Q: Do you like to play slot machines, cards, etc. in any casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada?
A: Yes, but I am playing only slot machines and I am not yet playing cards because I don't know how to play cards since when I was in Philippines. I like to watch the shows and events in hotels and casinos. I love to play any kind of slot machines if I have lots of money.
Q: Do you have an idea where is the best casinos here in Las Vegas, Nevada to play slot machines and to watch the shows and events?
A: Yes, in Las Vegas Boulevard because most of the casinos and hotels are located there like Mandalay Bay, Four Seasons Hotel, The Mirage, Bellagio Hotel, Monte Carlo, Flamingo, Excalibur, New York New York, Paris Hotel, MGM Hotel, Tropicana Hotel, Circus Circus, Stardust, Luxur, Imperial Palace, Ceasar Palace, Treasure Island, Stratosphere, and so on. To see the list of hotels and casinos, please visit at Las Vegas.com.
Q: When did you visit in Las Vegas, Nevada and with whom?
A: I went to Las Vegas, Nevada many times as follows:
First on October 31, 2001 with my best friend Mr. Marvin Ricafort Yu, his wife Winnie, and son Patrick. I helped them to move out their things from Daly City, California to Saint James Apartment in Las Vegas, Nevada. We rent a truck from Budget Rent A Truck that we used to move out their things. It is a very long drive about 13 hours. The apartment is near to Las Vegas Boulevard. I helped them to arrange their things at apartment and I cooked our foods and dishes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack. I spend a two week vacation there and we visit the hotels and casinos to play slot machines and watch the shows and events if any. In one week there, we have already familiarize the places especially the roads, stores, etc. Marvin got his job at Monopoly Realty, Inc.,Winnie got her job at Abacus Law Office, and Patrick went back to school. I went back to San Francisco, California on November 10, 2001 by airplane via National Airlines.
by airplane via America West. If you are riding an airplane going to Las Vegas from San Francisco International Airport, it is only one hour and a half travel time. I spend my Christmas vacation there with my best friend Marvin, his wife Winnie, and his son Patrick. I cooked the foods and dishes for Noche Buena. After we ate the Noche Buena, we have exchange gifts and I have lots of gifts from them. On December 25, 2001 which is Christmas Day, we went to Saint Thomas Moore Church to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ. We went to hotels and casinos to play the slot machines and to watch the shows. On December 26, 2001, I went back to San Francisco, California by airplane via America West.
Third, on February 2, 2002 by airplane via United Airlines when my best friend Mr. Marvin Ricafort Yu bought their house at Sunburst Community courtesy of Signature Homes. Their house is far from Las Vegas Boulevard and it is northern part of Las Vegas, Nevada. I spend a one week vacation there to help them out to move their things from Saint James Apartment going to Sunburst Community. We rent a truck from Uhaul that we used to move out their things. Their brand new house is a four bedroom and two story. Their new address is 2724 Villa Rosal St. cor. Vista Hermosa St., Las Vegas, 89108 Nevada. I helped them to arrange their things and cooked the foods and dishes for our breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack. We bought the foods in groceries and supermarkets there like Safeway or Vons, Ranch 99 Market, Ranch King Market, Albertsons, and so on. We went to hotels and casinos which are near to their place like Texas Casino and Fiesta Casino to play slot machines. Also, we visit Mr. Robert Castelo and Ms. Jasmin Castelo, my Mom's best friend also in Las Vegas, Nevada at 10266 Bright Harbor Street. Their house is also brand new with five bedrooms, and two story. On February 9, 2002, I went back to San Francisco, California by airplane via United Airlines.
Fourth, on March 8, 2002, by airplane via National Airlines, when one of my co-worker at Exelixis Pharmaceutical, Inc. celebrates her birthday at her new or second home in Las Vegas. Aurora Osit, an accountant at Exelixis Pharmaceutical, Inc. did a tour for us. She invited her friends, relatives, and her co-workers like Engr. Armando M. Balajadia, Mr. Jay Eliares and Ms. Marissa Marzan. She cooked a lot of foods for her guests in the party last March 9, 2002. She made a tour within the Las Vegas Boulevard like Ceasar Palace and Bellagio. We went also inside the casino just to play slot machines. We ate dinner buffet at Bellagio. The foods are also delicious although it is quite expensive. My bestfriend, Mr. Marvin R. Yu, also invited in Aurora's birthday. I stay with his home for three days while Mr. Jay Eliares and Ms. Marissa Marzan at Aurora's guest room. I went back to San Francisco, California on March 11, 2002 by airplane via National Airlines.
Fifth, on March 25, 2002 by airplane via America West Airlines when I attended the plant visit and meeting of American Institute of Chemical Engineers Nevada Section at Basic Food Flavors, Inc. I stayed with my best friend Mr. Marvin Ricafort Yu at his house for two nights. I met the officers and members of AIChE Nevada Section and I am glad that they approached me in fiendly and professional way. They are few in the group because in Nevada, they have a very few industries there and they are starting to put the industries there. Mr. Randy Pierce, the Treasurer of AIChE Nevada Section and an engineer of Basic Food Flavors, Inc. did a plant tour and gave me a carpool after the plant visit and meeting. He is a nice person too. On March 27, 2002, I went back to San Francisco, California by airplane via America West Airlines.
Sixth, on June 20, 2002, by airplane via United Airlines to attend the house blessing of my best friend, Mr. Marvin R. Yu, on June 22, 2002. It is also the birthday of his wife Winnie and his son Patrick. The occassions are joined together in one day because they have a hectic schedules always. They invited their relatives and friends from San Francisco Bay Area and the relatives of Winnie from Daly City, CA to attend the house blessing and birthday party. They travel to Las Vegas by long drive using the van rented from Enterprise. After the house blessing and birthday party, we went to Cancum Resort where the relatives of Winnie are stayed for one day. We enjoyed in the resort especially swimming in the pool and taking the spa. On June 24, 2002, I went back to San Francisco, CA by airplane via United Airlines.
Seventh, on October 18, 2002, by airplane via National Airlines when my best friend, Mr. Marvin R. Yu, informed that his sister will visit on the same date. He asked me to visit so that he can introduce his sister to me. His sister, Ms. Anna Lorraine R. Yu, is arrived from Manila, Philippines on August 2002 and presently lives in Daly City, CA with his father. We visited the different places in Las Vegas, Nevada especially at Las Vegas strip where most of the casinos and hotels are located. We went also to Cancum Resort, of course also in Las Vegas, Nevada. On October 21, 2002, I went back to San Francisco, CA by airplane via National Airlines.
Eighth, on June 16, 2003, by bus via Greyhound to attend the first year anniversary of house blessing of my best friend, Mr. Marvin R. Yu, on June 22, 2003. It is also the birthday of his wife Winnie and his son Patrick. They invited their friends and relatives including the relatives of Winnie from Daly City, CA. Also, they invited Winnie's best friend, Ms. Michelle Villanueva Cadiz with her husband Mr. Chris Cadiz. Ms. Michelle Villanueva Cadiz is a former Philippine movie actress known as Mikee Villanueva circa 1990's and now she is a resident of Las Vegas, NV after she married to Chris Cadiz. We went to Ironwood, a subdivision of Astoria Homes to have a tour and to check the price of houses there. Winnie's uncle has a plan to buy house and lot there for his family later. That place is also beautiful but it is already far from Las Vegas Strip and it is a northern part of North Las Vegas. Also, we went to Cancum Resort to enjoy swimming in the pool and taking the spa. On June 24, 2003, I went back to San Francisco, CA by bus via Greyhound.
Ninth, on February 12, 2004 by airplane via Southwest Airlines to look for a job there. Right now, many people in United States lost their job since September 11, 2001 tragedy in New York City, NY. Many companies and industries in San Francisco, CA are closing their business and some of them are reducing their employees and workers up to fifty percent. United States is now experiencing economic problems and crisis. I stayed at my best friend's house while I am looking for a job there. I notice that in Las Vegas, NV, many companies, hotels, and casinos are also reducing their employees and workers. There are few job openings there. My brother, Mr. Alfredo M. Balajadia, Jr., a military from US Marines, got a job there at Walgreens thru his best friend who is working there and a resident of Las Vegas since 1999. We visited to my brother and his best friend at their house before we went to Texas Casino and Palms Hotel and Casino to play slot machines and to drink cocktail drinks. On February 16, 2004, I went back to San Francisco, CA by airplane via Southwest Airlines.
Tenth, on April 5, 2004 by bus via Greyhound because I have an examination at Post Office on April 7, 2004. The examination was very difficult because I was pressured by time and the examination should be finished within 2 1/2 hours. The examination consists of the following: Abstract Reasoning, Mathematical Sequences, Memory Test, and Oral Test. The result of examination will release after two weeks by mail. I hope that this postal job is for me if I pass it. God will decide whether this job is for me. I will wait for the result. After the examination I went to Stratosphere with my best friend, Mr. Marvin R. Yu, to play slot machines and to drink different cocktail drinks. On April 8, 2004, I went back to San Francisco, CA by bus via Greyhound.
Q: By the way, how's the weather in Las Vegas, Nevada?
A: Well, it's very cold there especially during the month of December. The temperature is 30°F during winter period. In summer period, it's very hot there. The temperature reaches to 120°F during the month of July. In Las Vegas, Nevada, every houses and apartments as well as offices and establishments should have airconditioning units and heater. It's the law there in Nevada.
Q: Are you lucky to win the games in Las Vegas, Nevada?
Yes, of course. Sometimes I win and sometimes I loose. This trip, I won 500 nickel coins at Aladin Hotel.
Q: Do you have a plan to buy house there in Las Vegas, Nevada because he heard that the houses there are cheap?
Yes, of course but I have to prepare and save lots of money so that I can prepare for downpayment and closing fees. Downpayment and closing fees should be paid in cash. I am going to buy a house at Sunburst Community so that my best friend Marvin will become my neighbor in the future if possible. For me, two or three bedroom house is enough. As of now, the cost of two bedroom house is $ 120,000.00. In the next five years, it is possible that the two bedroom house will be $ 300,000.00. It is better to buy house there if I find a job there which is related to my field of study which is Chemical Engineering. I hope that the American Institute of Chemical Engineers in Nevada Section will help me to find a job there. As of now, I am working at San Francisco Bay Area and I am an active member of American Institute of Chemical Engineers in California Section. Although I am working in San Francisco, California, I will try to prepare the downpayment and closing fee in order to buy house there.
