Monday, December 13, 2004

Day TWO in Las Vegas

Yes, my SECOND continuous day with uninterrupted, unadulterated INTERNET ACCESS! hey hey hey! I've even changed my MSN nick to ahming ~ i have INTERNET access! mwahahahahahahaha! It is just SO good to be back splashing my thoughts and feelings across the WWW.

So, I organize my thoughts for the day:
1. I have a genius for a cousin. Nevina Elizabeth Warsito, at the grand old age of five, is reading chunks of text off books and pronouncing, correctly no less, bombastic words like "electronics". She also, by the by, talks incessantly and argues with her parents on lots of things. And her arguments actually make sense! Am I impressed or am I impressed? Wow!

2. Las Vegas is a crazy city. Really. The casinos are themed after various things, and no expense is spared to make sure the interior of the casino, and often the associated hotel and shopping mall, are fully reminiscent of that theme. Today, I was in the Forum shopping mall; it's Roman-themed, by the way, and so each corridor of the mall is done up as some kind of ancient Roman street, with the ceiling a painted sky that changes from light (ie daylight) to dark (ie. night) blue. At the intersections of corridors, there are fountains, statues and an entire Michelangelo-Sistine-Chapel-like painted ceiling in one section. You could take a mini-tour of the world by simply strolling into more of the buildings along the stretch - like Paris (it is NOT run by Hilton group though!), Volcano (apparently Hawaii) and Treasure Island (some Mediterranean/Carribean mix). There are more I can't remember. Sheesh. I wonder how much money they spend on doing these things! the ostentatiousness of the entire makes me feel unclean.

3. Attended church this morning with my aunt. Having seen this church and many others in other nations, I am struck again with the strong discipleship and foundation we are prepared with in our church. Many people in this nation are Christian by mere profession and not in deed; the church was kind of staring at me when i sang loudly and lifted my hands during worship. And sad to say, besides my aunt, who runs the equivalent of chorus board ministry, I was probably the only one who did. I'm not being proud, judgemental or condescending.. but I am sincerely grateful for all I've learnt in my home church and how my faith and the application of it has kept me strong through it all.

4. I went to Target and Walmart's! Whoohoo! Now, to someone who's a native of this nation, you would probably laugh at me for being excited over the equivalent of a really large grocery store/Carrefour's/supermarket, but it is JUST SO COOL! They have ALL the stuff you could possibly imagine. Including clothes. And bags (my aunt bought me two) and accessories (i bought my mum a pretty rose brooch. Yay!) And food. And pharmacy goods, and cosmetics and everything under the sun. AND.. drumroll.. they are open *crows* TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY! A late night shopping spree, anyone?

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