Waking up in Vegas (Part 2)

The view that I wake up to every morning at my aunt's house here in Vegas :)

It's been 10 days since I got here in Las Vegas and every single day I've been greeted by a beautiful, sunny morning that never fails to lift my spirits. That's kinda weird considering that I would have woken up to rainy mornings in the Philippines because of the typhoon.

While this is my third time here in as many years, this is the first time that I experienced Sin City as a desert. There's just no better way to say it--it is freaking hot here! Noon time here can go as high as 98 degrees Fahrenheit (about 37 degrees Celsius) so it is a struggle to go out at that time.

Apparently, I've been told, I'm actually lucky not to have arrived a couple weeks earlier as temperature went as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit back in late July. No, thanks. I'll pass.

When I got here last September 20, I went with my mom. People I've had the chance to talk with before I left know that the primary reason for my US trip was to accompany my mom for her jury duty.

However, that episode ended quickly. To make the long story short, she appeared at the Regional Justice Center at Clark County as instructed. Out of the 20-or-so pool of residents and immigrants who came to serve as jury, only 12 were selected. My mom was not one of them.

The street where I am staying at right now :)

The good thing about that is she's clear for the next 18 months or so. Because even though her name was not selected, it is considered that she has served as jury because she made an appearance at the court.

This is why she decided to go home earlier than planned. Instead of leaving on October 25, she rescheduled to go home on October 1. (My brother's wife is also due to give birth any day now which is another deciding factor why she chose to go home early. She'll be back here next year, anyway.)

So now, I am left to the care of my loving relatives (my dad's side). I'm lucky to have aunts and uncles, cousins and friends here who bring me to places, feed me, parties with me, introduces me to new people, and drives me from one place to another.

So far, it's been more of a family affair than a tourist-y visit as I've already went to the famous attractions including the exquisite Water Show at the Bellagio or the "Songs of the Siren" at Treasure Island. I'll do more of the lakwatsa when I get to New York. :)

In my 10 days here, I've watched two shows--"The Blueman Group" at The Venetian and "The Lion King" at the Mandalay Bay; I've seen two movies--"The Help" and "Abduction"; been to local clubs, churches, and Pinoy restaurants. (I'll write about more of these later.)

I wish I could talk more about what I've been up to here in details but a lot of them are unprintable, or shall I say un-post-able (haha). I mean, c'mon, Vegas is not called Sin City for nothing! :)

RELATED BLOG ENTRIES:
- Waking up in Vegas
- Waking up in Vegas (Part 3)
- Waking up in Vegas (Part 4)
- Homecooked Pinoy food in Vegas