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Day 8: Hoover Dam & Las Vegas
2008.07.02
Last night, after coming back from the Grand Canyon, we had pizza for dinner, and I quickly cooked rice in preparation for the long journey to the Golden State, to San Diego to be specific.
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Last night, after coming back from the Grand Canyon, we had pizza for dinner, and I quickly cooked rice in preparation for the long journey to the Golden State, to San Diego to be specific.
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No matter how early we wanted to leave the campsite, we only managed to disassemble our tent and pack everything by 8am. It was pretty hard to decide whether we would be visiting Las Vegas or not as it would require two extra hours. At the same time, all of us wanted to reach San Diego early as we were looking forward to enjoy the hotel… yup, we all missed to sleep on a comfy bed and air-conditioned room! At the end, just for kids' sake to see the Casino City, we pursued our original plan to make a brief stop at Las Vegas.
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No matter how early we wanted to leave the campsite, we only managed to disassemble our tent and pack everything by 8am. It was pretty hard to decide whether we would be visiting Las Vegas or not as it would require two extra hours. At the same time, all of us wanted to reach San Diego early as we were looking forward to enjoy the hotel… yup, we all missed to sleep on a comfy bed and air-conditioned room! At the end, just for kids' sake to see the Casino City, we pursued our original plan to make a brief stop at Las Vegas.
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Still in Arizona, we saw a layer of smoke which later on we saw its source of fire.
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Still in Arizona, we saw a layer of smoke which later on we saw its source of fire.
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We were heading west on I-40, I was still amazed by changing of landscape though kids commented that the view was boring this time… yeah of course after visiting the Rockies, the Arches and the Canyon… heheh.
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We were heading west on I-40, I was still amazed by changing of landscape though kids commented that the view was boring this time… yeah of course after visiting the Rockies, the Arches and the Canyon… heheh.
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What D was excited about making a stop at Las Vegas was to see the Hoover Dam on our way there.
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What D was excited about making a stop at Las Vegas was to see the Hoover Dam on our way there.
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For this trip, we saw lots of cacti along the highway. Yeah… it's Arizona! This reminded me of Abg Ar's picture with a giant Saguaro cactus! He studied in Tucson, Arizona. However, we didn't have much time to make a detour there… sorry!
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For this trip, we saw lots of cacti along the highway. Yeah… it's Arizona! This reminded me of Abg Ar's picture with a giant Saguaro cactus! He studied in Tucson, Arizona. However, we didn't have much time to make a detour there… sorry!
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D was a bit worried about taking this route on US93 to cross the Hoover Dam as there would be a security checkpoint and turning back would be too much hassle for us to reach San Diego as planned. But then we were a bit relief after we called the hotline; only commercial vehicles can't cross the Dam.
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D was a bit worried about taking this route on US93 to cross the Hoover Dam as there would be a security checkpoint and turning back would be too much hassle for us to reach San Diego as planned. But then we were a bit relief after we called the hotline; only commercial vehicles can't cross the Dam.
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Yeah, we were allowed to cross the Hoover Dam of the Colorado River, on the border between Arizona and Nevada.
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Yeah, we were allowed to cross the Hoover Dam of the Colorado River, on the border between Arizona and Nevada.
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It was really really hot to pose in 118 F, above 40 C!
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It was really really hot to pose in 118 F, above 40 C!
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But we didn't mind as the view was stunning… check out the beautiful green dam. Btw, as you could see the contrast in color, the water is much reduced!
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But we didn't mind as the view was stunning… check out the beautiful green dam. Btw, as you could see the contrast in color, the water is much reduced!
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The Hoover Dam Bypass, the new route across Colorado River is still under construction and expected to complete by September 2009. The roadway will be 840 feet (256 m) above the river and when completed, it will be the first concrete-steel composite arch bridge built in the US.
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The Hoover Dam Bypass, the new route across Colorado River is still under construction and expected to complete by September 2009. The roadway will be 840 feet (256 m) above the river and when completed, it will be the first concrete-steel composite arch bridge built in the US.
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Upon crossing the bridge, we immediately entered Nevada. Wow we have crossed all the four time zones in the US – Eastern, Central, Mountain and finally Pacific time zone!!! This time we did not have to change our watches as Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving.
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Upon crossing the bridge, we immediately entered Nevada. Wow we have crossed all the four time zones in the US – Eastern, Central, Mountain and finally Pacific time zone!!! This time we did not have to change our watches as Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving.
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Shortly after the border, we stopped by at Lake Mead National Park Visitor Center for restroom break. Over there, we found out that Lake Mead is the largest man-made lake and reservoir in the US. How Farhan wished we had extra time for him to enjoy fishing there.
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Shortly after the border, we stopped by at Lake Mead National Park Visitor Center for restroom break. Over there, we found out that Lake Mead is the largest man-made lake and reservoir in the US. How Farhan wished we had extra time for him to enjoy fishing there.
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At the visitor center, the kids was excited to touch the horns of big horn sheep that they did not manage to spot at the Rockies and the Grand Canyon. Ohh… we saw a big cactus plant there too…
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At the visitor center, the kids was excited to touch the horns of big horn sheep that they did not manage to spot at the Rockies and the Grand Canyon. Ohh… we saw a big cactus plant there too…
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… and many other types of cacti.
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… and many other types of cacti.
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We reached Las Vegas when the sun right on top of our head… it was noon and it was 120 F!!!
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We reached Las Vegas when the sun right on top of our head… it was noon and it was 120 F!!!
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Las Vegas welcomed us but we got to force ourselves to smile for the camera in this extremely hot weather!
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Las Vegas welcomed us but we got to force ourselves to smile for the camera in this extremely hot weather!
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We only got down from the car near the Stratosphere because Farhan was looking for a restroom and…
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We only got down from the car near the Stratosphere because Farhan was looking for a restroom and…
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… kids were looking for postcards.
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… kids were looking for postcards.
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D then just drove along the Strip to capture the rest of the pictures from our car. That's the famous Luxor Pyramid and Sphinx.
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D then just drove along the Strip to capture the rest of the pictures from our car. That's the famous Luxor Pyramid and Sphinx.
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Yeah… it would be much better at night with glittering lights everywhere.
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Yeah… it would be much better at night with glittering lights everywhere.
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New York New York Hotel
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New York New York Hotel
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Paris Las Vegas Casino
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Paris Las Vegas Casino
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Trump Tower, and the spaceship-looking Fashion Show Mall
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Trump Tower, and the spaceship-looking Fashion Show Mall
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Sahara Casino
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Sahara Casino
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More and more pictures as D drove slowly along the Strip.
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More and more pictures as D drove slowly along the Strip.
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Our journey then continued on I-15 along the southern edge of Nevada.
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Our journey then continued on I-15 along the southern edge of Nevada.
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More desert view as we entered California.
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More desert view as we entered California.
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We would be driving down south of I-15 all the way down to San Diego.
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We would be driving down south of I-15 all the way down to San Diego.
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Arriving at our motel in San Diego at 9.30pm… kids were excited to be back in civilization zone again… they stayed up to watch TV… hahah. But kids, we have to wake up early tomorrow to meet Shamu… yeay!!!
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Arriving at our motel in San Diego at 9.30pm… kids were excited to be back in civilization zone again… they stayed up to watch TV… hahah. But kids, we have to wake up early tomorrow to meet Shamu… yeay!!!
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Comments
Wow!.. bestnya.. reminded me of when I was there..
