Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Gambling Life

Casino sketches 
Rather than play and gamble at the casinos in Las Vegas, I sat just outside the halls and spent a little time sketching the slot machines etc and as usual clicked away merrily with my camera. May be,  if I wasn't so terribly allergic to cigarette smoke and perfumes, I might have spent more time and money inside the casinos:), but this gave me a chance to wander around the strip with my camera outdoors. It was my first visit to the amazingly surreal city where it is a fine line between what is real and make-believe; where Italy, Paris, New York and Treasure Island all are right next to each other; where Michael Jackson, Wonder Woman, Elvis and space aliens roam the streets making you wonder if you are in a dream!!!. We enjoyed a couple of  amazing and excellent shows - La Reve and  The Jersey Boys. My body being in Eastern Standard Time, woke up every morning to breathtaking view of desert sunrise and distant mountains in the background and I had to make an effort to stay past 8PM there to see the city-lights and life at night :). I could see the truth in Artie Lange's  quote: " Vegas means comedy, tragedy, happiness and sadness all at the same time."  

10 comments:

Hema Penmetsa said...

Having never been to Vegas myself, your writeup makes me want to go right now; I'm not into the casino scene that much myself, though I have always wanted to see the surrealness that you mention. I paint using water and oil, too, but my favorite medium is charcoal pencils. Lovely sketches, Meera!

jyothisethu said...

nice words and pictures...
congrats...

Crystal Cook said...

Very cool sketches meera! What a great idea. It sounds like such a fun time, I would have loved to have seen those sunrises. :)

Meera Rao said...

Thank you Hema, Jyothisetu, and Crystal! It was a fun trip and I was perfectly happy to stay out of casinos :) It it like an adult Disney world; an architect and designer's dream. Lots of wonderful over the top buildings, art, paintings, sculptures, music and set designs everywhere; gorgeous chandeliers and beautiful greenery, water fountains and waterfalls!

padmaja said...

I like your cool sketches Meera, it reminded me of staying away from the slot machines, thinking that it would add to my negative karma :-)

Meera Rao said...

Padmaja, thank you! Thats funny :) I really get sick from cigarette fumes and I ended up with a headache and cough throughout my stay there and that was a pain :( While I was sketching, I noticed how some people were totally absorbed in the games and others were just trying their luck out of curiosity, laughing and walking off after a few minutes -that made me wonder quite a bit about karma, attractions and aversions!

Anonymous said...

love the sketches Meera ! Really enjoy reading your blog :-))
Shyamala

Kathy Staicer said...

My first trip to Las Vegas was on my cross country trip when my daughter moved to California. I was pleasantly surprised. It was an Adult Disney World!!!
I think it's great that you can just sit and sketch the world around you!

Meera Rao said...

Thank you Shyamala -- I always appreciate visits to my blog and comments--it keeps me going :)

Meera Rao said...

Thanks Kathy! You are right- its an adult disney world :)

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