Christmas trip to Las Vegas

[MillCreek]

Since we don't need more stuff and the kids are grown, my wife and I decided to go to Las Vegas for Christmas.  I get to Las Vegas for business every couple of years, but I am usually just there overnight to lecture and then fly out the next day. 

We were there for four days this time, and I noticed something interesting: based on the crowds, and the restaurants in the hotels and locally, Las Vegas is now a popular destination for people from India and China. 

[BobR]

It has always been a popular spot for people from China, all of the major casino companies have a Far East division. What has changed is it is no longer just the high rollers, it's the normal people on vacation being able to afford the trip now. The people from the sub-continent though, that is something fairly new.

bob

[TechMan]

The MGM Grand had to move a large statue of (IIRC) a lion that was at the main entrance due to Asian superstitions.

[Doggy Daddy]

The MGM Grand had to move a large statue of (IIRC) a lion that was at the main entrance due to Asian superstitions.

Here is a Google Map street view of how MGM looks today. https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1007476,-115.1730531,3a,75y,41.25h,95.38t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sEktjgOLoOA-rLSfcKUUrOQ!2e0?hl=en The gold lion was not there years ago.  The entrance on that corner used to look like you were walking under the jaws of a large lion. 

[Doggy Daddy]

Since we don't need more stuff and the kids are grown, my wife and I decided to go to Las Vegas for Christmas.  I get to Las Vegas for business every couple of years, but I am usually just there overnight to lecture and then fly out the next day. 

We were there for four days this time, and I noticed something interesting: based on the crowds, and the restaurants in the hotels and locally, Las Vegas is now a popular destination for people from India and China. 

Also, it seems that the Walmart at Decatur and Charleston is a tourist destination.  It's not at all uncommon to see tour buses parked in the lot.  I have seen with my own eyes, Asian tourists standing as if in worship in front of a display stack of canned fruit.  Taking pictures.  Seeing that tends to make one thankful for what we do have... even if it's that capitalistic exploiter of workers, Walmart.

[MillCreek]

The MGM Grand had to move a large statue of (IIRC) a lion that was at the main entrance due to Asian superstitions.

We noticed that a number of the casinos had an Asian-themed lion or dragon statute at or near the front entrances.

[Doggy Daddy]

We even have our own little China Town and Korea Town now.

[MillCreek]

At the Mob Museum (great place, by the way), I scored 100% on their Firearms Training Simulator: two shots COM and neutralized the threat before I could get shot.

[Doggy Daddy]

Whoa!  Now I'm interested in the mob museum.

[MillCreek]

We liked the Atomic Testing museum even better, although the Area 51 exhibit was kind of 'meh'.  The neon sign museum up at the Fremont street area was kind of cool.

[Doggy Daddy]

If you noticed the old bus center behind the museum, that's where I was when the Pepcon plant in Henderson blew up. Was quite a shock wave, even at that distance.

I should check out the neon museum.  I'd like to see how many of the signs I never saw in their original locations.  And, are you referring to the Atomic Testing museum on Flamingo?  Never been there.  Been by it many times, but it just never captured my interest from the outside appearance.

[T.O.M.]

The Hoover Dam tour was very interesting when we went to Vegas last year.   Other than that, did a lot of peopke watching, especially at the Forum Shops at Ceasars Palace (where we stayed).  Laughec when I saw a guard at a Rolex shop open carrying a Glock in a super cheap cordura holster.

[Boomhauer]

The Hoover Dam tour was very interesting when we went to Vegas last year.   Other than that, did a lot of peopke watching, especially at the Forum Shops at Ceasars Palace (where we stayed).  Laughec when I saw a guard at a Rolex shop open carrying a Glock in a super cheap cordura holster.

The security companies prefer to buy the cheapest *expletive deleted*it possible.

The ones around here like to issue Hi Points. No, I'm not joking.

[Hawkmoon]

We even have our own little China Town and Korea Town now.

What, no Vietnam Town?

That's RACIST!

[freakazoid]

[Viking]

We liked the Atomic Testing museum even better, although the Area 51 exhibit was kind of 'meh'.  The neon sign museum up at the Fremont street area was kind of cool.

No information about the alien corpses they have stashed away?

[Sergeant Bob]

The Hoover Dam tour was very interesting when we went to Vegas last year.   Other than that, did a lot of peopke watching, especially at the Forum Shops at Ceasars Palace (where we stayed).  Laughec when I saw a guard at a Rolex shop open carrying a Glock in a super cheap cordura holster.

The Hoover Dam tour had me seriously nerding out!