GONE FISHING

Will take a several days off to indulge in some R&R coinciding with the Memorial Day celebration. Memorial Day is the unofficial sign that summer is here and yes, time to get up and move away from you computer screen. I promise to take a lot of pictures. I have 5 gig of memory card all packed and ready. See you all later.

Asercate

This is one of my favorite flower shots because the bloom is so much prettier in real life. Every year this discount, no-name rose bush has produced humongous blossoms from early spring to early to mid fall.

Another Walking Path

From the looks of it, I am the only one walking. A view of the city in the background from Crissy Field.

Clement Street

The main dining and shopping drag in the Inner Richmond neighborhood of San Francisco features great Chinese (of course, this is called the new or little chinatown), Burmese, Thai, Peruvian, Lao, Mediterranean, among others. My favorite take-out place was (yes was, it closed) The Russian Bear. They have great food, solianka is one of my favorite.

I dont see many tourists in this area. Must still be a secret to every body. If you want to shop for chinese/asian greens but do not want the congestion of Chinatown, come here instead. Not very shiny or touristy, but a local hangout. They have a number of good coffee shops too.

In Vegas.....

you not only lose your money, if you're not careful, you will also lose your head.

I can not remember where this is. I think it may have been somewhere near Luxor or something. Those who've been to Vegas and has remembered where this was located, please let me know.

I am putting a stop (temporarily- who knows-I have some more) on this series. You have been subjected to too much Vegas.

Hoover Dam

No visit to Las Vegas is complete without a stop at Hoover dam some 30 miles southeast of the city.

Botanical Garden Still

In the middle hangs a replica of the Liberty Bell, the significance of which is unknown to me; but when in Vegas, photograph everything, and so I did. For more info google bellagio botanical garden and they have a link for photos of the garden in different season. I reckon this is their summer version since there are sunflowers at that time.

Bellagio Botanical Garden

Just beyond the glamorous Bellagio lobby is its botanical garden, that changes from season to season. Besides the exotic plants that highlight every season, they have these statues that are made from petals. I just dont know if these are real flowers or just flower-like paper mache. A good place to hide from the desert heat for all photography enthusiasts.

Balancing Act

It is known that Vegas houses the best and the brightest in the world of entertainment. And yet for the common people, the only entertainment they see and experience are the free shows like these that are situated near the restaurants.

Caesar's Palace

Fantasy

Another Night Shot

Not only is Vegas prettier when the sun comes down, the weather is cooler too, making it bearable to cover the length of the Strip with a camera hanging on your neck and your hand/s busy with a margarita.

Welcome

Cannot do a Vegas series without this shot. An early day cruising the strip for a Starbucks.

Life Begins At Sundown.

Dusk falls on Sin City.

New York, New York Hotel and Casino

A taste of the Big Apple in the middle of the desert.

Aladdin

Stand tall

View from Bellagio while watching the fountain show. Wish I could see the original one.v

One More

Bellagio Fountain Show

Familiar Sight eh? Oh so Ocean's Eleven.

Hee-Haw!!!

Don't forget that this is still the Wild West, despite all the neons dotting the Strip.

Cha-ching!v

Wont be Vegas without the slot machines.

Night

I am a morning person, but the glamor and sheen of the neon lights of the Strip is a sight to behold, and even I could not help but stay up late enough to experience it.

Day

I seriously cant remember the name of this hotel...and too lazy to look it up. Taken from Bellagio.

24/7

This month I will post Vegas photos taken a couple of years ago. This was taken about midnight with the camera in one hand and those whatchamacallit yardlong Margarita drink in another. While very alive and kicking, this city does not float my boat. I can see the attraction it has on people, but what I thought would interest me bored me instead. Even for those who do not care for gambling, there are plenty of entertainment to be found. Photographing (replicas) for one is what I found to be enjoyable. The dry heat of the desert, however, soured me a bit.