Becoming civilized?

Here I am, at my father-in-law's laptop, in the Los Angeles suburb of Arcadia.

(punch in 'Arcadia, CA' at http://maps.google.com/ to see where I am at)

I had just returned from Las Vegas yesterday. The 'City of Sin' is just under an hour's plane ride away from Ontario airport in California. The Wife's parents had so kindly bought us a 3 day 2 night stay at the Venetian, and 2-way return air tickets there of course.

(http://www.venetian.com/)

I had been to Las Vegas when I was really young. Not much recollection of it. But this time, I sought to observe and try to discern between Hollywood glamour (that we see so often on TV shows like 'Las Vegas' and 'CSI: Las Vegas') and reality.

Not too long ago, when the Singapore government gave the go ahead to create not one, but two casinos (politically correct term is 'Integrated Resorts' or IR), many political observers applauded the government for being 'mature' and 'moving towards civility'. Singapore is known in the West as a 'nanny state' --- for banning the sale of chewing gum; for caning Michael Fay...the list goes on. So, having the creation of not one, but two casinos, shows that 'the government has faith in its people and recognizing that a civilized society allows a freedom of choice and expression' --- even when it comes to gambling.

What should we expect in Singapore when the IRs open? Entertainment? Fun? Vibrancy?

Or will it be crime? Sleaze? Addiction?

Personally, I sympathize with the government. It's not something they would have liked to have but in doing so, they are 'showing their hand' and 'throwing their trump card'. These opinions are mine alone, but it is quite clear if you read the signs in the wind. Anyway, this is for another blog entry altogether.

Back to Vegas.

Stepping into the lobby of the Venetian was simply 'meraviglia' --- astonishing. Of course, it is nothing like what I saw in St Peter's Basilica or at the cathedrals in Europe. But for modern day context, it was oozing with opulence in its interior finishing and intricacy in the ceiling paintings. Soft Baroque music played in the background. A certain fragrance filled the lobby --- The Wife thinks that it is toilet fragrance --- that is meant to uplift the senses.

I could go on about every detail at every hotel we explored --- the Mirage; Caesar's Palace; the Bellagio...Oh, The Bellagio...but it would take just too long. So let me instead briefly touch on some observations.

Gambling
There are slot machines everywhere --- the airport; on the sidewalks; in the pubs. Every hotel has the ubiquitous slot machines and most of them have gambling tables for Blackjack, Poker and Craps. High rollers are ushered to a different section for higher stakes. In these areas, the sound of 'ching-ching' is heard all the time to give people the impression that others are winning --- so you should persevere and wait for your turn to win! You will see that there are no clocks on the walls so that you do not keep track of time --- you got time, so play more lah! Restrooms signs are really hard to locate, so that you do not think about your bladder --- focus on winning!

Boobs
Let's be real --- where there is money, there is sex. Waitresses are outfitted in dresses --- low from the top and high from the bottom. Most are physically well endowed, save the 1 or 2 waitresses who are less endowed because of equal opportunity hiring regulations. Wynn Hotel has a nightclub called Trysts; The Mirage has a nightclub called Bare; The Venetian has a nightclub by the pool called Tao --- sounds innocuous enough eh? Until I found out that there are Asian dancers in the pool wearing nothing but flower petals in strategic spots. The streets are filled with dispensers giving free directories to massage services and topless dancers. Hispanic flyer pushers give out flyers on how you can hook up with a girl of your desire. Moving billboards on trucks drive by, beckoning you to book a topless show for tonight.

Money Talks
Tipping is rampant. To get a good seat in the nightclub, tip the greeter well. To make sure your bags come off the luggage holding area fast, tip well. When ordering a drink, you have to tip the bartender. To take a photo with the actor playing the accordion, tip him...err, well, the girls that did not tip him gave them a dirty look and continued playing his tune, albeit sourly. Tonnes of shopping can be done at all the hotel malls with brands that would make the seasoned Orchard Road shopper hyperventilate.

Entertainment
Lots of options. For the night, you've got world class concerts, musicals, stand up comedy shows, topless shows, cirque du soleil performances. Then there are free shows like the Treasure Island Hotel Pirate show and the Bellagio's water fountain show. I really could not find anything that kids could be occupied with. To be fair, I did not go beyond the busy part of the 'Las Vegas Strip'. But then again, I would really say that it is not a place that would excite kids. Other forms of entertainment would be like the Dolphin lagoon or seeing the White Tigers at the Mirage; sitting in a gondola in the Venetian's man made canal --- quite cool I must say; Madame Tussaud's wax museum; and gambling, but of course.


Well, well, well. Is Singapore going to be like that? I don't think so. Vegas is in a league by itself. But yes, we have to expect some of these things that will come our way. On the positive side, many jobs will be created, I mean, many. Business entertainment will be directed our way, so will conventions from MICE. We will be seeing world class roller coasters and amusement rides --- a long time coming for us, really. It will be an exciting time for us all. But yes, I am aware of the social ills that will fall our way.

Part of our package was a $50 credit for us to play with at the slot machines. The Wife and I thought, what the heck, let's try our hand at the slot machines. And so we did. Before you know it, we were winning money! I must say that it was actually quite exciting. We decided to cash in our winnings and we got a handsome sum of $39.95. How wonderful it was to win! Hang on...we started out with $50. Yeah, they were free credits. But actually, amid all the excitement of winning money, if we had forked out the $50 ourselves, we would have ended up with a 'deficit' of $10.95.

The House always wins.

'Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.'

1 Corinthians 10:12 (The Bible)