it's a world of laughter, a world of tears. it's a world of hopes, and a world of fears. my past experiences with vegas have been mostly positive. our family is no stranger to the city and we used to visit vegas quite a bit. all the chinese parents would take their kids to circus circus to tire them out with games and stuffed animals before descending down to the casino after hours. the next morning, there would magically be racks of oversized silver coins to play with (as well as buckets of spare quarters earmarked for use at the arcades). the benevolent vegas spirit was like santa claus and the tooth fairy rolled into one. it was fabulous.

then you get of legal gambling age and everything changes. trips to vegas -- minus parents, of course -- become focused around potential debauchery and memorable (but according to marketing, secret) times. the awesome spectacle of people, lights, and around-the-clock action you remember from your youth is transformed into a money pit festering with the worst of middle america.

i hate vegas. let that be clear.

i don't gamble, i don't drink, i don't (really) smoke (anymore). there's nothing for me in vegas. all the arcades are dead too, replaced by expensive videogames that rival the cost of a drink to play. vegas is no longer kid-friendly (by design)and all the things that i may have once liked about it are gone or have been tarnished. everyone should go to vegas once, but to go back twice? that's just inane. and to spend more than 48 hours there? even crazier.

the strangest sight from this past vegas experience was going to the club only to see the crowd filled with 70% asians. wait, i left california for this?