :(. There were actually a lot of empty tables once we got in.... so why the long wait?!

* Posing on the waiting line... (good thing you can still smile while hungry he he!)

One consolation was the array of food that awaited us inside. I got lost in all the King crabs and the Prime sirloin was really good... I didn't notice much of the selection because I was really happy eating away on the King Crabs....YUMMY! 

* All happy and full

* Pose Vince! PEACE!

 * Another Take :)

* * * * *

STUDIO B BUFFET

12300 Las Vegas Blvd
Henderson, NV 89044

(702) 797-1000

www.themresort.com/dining/studio...

Love the Google Editing add ons

Just when I started on looking into editing photo via Photoshop to make the pictures more professional or at least a bit impressive, Google did it again! They have added more effects to their editing software (Picasa + newly acquired Picnik)- Aaaw! Talk about the universe conspiring to make things easier for me... :)

he he!

This photo was taken on Studio B Buffet- The longest wait I had to go through to eat lunch! It's a good thing that the food was worth the wait :) Will try to post about the Buffet on another entry.

Way to go Google! Love love love the new additions....

Let the world come to you in Vegas

I always  love going to new places and discovering cultures and seeing beautiful architectures. Going to Vegas is really a way of experiencing places without leaving the STRIP... If it weren't so hot in this place, It would have been perfect.

New York, U.S.A.

* We always associate New York with the Statue of Liberty

Cairo, Egypt

* Sphinx

* Mel with the Mummy Statue

Venice, Italy

* I olnly read about this in our Art history books back in College

* What a romantic way to woo your girl. Gondola Ride

Bangkok, Thailand

* Four Faced Buddha

Paris, France

* Winged Victory of Samothrace based from Greek Goddess, Nike

Now located in Louvre Museum

Las Vegas Shoppings

If you are a True Blue Filipino, you must love shopping. Weekends in Manila means choosing which mall to go to. Las Vegas boasts of shoppings for all types of shoppers. 

Las Vegas Outlet/ Las Vegas Premium Outlet

* The smart buyer... Deals in one roof

Las Vegas Premium Outlets
875 South Grand Central Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89106
(702) 474-7500

* * * * *

Las Vegas Outlet Center
7400 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89123
(702) 896-5599

The Venetian : Grand Canal Shoppes

* A Taste of Europe...

Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian

3377 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89109

(702) 414-4500

(888) 283-6423

Fashion Show Mall

* Ramp shows from Friday to Sunday every hour starting from noon to 6pm

Fashion Show Mall

3200 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109-0755
(702) 737-1968

Caesar's Palace: The Forum Shops

* Love the high ceiling and cloud effect of this mall

* So many details you don't know where to focus your eyes on

* Aquarium near the Cheesecake Factory

* Spiral Elevator! 

The Forum Shops

570 Las Vegas Blvd. South (inside Caesars Palace) 

702-893-4800

Crystals at City Center

* Mastros Ocean Club...Onion structure actually is a dining area :)

* Nice facade of the boutiques

Crystals at City Center

3720 North Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89109-4312
(702) 732-7800

Free Attraction @ Las Vegas

There are so many FREE attractions in Las Vegas

What we tried so far are the ff:

1. Everything Coca Cola

* Facade from outside

2. World of M&Ms

* Young at heart

3. Volcanic Eruption @ The Mirage

* Stunning display of volcanic eruption...

4. Lion Habitat @ MGM Grand

* Lion feeding and introduction about the species at MGM

MGM's Shibuya, Las Vegas

A reservation to a dinner date with hubby... at MGM's Shibuya. One of the reason I chose this restaurant was that I saw this featured in Food Network's Chef vs City (Las Vegas)

After reading about the reviews and knowing that hubby loves Japanese cuisine. It was easy to convince him to go along with a reservation here :)

* The Chopsticks

* Yummy! Lobster Miso Soup

* Black Angus Tenderloin

-Hubby who is scared of steaks that is hard raves about this dish

* Tempura Shrimp

Source: MGM GRAND website

• Inspired by Tokyo's Shibuya district
• Ultimate sushi and Teppanyaki experience
• Extensive sake and Japanese beer selection
• Epicurean Magazine Best Las Vegas Japanese Restaurant 2005, 2006
• Best Las Vegas Japanese Restaurant SNCHA 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010
• 4 Diamond AAA Recipient 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

To more dinner dates together...

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MGM Grand Hotel & Casino

3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

Le Reve- :The Dream

One of our must do list when we manage to secure our booking with Las Vegas was to see at least one show.

Hubby wanted the Luxor's Criss Angel BeLIEve while I got suggestions for Venetian's Blue Man Group and Cirque's O. I was immediately interested with O, learning that it was a combination of swimming and acrobatic. I searched out the reviews online and was impressed with the feedback from people who were able to watch the show. Unfortunately, O was not available on the dates we were in Vegas :(. Through more searching, I found out about another aquatic production that is related somewhat to Cirque's O considering that the creator of Wynn's Le Reve and O are the same person- and the most important thing is, it is available on our dates... :)

* Vegas Tix for Less are a good bet to get your favorite show at a great deal!

When should be the best time to get the tickets? That was the big question for me while we were still on the planning stage. I was torn between buying online at full price or risking the chance to watch the show by doing the tickets for tonight booths. I chose the latter despite the possibility of not being able to get a ticket once we got there. It was really luck when the booth nearest to our hotel was the ticket that sells discounted ticket for what else- LE REVE! at almost half the price. WHAT A DEAL! Of course, being a worrier that I am I was torn between getting the ticket and risking getting a bad seat because of the deal but I am soooo glad I bought the ticket because the show was so FANTASTIC!

The sets was really amazing and the technical aspect that goes into that set was really impressive. How many people can say that they are able to watch a show that has that impressive of a stage- a stage that goes from a pool deep enough to dive in which suddenly turns into a stage to dance in, then suddenly goes up and becomes a fountain with people hanging on each level. The title of the show means "The Dream" in French, and  it was as surrealistic as it gets which really fits the title perfectly. The storyline though was a bit confusing on some parts but I was pretty amazed with each segments of the show that I didn't mind that much since I was so focused watching the dives and the dances. 

* Wynn Theater 

Intimate aquatic theater. There seems to be no bad seat in the house. :)

The stage was really a great layout on my opinion. It was circular and intimate and I could say that even if you are at the top most part of the theater you would be able to see everything... I just love how they did the layout since I have been looking at stage layouts of the other shows and read reviews that there are some bad seating that are part obstructed. Unlike those other layouts, this theater literally doesn't have a bad seat, even the splash area in front is also quite good especially you want to be up close and personal with the actors. 

* The amazing cloth flower ceiling that bloomed magically at the end of the show

The ceiling at the start of the show was a swag that originated from the middle of the circle and opens up to the perimeter of the circle. It looks so grand and I thought that ceiling was going to be there from start to finish but I was wrong. At the start of the show the ceiling was suddenly retracted into the center and it opens up to a higher ceiling that amazed me from start to finish. Tables, chairs, lamp posts, and even a bed, etc. came down from that ceiling with people doing acrobatic number on air. 

* Karl and Mel after the Le Reve show

* Le Reve's stunning stage

To those who keeps on comparing O and Le Reve. I haven't got the chance to watch O but I am confident that Le Reve can go head to head with Cirque's O.  The money spent was worth every penny and more...

* * * * *

WYNN LAS VEGAS

3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
Toll Free (888) 320-7123
Phone (702) 770-7000

The Sweet Store- The World of M&M's

What's sweeter than chocolate? Even if you aren't a chocolate lover, you couldn't help but notice this colorful establishment about anything and everything about M & Ms.

* M&M graciously posed with Mr and Mrs Chua :)

What's Las Vegas without a slot machine? Located in Las Vegas Strip, this M&M also sell slot machine souvenirs as well...

* So cute, even the non gambler wouldn't be able to resist this little machine

* Just near the entrance, a life-size M&M

* What else to describe this place- EYE CANDY! 

I was actually hoping to watch the Free 3D Movie inside this store....BUT,

* Unfortunately, Red and Yellow M&M are on a vacation...SORRY

*At least, the movie entrance still looks inviting enough for us to take a snapshot

* For the sweet tooth driver...

* A corner reserve for the M&M gang

* Photo booth... I wish we were able to take a picture here.

* * * * *

M & M's World

3785 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109-4333(702) 740-2520