Basic Questions answered about the Canyon

How Old?

The rocks exposed within Grand Canyon range from the fairly young to old. Kaibab limestone, the cap-rock on the rims formed 270 million years ago. The oldest rocks within the Inner Gorge at the bottom of GC date to 1,840 million years ago. For comparison, geologists currently set the age of Earth at 4,550 million years.

How New?

While the rocks are ancient, the canyon is young. Geologists generally agree that canyon carving occurred over the last 5-6 million years - a geologic blink of the eye!

The photograph is the river level view of the canyon.

Bright Angel Rim trail and beyond

The 2 coach bus arrives and we kinda hurry to get in line to get into the first coach. It is pretty interesting since the bus is Natural Fuel Powered and this reminds me of the way this country has adopted natural alternatives especially in these National Parks.

The bus ride will take us all the way up to the Hermits Rest। The different stops en route are Powell Point, the Hopi Point, Mohave Point, The Abyss, The Pima Point and final the Hermits Rest. Along the several points goes the Rim trail that is a narrow walkway along the rim for hikers and hobby photographers to shoot the Canyon at its majestic best. The buses provide transportation between the Village route transfer point and the Hermits Rest (7 miles) with these different eight canyon overlooks.

New morning at the Canyon and meeting the Bikers from New Jersey

Thursday morning began with me getting up at 7:30am. It was a good night's sleep since I had survived on just 2 hrs sleep the day before and had driven almost 5 hrs thru the boring yet spectacular highway 93 in Arizona touching on regular basis 100mph. We arrived at 9:30pm yesterday at our destination in Grand Canyon National Park South Rim, a motel style rest called Yavapai Lodges. It is about 4 - 5 miles inside the National park and is among a group of small hotels catering to the visitors.

The morning took us to the breakfast joint at the Bright Angle restaurant that is pretty interesting for a place which I thought is going to be just another tourist interest meal joint. I ordered for a nice oatmeal with banana splits to go with my 3 egg omelet with ham, sausage and cheese. The baked potatoes smeared in olive oil was really interesting too and I thought whether if this was among the best breakfasts I have ever had. Maybe the spectacular canyon was already casting its spell on me. The South rim which is among the most pictured and photographed allows visitors to take the free shuttle buses to the top.

The breakfast complete, we were on our way to the free shuttle bus stop. I can already see a long queue to get on these 2 coach buses which run every 15 minutes. Before we get to the bus stop, I get to photograph with our New Jersey Bikers Tim and Janus who are with 4 other biker couples exploring the Canyon. I am fascinated to see their big cruisers and as always they are very nice and offer me to take snaps with them.

I am now off to the bus and let's see what is in store for the rest of the day.

Getting out of Vegas and moving to the Grand Canyon Arizona

The most interesting bit about the journey from Vegas to Grand Canyon is that you move from one desert state to another. Nevada to Arizona. The demarcation happens right at the middle of the Hoover dam, a great man made super structure build between 1913 ad 1915. The desert country of Arizona is really a story on its own. Going from Vegas to Grand Canyon takes you thru' the famed American Historical Route 66.

I think the 5 hr drive to the Canyon is probably the most scenic drive in the world. I have never seen a more straight freeway. It is basically about 150 miles of one straight road dissecting the desert. So the typical route is to take interstate 95/515 out of Las Vegas that takes you to Hoover about 25 miles out, and then converge to I-93 going south and then take I40 (In Arizona, the historic route 66 is now I-40) and finally get onto I64 that takes you to the Grand Canyon National Park.

The Scholarship - Grand Canyon Arizona

After the sins of Vegas, the human inside me wanted to get the final scholarship for the trip. And this was in terms of a nature pilgrimage to one of the 10 natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon Arizona. I knew this trip will take me not only closer to the wonder called the Canyon, but also take me past history of Hoover Dam, Route 66 and $2.75/gallon gas refills.

In the next few posts, I redeem myself from the sins of Vegas by driving down 5 hrs to the South Rim of the Canyon. I will love to earn my scholarship in public view and hence few experiences to share with you the reader.

Coyote Ugly, Vegas Style!

The phrase "coyote ugly" comes from an urban slang term for a situation that results in waking up next to an ugly bedmate after a night of drinking; in such a situation one might prefer to chew off one's own arm, like a coyote with its paw in a trap, rather than wake up the bedmate. The follow on to the phrase "coyote ugly" is "double coyote ugly". After you've chewed your arm off to escape the ugly bedmate, you chew the other arm off so it will never happen again.

Well, we sinners would rather not have our arms chewed upon since unlike the NFL stars, they, do not carry multi-million dollar insurances, and unlike popular belief, we do, type with our fingers perched on the end of our arms to earn a living.

Three sinners descend upon this top five night clubs in Vegas and the experience is mind-boggling. The first thing that is evident is that there is no fashion policing. You can actually get in wearing jeans and tees (with white gym shoes). BTW, the barmaid who had one of us sinners spill their $8 drink is in the picture at the back with a multi-color upper-wear.

So the Coyote bar details are for you to experience, and I will not share too much least I spoil the fun for you. All I can say is that the next time you are in Vegas, you have to check this spot.

Can't sneak past in sneakers Alas!

So here is the deal gentlemen sinners; It pays to pay attention to fashion tv. Well especially if you have ambitions of pouring sweet nothings into damsels in the chic nightclubs of Vegas.

Well, if you are like us techies wearing blue jeans, a Sun tee and white gym shoes, chances are you will be spending your evenings in the "retro" (pun intended) bars of Ballys, since no nightclub will let you in. No sneaking in sneakers is the rule.

No sooner did we realize that 90 % of our sinners were not adhering to the fashion rules, than we headed out from Palms Casino to the Rio. It after all had the reputation of having Latin belles rivaling the clubs of Sao Paulo. And we were not disappointed. The servers around the bar were A++ category and I rubbed my eyes anticipating a long eye-workout.

Suddenly all sinners were holding their breath just trying to tuck in their beer bellies and hoping the perfect ten bods would give a second glance. But as always, the only workout that we were anticipating this night was of the retina and gut (in terms of gallons of alcohol).

Rio has a Vodoo nightclub on the top and that too has strict dress code. Some of us got lucky and made friends with damsels with passes to the Vodoo lounge (can't name the lucky ones - WHIVSIV rule applys). Suffice to state that I along with three other sinners took solace in a 25 dollar stretch-hummer ride to our next destination, the Cyote Ugly club in New York New York. More about this club in the next few posts.

Whivsiv baby!

A cool acronym for What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas to start the day boys and dolls. Well yeah, that's what the Cyote Ugly club at New York New York rest rooms have as signs. Dolls huh!

Anyways let's cut to the chase here. So yesterday night was the big party for the CEC 2007 participants and it was arranged in the off the strip casino hotel called "The Palms". This was the first time I saw 3,987 nerds and a few cool ones on the party floor and you know what, it reminded me of Wal*Mart. Yeah! you read it right. The good looking blonde+brunette to male ratio was something like a gazillion to one.

And why I said Walmart was because there were hundreds lined up patiently for food which was all fatty, fried and pretty tasty. The pockets of population concentration were primarily hotspots around the blonds dancing in the pool. Yeah there were these small 3ftX4ft platforms where these 7inches heels clad chicks were dancing. The whole atmosphere was kinda from the Matrix movie's orgy-style dance minus any x-factor.

Some of the bar maids were stunning and I saw techies name them as "the cherry girl" or the "twister" depending on what part of their cerebral anatomy was tickled by these beautiful maidens.

Next up is a tour around the Palms and why I hate techies wearing sneakers.

Vagaries of Vegas!

I am beginning to question Jonathan now. He says Google will go out of business if they start to charge 10 cents for each search. Agreed. but what happens if every search engine of repute starts charging a dollar and Google stays at 10 cents? dunno if this is Vegas or the haunted Bally's that is making me ask these questions.

BTW, why not have slot machines in public restrooms? I mean, if you can have them in the Airport gates, attached to bar stools, Beside ATMs, Inside Limos, why waste precious seconds during a mens room stop?

Jokes apart, the amount of security and order is just orgasmic. I intend to get into those in a later post.

Also just found out from the gym attendant that during the fire of 1980 (when Bally's was the MGM Grand), 84 people lost their lives. There have been many reports of sightings in the older buildings of this hotel.

Jody at the concierge mentions that actually "The Strip" is not in Las Vegas, but rather on unincorporated land governed by Clark County. Las Vegas city limits start at Sahara Ave (northward), So, many visitors of Las Vegas have never been to Las Vegas (unless they visited the Stratosphere).

Bellagio is Heaven! Well Almost

Experience the most ambitious, commanding water attraction ever conceived! Bellagio's world famous fountains will speak to your heart with classical Italian opera broadcasted over speakers, while flirting with your playful nature through their carefully choreographed water fountain movements. You'll be swept away by this breathtaking union of water, music and light. This is one of the most famous Las Vegas attractions on the Las Vegas strip. Plenty of room to watch the show, which is ongoing every 15 to 30 minutes year round.

Well that is what the official site and trillions of visitors told me. In fact, it is just ok. Sorry to spill the beans folks. I found this fountain an overhyped symphony of water and music. Not that it is not spectacular, it is, but for us tech-heads, gallons of shooting water is not really interesting. Please don't flame me on this one. I was with stags when I saw this. Maybe seeing this on a romantic evening with my wife could change things a bit. Who knows ;-)

Nevada Trivia served straight up!

Now usually every new place has its own charm and lil' tidbits that are interesting. I made friends with Lisa, a server at the "La Cafe" at Paris Casino hotel and she shared some interesting ones I think you will enjoy. BTW this was on my way back from Jonathan's Keynote and I was armed with the Casino Meetings notepad. (That I did not take any notes at the keynote is an IQ test).

So here is what Lisa says...

(1) It would take 288 years for one person to spend one night in every hotel room in Las Vegas.
(2) About 150 couples get married in Vegas each day. (I asked about the divorces and she smiled! After all what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas right?)
(3) In Eureka, Nevada men who wear moustaches are forbidden from kissing women.
(4)

The Stratosphere

The Stratosphere is the tallest, free-standing, observation tower in the US and the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River.
(5) Bugsy Siegel named his Las Vegas casino "The Flamingo" for the long legs of his showgirl sweetheart, Virginia Hill.

Where are the young waitresses?

More than me internalizing the details of the new Java FX Script compiler up for show here at the CEC'07, the moot question for me staying at the South tower in Bally's was what's up with these old servers?

I mean yeah, I am all for compassion but wait a minute! I don't want to see old waitresses serving up the Jack and Coke and rolling their eyes. I want young chicks and they seem to have abandoned my hotel.

A quick check with veterans, Stilly and Karbo revealed I was looking for rain in the Nevada dessert. In fact the place to be is probably Rio's and that's where I am heading tonight. Hope to have something to write home about.

BTW, the live band at Paris has beautiful young ladies serving you drinks. And the second day, I was competing with 3+ colleagues to draw attention of a PYT server (pretty young thing) Elizabeth who said she parties on Sunday and was missing on Monday and I was left wondering was it my stars or my looks that never got me to date someone this pretty (no offense to my pretty wife, who i dated but then you know what i am saying).

Next up is my search for Vinny's special (with recipe) and the long walk to Sushi's and the discussions. Stay tuned as I come back from gym.

First time for me in Vegas

Hello Sinners! Well as you might know from my initial excitement, it is my first time in Vegas. And the air of expectations reached its heights when on my flight from SFO to Vegas, a fellow Sun guy Pocheng Shyu introduced me to spectacular stories of the Las Vegas strip, including the symphony orchestrated Bellagio fountain, and the waitresses at the Bellagio.

The Paris hotel where the entire acres of real estate gives you the illusion of a clear evening sky 24X7 even at 2am in the morning. The Madam Tussaud's on the strip which has over 100 100 celebrities set in sensational, one-of-a-kind dynamic experiences, Madame Tussauds’ interactions is constantly changing and evolving. Madame Tussauds features the world’s biggest icons including the hottest stars of today.

For adrenaline junkies, there is the Stratosphere tower. The Stratosphere tower introduces the New Insanity ride! A Ride that consists of an arm that extends out 64 feet over the edge of the Tower and will spin passengers at up to three 'G's.' As the ride spins faster and faster, the riders are propelled up to an angle of 70 degrees. Riders will experience the thrill of being flung over the edge of the Tower and literally facing downward at the City of Las Vegas below. The Stratosphere ride is programmable with various ride options. An unobstructed view of historic downtown Las Vegas rewards those riders brave enough to experience three 'G's' at a height of more than 900 feet.

Now this introduction should definitely have set my balls racing right! Wrong. Coz here I was on a company paid trip scheduled to attend all morning and afternoon sessions and also do the gazillion naughty things at the same time. Well I usually cook 20 minutes chocolate brownies in 5 minutes for my customers regularly at OSS, not this time. My heart was sinking at the prospective of not sleeping for more than 4 hrs a day to get me doing a balance between my job and the mistress. Let's see how this goes.

What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas!

Hello Sinners! When I talk about CEC 2007, it is not to be confused as "Casual Entertainment Conference 2007" but the actual "Customer Engineering Conference 2007".

It is an annual conference of customer facing engineers who descend upon a common ground to seek the next level of Sun "gyan" which is sanskrit for knowledge. Even though this year it is currently underway in the Sin City "Las Vegas", it is pretty much a serious conference that saw 4k odd Sun frontline engineers swamping the Bally's Casino Hotel on the Strip.

But my blog is not about the serious part of CEC '07...it is about the Sinner's guide to CEC '07. Hence if you are not above 18, please leave this blog immediately or probably go check out the blog from Magnus here.