May 2, 2007

  • The Little Presidents’ Day Weekend Trip 2007

    The Little Presidents’ Day Weekend Trip 2007

     

    February 18 – LAKE HAVASU AND LAS VEGAS

     

    A tour bus chartered by President Tours picked my mom and me (along with others) up in Hollywood at 6:45 AM.  The bus then picked up someone else on this excursion at the Sears on Santa Monica nearby.  It then headed out to Wat Thai of Los Angeles to pick up the last of the people on this trip.

     

    The tour guide, Pichian Rojsiriwat, passed out water and croissants.  They were small, light, and buttery…quite good.  After a couple of hours we arrived at Barstow so people can use the restrooms and perhaps pick up some things to snack on.

     

    After taking off, the tour guide offered the microphone to anyone who wanted to sing or tell stories or jokes.  Like all trips, my mom wanted me to get up and sing.  I didn’t feel like it because I did not sleep enough nor does my voice sound so good before nightfall.  I usually have to chat it up or warm up first.  Anyhow, after some people sang this and that (including of all things “Don’t be Cruel” by Elvis Presley), I then got up.  Actually my mom told the guide that I can bust it.  Since the previous woman was the first ever on President Tours to sing an Elvis song, I followed it with “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”  I then told a humorous story in Thai which the folks on the bus liked.  I finally ended with the Eagles’ “Desperado”.

     

    The guide explained that he has known me since birth and that my father and he are very good friends.  He also likes telling people that I was once on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” so he asked me to tell the folks about that.  I basically told them about how I tried out, the trip to New York, Regis Philbin practicing my name, and finally what I did with my winnings.  It’s a story that just never gets old for me.

     

    We arrived at Lake Havasu in Arizona.  First we ate at China Buffet.  It’s Ameri-Chinese though one of the better ones I have had.  My mom’s friend Napá ate with us.

     

    We then went to see London Bridge which spans Lake Havasu.  This is the third time my mother and I had come here.  I told her that next time she should book a trip to somewhere we haven’t gone to.  I personally like variety.  For those who don’t know, this was the original London Bridge in England.  It was sold to the US for $2.5 million.  Each and every stone that comprises of this bridge was shipped over and reassembled here.  Now it’s Lake Havasu’s landmark which attracts a ton of tourists annually.  The bridge isn’t very big or long but the history makes it appealing.

     

    London Bridge II

    London Bridge, Lake Havasu, Arizona.

     

    While on the bridge, the cool breeze made this day terrific.  The sun would have been hot but the clouds kept the stinging rays out.  It was so relaxing on the bridge; I could have stayed there for hours.  Ordinarily, it’s very hot here.  It’s evident by the number of shops that sell ice cream, Hawaiian shaved ice, and beachwear.  I got me a green apple shaved ice.

     

    Mom, Pa Eed, & whoever

    Left to right: my mother, I don’t know, and my mom’s friend Napá.  To the left of my mom is London Bridge.

     

    We then took off on a two and a half hour trek to Las Vegas, NV.  The on board movie was “March of the Penguins”.  In the dark of the desert night sky, Las Vegas shines like a flaming jewel.  I assumed that the city would be packed not only because of the Presidents’ Day weekend and Chinese New Year but especially because as we arrived, the city is hosting the NBA All-Star Game.

     

    We arrived at the Casino Royale.  It’s where we’ll be staying for the night.  I turned on the TV to see if I could catch some of the All-Star Game.  It turns out I couldn’t get TNT.  Unbelievable!  The game is in Vegas…I’m in Vegas…and I can’t watch it?  I had to call my friend Prapan and tell him about this travesty.  He put it best “So close but yet so far.”

     

    We met up with Napá and we set out on foot for the Bellagio.  We wanted to see the renowned fountain show.  It occurs nightly from 8 PM until midnight every fifteen minutes.  We actually caught two shows in succession.  Both were beautiful and elegant.

     

    We then went inside to see the garden.  The Bellagio is also known for a beautiful indoor garden.  Since this day is Chinese New Year, the garden took on a Chinese theme.  There were Chinese children statues dressed in flora.  There was also a big animatronics pig that can wiggle its ears and snout.  This is to signify the Year of the Boar.  Also there was a pagoda, a waterfall, and flowers all around in a clever artistic arrangement.

     

    My mother got hungry so she wanted to find something simple to eat, not a buffet.  We walked around for a while until Napá saw an ad for Starbucks located in the food court at Monte Carlo.  We then entered the Monte Carlo to find the food court.  My mom and Napá ate pizza at Sbarro.  I had hot dogs from Nathan’s.  I haven’t the foggiest how Takeru Kobayashi downs all those hot dogs.  He’s unreal!

     

    My mother and Napá then played some slots while I tried my luck at the poker room.  My mother lost about $20.  Napá won over $34.  I on the other hand blew $200.  I knew I should have gone all in with my pair of 7’s but no…I tried to get cute which is so not my style.  I should have known better.  Next time, my limit is going to be $100.  I didn’t feel that great losing $200.

     

    We then made our way back towards the Casino Royale.  There were so many people tonight on the streets.  My mother said that in all the years she had come to Las Vegas she had never seen this many people before.  I believe it had to be the All-Star Game.  Many were decked out in basketball jerseys.  I even saw someone in a Washington Bullets’ Wes Unseld and a BYU Danny Ainge jersey. 

     

    My mom got tired and wanted to rest and so we did.  Consequently were at the Bellagio’s lake where the fountain show takes place.  I looked at my watch and it was two minutes to 11 PM.  I asked them if they were up for another show.  They were so we watched it and this time the show was less beauty more bravado and grandiose since the music was Lee Greenwood’s “I’m Proud to be an American”.

     

    We finally got to our room where I watched a couple episodes of “Man vs. Wild” on the Discovery Channel before calling it a night.  Ordinarily walking isn’t a problem for me.  However, I played basketball with my co-workers the night before.  In fact, it was more than I should have played.  I was so tired and my legs got sore.  It was nice to just lie down.  I know it’s going to take a few more days for me to fully recover.

     

    February 19 – LAUGHLIN AND OATMAN

     

    At 7 AM, we had breakfast at Denny’s inside Casino Royale.  Afterwards, the bus took off around 8 AM.  We finished watching “New Police Story” starring Jackie Chan on board.

     

    At 10 AM, we arrived at Laughlin, NV.  We were dropped off at the Aquarius Hotel and Casino.  This used to be the Flamingo Hilton.  Everyone hurried inside as the weather got a bit nippy.  My mom and Napá were on the slots again.  I had only $55 left after my poker debacle.  I risked it all on Three Card Poker.  In the end, at least I made a $20 profit after cashing in my three $25 chips.  I tried a little roulette, too but to no avail.  I have never ever hit anything on the roulette wheel even when betting something as simple as red or black.  I’m something like 0-10 or else I would have more than $75.

     

    We had lunch at Panda Express.  The buffet line was way too long for the amount of time we had allotted here.  Some people on our tour bus decided to cross the street to visit the outlet mall.

     

    At 12:15 PM, we took off for Oatman, AZ.  We arrived at 1 PM.  It is a small town founded in 1906 in conjunction with the gold mine here.  It once mined 1.8 million ounces of gold back in 1931.  However in the mid-1940’s, the gold ran dry so the mine closed.  However the town still retained its old west architecture and ways.  It has become a popular tourist attraction evidenced by the tour bus parking lot.

     

    Oatman sign

    Oatman, Arizona.

     

    I walked around and it’s like being back in the Wild West during the days of cowboys.  There are saloons here and there.  I was tempted to play some pool in Judy’s Saloon and Pool Hall.  I also thought about buying me a cowboy hat but the store was closed.  The weather was pretty cool and that’s good.  The tour guide said that in the summer there is an egg frying contest but you can’t use an oven or stove.  Yep, just the frying pan alone.  It gets that hot here. 

     

    Jackass Junction

    Oatman, Arizona.

     

    The main attraction here is the gunfight show.  However with the threat of rain, the show was canceled.  I was like “Cowboys afraid of the rain?  Get out of here!”  That was a jip.  The tour guide also said there were burros that mosey about.  We didn’t see any of those either.

    Oatman parking Pueblo

    Oatman parking area                                                                           Abandoned pueblos

     

    tractor

    Yeehaw!

     

     

    We then took off from Oatman at 2 PM.  Just as we left Oatman, our bus had to stop because some burros were blocking the street.  At least we got to see some.  Hurray!

     

    burros burro

    Burros.

     

    We arrived at Barstow at around 5:30 PM where we used the restroom facilities and got some McDonald’s.  I got a Filet-O-Fish and gave the fries to my mom.  We then forged on.  Movies on board were Mission: Impossible III and some old Sean Connery movie about him being a mountain climber.  At 8:30 PM we finally arrived in Hollywood where shortly my dad picked us up and finally we were home.

     

    My legs were killing me.  I normally would want to rest up my legs after a hard day of basketball on Saturday.  Now I’ll need to do so while working.  At least I got some exercise and some time away from work.  I had a good time like I normally do after any trip.  It was nice to see Oatman.  The other places I have seen several times already but not Oatman.  It was the reason I agreed to this trip.  I’m usually up for checking out something new.  I enjoy the trips offered by President Tours.  I hope to go somewhere new next time.