Day 22 (06 September 2015)

We are staying at the Best Western Casino Royale and nearby is the LinQ High Roller - a few feet higher than the London Eye - Las vegas, Nevada.

Inside the Flamingo Casino - real flamingo birds, Las Vegas.

More tropical bisrd inside the Flamingo Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.

I caught this person heavily shopping in Ross's, Las Vegas, Nevada.

The wide Las Vegas Boulevard showing Caesar's Palace in the background.

Water feature at Bellagio, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Inside the new shopping complex at Planet Hollywood', Las Vegas, Nevada. The sky is inside a high ceiling giving the impression of an outside environment - awesome!

For those Harley-Davidson fans - the main shop along Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada. 

New York, New York Casino and hotel along Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas.

How unique - bra bags inside the new shopping complex at Planet Hollywood', Las Vegas, Nevada.

Another view of inside the new shopping complex at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, Nevada. The sky is inside a high ceiling giving the impression of an outside environment - awesome!

Meg and Choon went on their helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon West Rim. Their start time was 7:30 am and returned at 4 pm. For Anne and Neil it was a time to catch up with emails, blogspot updates, washing and some shopping down The Strip. In the evening the four of us walked down The Strip had dinner and the ladies shopped at Ross's - a great store for cheap clothes. That was it for today. Meng and Choon's flight was uneventful but was slightly disappointed that their pilot was non-communicative and felt that there could have been more into their great excursion. Well - that's it for today. Tomorrow we have two vouchers for excursions - a ride on the LinQ High Roller and a guided tour of the The Strip at night. It should be fun. Cheers. 

Day 21 (05 September 2015)

Taken a Valle, Arizona - a metal work display on a western focus!

At Williams, Arizona.

Ready to depart for the Grand Canyon South Rim - Williams, Arizona.

Just ambling along at Williams, Arizona.

Entering Williams, Arizona.

Hoover Dam, at the Arizona/Nevada state line.

The new bridge over the Colorado River, Hoover Dam, Arizona/Nevada.

The Colorado River and Lake Mead taken from the Hoover Dam.

View of Lake Mead near Hoover Dam, in Nevada.

Along the Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip), Nevada.

Along the Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip), Nevada - the Fashion Mall (home of Macy's).

Along the Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip), Nevada.

Night time view along the Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip), Nevada.

Night time view along the Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip), Nevada.

Night time view along the Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip), Nevada. The Bellagio water feature before the show.

Night time view along the Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip), Nevada. The Bellagio water feature during the show.

Night time view along the Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip), Nevada. The Treasure Island disply outside the hotel complex.

At last we have wifi after four days of non-internet days. We have now seen the north, east and south rims of the Grand Canyon and all of us believe we are experts regarding this famous American icon. We left the South Rim and headed south to Williams where the Grand Canyon train departs every day and it is also the last bypass road of the famous Route 66. From Williams we headed west to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead and boy it was crowded. The US are having their Labour Day long weekend and making use of the remaining summer days before their winter season starts. From Hoover Dam we made Sin City (Las Vegas) and have three days in the Best Western Casino Royale located dead centre of the famous Strip. It is ideally situated to all the casinos and sites along the long Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard). Choon and Anne gave Macy's a serious hiding in the Fashion Mall and after headed into the crowded night life along the Strip. Witness the Bellagio fountain display before heading back to the accommodation. Tomorrow Meng and Choon are off on a helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon Sky Walk and a boat trip down the Colorado River. Neil and Anne are having a rest day. As we are back on a good wifi connection prompt photos will be available tomorrow - cheers.

Day 20 (04 September 2015)

Early morning view of the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

This was once a uranium mine - now being restored to its natural state - along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

Meng and Choon along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

This is the "Battleship Cliff" along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

Rafting down the Colorado River taken from the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

Not a safe picture pose - along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

Morning view of the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

One of the many rapids along the Colorado River -taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona. 

The Colorado River taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

Deep canyon taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona.

The Colorado River taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona

Zoomed photo of the Colorado River taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona

A raven in flight taken along the Grand Canyon South Rim along the Hermit's Rest trail, Arizona 

Free water top-up taps at Hermit's Rest - Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona.

At the Grand Canyon South Rim rail depot, Arizona.

This train takes tourists from Williams to the Grand Canyon South Rim and return on a daily basis.

Bertha, basically stayed at our accommodation while we travelled the Grand Canyon South Rim complex by the free shuttle bus. Leaving Yavapai Lodge to take the blue line shuttle to the terminus on the red line. Yes these free shuttle lines engulf klms and klms of South Rim roads. What we did is…. took the South Rim trail along an easterly direction and effectively leaped frogged from one shuttle, walked to the next and took the next shuttle bus to the next stop…and so on. Shuttle buses are serviced on a 10 minutes basis and after finding the end 16 klms away at Hermit’s Rest we returned to the Village Centre for lunch. What we seen was different aspects of the Grand Canyon overlooking to the North Rim and as we said before pictures do not do justice of what we see in our own eyes. We had lunch at the Bright Angel Lodge and walked to the train depot a saw the daily train from Williams to the Grand Canyon. Neil and Anne returned to the accommodation for a rest while Meng and Choon explored the other areas of the South Rim. Dinner at the Yavapai Lodge finished a great day with great walking temperature experienced and we had clear skies to allow great photo takings. Tomorrow we are off to Las Vegas (Sin City) so cheers to all our readers. 

Day 19 (03 September 2015)

View of the Grand Canyon North Rim from Bright Angel Point, Arizona.

A deep canyon where the Little Colorado River flows near Cameron, Arizona.

Navajo Indian art near Cameron, Arizona.

Desert View Tower in the Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona.

View from Desert View in the Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona.

Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona. Along the rim trail.

Meng and Choon in the Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona. Along the rim trail.

A walking trail tunnel located in the Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona. Along the rim trail.

This road connects the South Rim to the North Rim - a strenuous hike of several days (about 15 miles in length). There are mules that take tourists along this gruelling trail. 

One of many rock exhibits along the Trail of Time - Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona.

Sunset view in the Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona. Along the rim trail.

It ells you all about the Trail of Time - Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona. Along the rim trail.

Finishing the 3 klm Trail of Time - Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona.

Finishing the 3 klm Trail of Time - Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona.

Sunset view - Grand Canyon South Rim National Park, Arizona.

We left the Grand Canyon North Rim at 9 am and headed north then east then south and then west to reach the Grand Canyon South Rim. This is a huge busy tourist location, ten times busier than the north rim and 1000 feet lower. However, the expanse of the south rim side, in my opinion, is far more spectacular. On the five hour journey we stopped at the Little Colorado River canyon – a miniature Grand Canyon which feeds into its bigger brother the Colorado River. Lots of Navajo Indian artefacts and jewellery for sale here. Entering the South Rim (east entrance) we stopped at the Desert View Tower, Moran Viewpoint and the Grand View Lookout. Every rim view has its own character at these sites. We checked into our accommodation and took the free shuttle bus to start the Trail of Time 3 klm walk. Each step represents an equal amount of time starting from 1870 million years to today. At certain points there is an actual piece of rock from a time between these eras. That’s how old the Grand Canyon is. We witnessed a sunset over the canyon at 6:50 pm and walked a distance to the Yavapai restaurant near our accommodation. Good old Bertha is not going anywhere tomorrow as we have two nights at the South Rim. We will use the free shuttle buses that will take us to scenic spots along the rim. Until tomorrow cheers.