By Tara Thorne

Vegas – wow. I want to say that everyone should experience Vegas at least once, but I'm not sure if that's the best incitement to make. To me, Vegas was a paradox of good and evil. A surreal and fantastical world which is fun, and certainly mind-blowing, but this city depends on some of the more unhealthy of human sins for its' survival.

As you drive into Vegas and onto The Strip a momentary paralysis takes hold of your senses as they go into overdrive trying to absorb the plethora of flashing multi-colored neon lights, gaudy palm trees, clowns, a replica Eiffel tower, Empire State Building, and more! It is, to say the least, a shock to the system.

Cards advertising an array of prostitutes for your pleasure litter the streets, the top of bushes, the ground, railings, anywhere that is accessible to pedestrians and every second door you look into brings you face to face with a roulette table, a black jack table, or a gluttonous row after row display of notorious, money-hungry pokie machines.

Casino hotels line the infamous main street in Vegas known simply as "The Strip", and owing to this fact Vegas does not sleep. Be it 7am, 11am, 3pm, 9pm, 1am or 5am you will find many a person planted on seats inside a casino's dark cage. Glazed over faces fixate on flashing colors and hideous circus-like electronic melodies that are being pumped from small boxes that transmit a lure enticing the un-slept and alcohol soaked. Hypnotized by these machines of greed and fake promises, they look like zombies: cold eyed, blank faced, emotionless and in another zone that does not include sunlight, nature, or fresh air.

But it's not all bad. The shows, the warm weather, and a multitude of things to do all add up to an enjoyable stay whilst in Vegas. Lounge by a man-made beach at Mandalay Bay that comes complete with wave pool, lazy river, three swimming pools, and 2,700 tons of real sand! For the adrenaline junkies, try riding a rollercoaster.There's an indoor one at Circus Circus, and New York New York and Sahara both have one too. If shopping is more your thing there's always the Forum Shops inside Caesars Palace and free events are plentiful as well including: the Fountain Show in front of the Bellagio every thirty minutes from three in the afternoon until seven at night, the Volcano Fountain in front of the Mirage which erupts every fifteen minutes after dark until midnight, the Sirens of TI an entertaining event located in front of Treasure Island, street performers at St. Mark's Square in the Venetian or, also at the Venetian, you can enjoy a leisurely gondola ride: pure Italy - Vegas-style!

I rather enjoyed our stay in Las Vegas. It's a fantasyland, and no one can say it's not unique. I liked gawking at the amazing architecture even if it is stolen from epochs of long ago.