The Secret Diaries : When in Vegas

Chapter One - Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas

Five hours. That's how long it took me to fly from Honolulu to where I am now. The sun hurt my eyes as the flight attendant opened my side window. Back pain, headache and feeling hungry, I peeped down. Vast land mass and some snow left on mountains. Tiny houses, commercial buildings and weird shapes from afar. Endless roads and rivers, I felt like I became a satellite in human form.

"So this is how the Mainland looks like. I wish my mom could see what I see now."

It felt so unreal. I've never seen land without a view of the sea until this day. Mountains after mountains, as far as your eyes can reach. A city in the valley, surrounded by desert just as how it was on television.

It was my first visit in Las Vegas and it was really not in the plan. I took a cheap ticket for Hawaii and only toured for ten days before the United States decided for a lockdown. Scared that I may end up staying there without any relatives which I don't know until when this lockdown will last, I hurriedly took a flight here.

One by one, all the passengers got off the plane including me. I was nervous and anxious. Everytime I get to a new place, I always try to act indifferent as much as I can. I followed the group to the hallway, down to the stairs and some more hallways to a mini train station, if I remember it right. After taking that train I got out to a larger hallway with now fashion boutiques and known perfume brands. We passed by some lottery and other game machines all strapped with yellow ribbon and are yet suspended for business. Few more steps and we found the luggage pick up area.

Dragging my trolley bag off the baggage carousel, my mind was wondering how am I able to meet my cousin in this unfamiliar place. I followed few people out which I thought was the exit. It was chilly. I wasn't prepared for this. I got used to the tropics since I was born in one. The place was so quiet. I could count how many people were with me in the flight like around twenty to thirty passengers including me. I watched some heading to the parking area above with their family members or probably friends picking them up. I went to the bench outside waiting for my cousin to come find me. I had no internet. I couldn't make a call. I checked the time on my phone it was eight o'five.

A few minutes more, I heard a familiar voice calling out my name. There she is, my cousin Marie, standing at the automated door where I exited.

"Why are you outside? You should have waited for me inside the station. It is still chilly here. Winter just ended."

"I actually don't know where to go. I just followed a few people where they were heading and they got on a bus awhile ago. I guess I'm at the bus stop this whole time." I replied laughing.

"Let's get you in the car. Welcome to America!" she proudly said.

We head to the upper floor from where I was at.

"I just got out from work. I was looking for you everywhere. I can't reach your phone. John is supposed to pick you up but I logged out early so I came right away." she explained.

John, the husband I have not met yet. My cousin and I had not seen each other for like twelve years. We only communicate thru Messenger just like most of the people nowadays. She left our hometown years ago and the next thing we heard was she got married and stayed here in America for good. She likes to keep things private, even from her family. We never knew how her husband looked like. Never shared anything about him, not even a picture. That's what I like about her. Carefree.

"City is quiet now unlike the normal days where streets are always full of people. Since the lockdown, the Strip has been like a ghost town. We can't go to the best places right now to visit but I can still take you to some decent areas on my off hours."

"Well I'm not really here for a tour but thanks for tge idea. I guess this is a good place to be stuck in. I mean people are dreaming to be here their whole lives so I'm still lucky despite of this pandemic."

The pandemic. The Covid-19 breakout, as reported on the news, originated in Wuhan, China after some laboratory experiments gone wrong or however it started has caused the World to stop.

"Since this is your first step in Las Vegas, we can't miss a photo of you on our famous Welcome sign!"

She parked the car and eagerly took her phone out. Pulled out the sanitizer from her pouch and gave me few drops. We noticed another car few meters away from ours. Tourists just like me. Visitors who probably took advantage of the cheap fare like I did. A biker, stopped on the area. Might wanted to take a photo as well. We got off the car and twenty steps to the sign, we waited for our turn. Distant to my left, a guy dressed as Elvis Presley.

"Can we take a picture with him?"

"He's an artist. A picture with him comes with a fee."

"Oh! Nevermind." My stingy inner self's objection.

My turn. I hurriedly stood underneath the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada sign with the widest grin I could make.

"I used to dream of this place. Finally, I am here."

Click. Click. A few good shots and we went off back to the car.

"Who knew you were coming?" she asked.

"I never told anybody yet." I replied beamingly.

"Cool! I'm gonna post your pictures to the family group. Let us see who will be thrilled."

Pop. Pop. Pop. My family and relatives alternately expressing their excitement seeing my newly took pictures. They were proud and surprised that finally I was able to set foot in Las Vegas. Typical Asian family, believe me.

As we head home, we took a quick drive on the famous Las Vegas Strip. The mainstream to high end restaurants, various shops, towering hotels and casinos, performance venues and comedy bars lining up. The famous attractions like the Bellagio, the Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty replicas and Mandalay Bay that I often see on TV on almost every Manny Pacquiao fight. There were so much to see yet it seemed liked a ghost town when I arrived. Everything was shut down except for the essential stores, pharmaceuticals, grocery stores and supermarkets.

Police cars are on every corner of the Strip. A few bikers like two or three and homeless guys still roaming around. Despite this pandemic, I am still fortunate to see the City. I never planned for this and yet here I am.