Pretty much the obligatory trip to Vegas en route home - albeit it was somewhat subdued cos there was 100,000 mullets in town for the fucking NASCAR race :|

Regardless, the helicopter trip to the Canyon just made the whole trip (along with Mardi Gras).

http://alamarav.com/alastair/pics/USA/LV/las_vegas-1.jpg

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Nice photos. Vegas looks both tacky yet interesting at the same time.

Vegas is what it is - kitsch, high-class, bogan, fun and heinous - all rolled into one.

Las Vegas - making nature look even more wondrous

http://alamarav.com/alastair/pics/USA/GC/grand_canyon-29.jpg

Ahhhh so you're the guy who I said was cute on the Melb meetup pics. So it was you. :)

Great pics. That Helicopter ride is on my too do list.

There's a few companies which do it - I went on Serenity Helicopters which departs from Boulder City (transport to/from your Strip Hotel is included) and it flies mainly over Hoover Dam and lands in the western end of the canyon and then flies directly back to Boulder.

I think Mustang Helicopters (there's a pic with multiple choppers in it, I think that's them) depart from McCarran (main LV airport just down the road from the strip) and end up doing a loop around the strip before landing. And you can also get tours which go to other parts of the canyon.

Regardless, don't book it before you go - on the morning of the flight that I decided to go, just rolled up to a street-side agent for the helicopter tours (on Strip opposite City Centre), the price was marked down from $475 USD to $325 USD.... Probably best to look for the best deal when you first arrive if you're in Vegas for a few days.

Very nice photos from Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon :)

Excellent.

That's the tallest bus I've ever seen in the picture of New York, New York. Almost could be a triple decker.

Also any idea in the dam picture why the stone is white on the cliff sides above the water. Is that painted, concreted, or a natural effect of the water when the dam level is higher?

Nice pics of Vegas ;).

Also any idea in the dam picture why the stone is white on the cliff sides above the water. Is that painted, concreted, or a natural effect of the water when the dam level is higher?

Yeah, it's the high water mark.

You probably get this a lot. This isn't the real Caesar's Palace is it? haha

Looks like a bit has changed since I was there. The casino I stayed in is now called Hooters by the looks! Was there any snow of the peaks around at all? When I was there it had just snowed on the mountain to the east of the city. They were only just starting the Hoover Dam bypass when I was there too. Also looks like the dam level has dropped even more.

The Grand Canyon flight looks amazing.

:okay:

its a satchel.
paging dr. faggot.
his name is carlos.
not at the table carlos.

etc.

Awesome pictures Tayser!

Reminds me of back in '08 when I did much the same thing, except we flew to the Canyon in a small plane, before getting a helicopter down to the rivers edge where we later boarded a pontoon (same thing on the way back).

Despite the fact I was well and truly under age, Vegas was a whole lot of fun! Did you go up the Stratosphere? Lose much $$ gambling?

Awesome again. Think I'll go and watch The Hangover after this!