A NIGHT STROLL IN VEGAS

Caesar's Palace, Bellagio, Palazzo, Mirage, Flamingo, MGM Grand, Harrah's, Mandalay Bay, Venetian, Paris, Wynn are some of the big-name hotels lining Las Vegas Boulevard.

Las Vegas comes alive when the sun goes down. During the day it's just too stifling hot to walk the streets unless you enjoy being roasted a dark brown. Vegas is an oasis in the scorching Nevada desert.

Some photos from my night stroll down Vegas' main street.

There are always long queues at the check-in counters whatever the time of day or night.

Las Vegas is Sin City, and proud of it. The label is on t-shirts and banners. So is the tagline: Whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

In Vegas, no matter where you are heading, your path invariably leads you through rows of slot machines and gambling tables. There must be thousands upon thousands of them in this city.

Don't fancy gambling? How about some adult entertainment?

 Take your pick - Chippendales or Thunder?



This cabaret act 'Jubilee' comes on nightly at Bally's where I am staying. The most beautiful showgirls with curves to die for, and bodies barely covered with rhinestones.

Looking for free entertainment? There's plenty too along the boardwalk.

Eye candy. What would you give to be sandwiched between these lovelies?

This contortionist deserves a tip for his efforts more than Mickey and Minnie Mouse in the background who merely stand around in their costumes. I also spotted some Playboy bunnies, Marilyn Monroe, Darth Vader and Spongebob Squarepants.

This enterprising young man and his dressed-up doggie charmed quite a few ladies. The sign reads "The only Asian who plays guitar (with a dog) on the streets in US."

Snapped this shot of two city cops arresting these guys. Sin City has its fair share of crime from what I gathered in the local papers.

Some of the big names currently performing in Vegas. Also Celine Dion, David Copperfield, Barry Manilow and Garth Brooks.

Of the four Cirque du Soleil productions in Vegas, I managed to see "Mystere" and "Love - Beatles". Tickets range from USD55 to USD130 for most shows.

Plenty of shopping malls and restaurants that cater to tourists. The blue sky in the photo is actually painted on the ceiling of an underground mall to replicate a typical Parisian street scene.

Had to take a photo of these huge chocolate apples. Luckily I could resist the temptation to indulge! 

My final shot of Vegas from the airport. It's probably the only airport in the world that sits right next to a boulevard of hotels, casinos, night clubs and strip joints.

Remember Elvis in the movie 'Viva Las Vegas'?  

EYES WIDE OPEN IN LAS VEGAS

All quiet at McCarran Airport.

It's my first visit to Las Vegas, and probably my last. I doubt I want to be back here again unless I get an all-expense paid vacation, plus an extra couple of hundred  bucks just for tipping.

Yep, that's what spoiled my first two days here - everyone expects you to tip them, from the cab driver to the hotel porter to the chambermaid. One cab driver even had the audacity to tell me he was deducting his tip before giving me my change.

Here's a pictorial account of my first impressions of Las Vegas.

It would be rare to find workers of his age employed at our airports, especially handling heavy luggage at the check-in counters.

 One of the posters that greet visitors at the airport.

Shopping convenience at the press of a button - a vending machine for electronic gadgets, from the latest iphones to cameras.

An ad that caught my eye.

First time I see so many slot machines at an airport. There must be hundreds of them everywhere you look.

 You know you are in Vegas when you see ads like this...

or this...

... and this. Anything to draw folks inside. Competition is extremely fierce among the casinos.

Bally's where I'm staying.

It's a decent hotel, but charges indecent prices for food. Would you pay USD46.50 (RM140) for this room service breakfast of pancake, cinnamon rolls, hash browns, toast, egg and bacon?

This hotel not only charges tax, but also gratuity and tip!

Haven't had the chance to check out the city attractions yet. In case you are wondering, I'm in the city to attend the 4-day Toastmasters International Convention.

More updates to follow...

LOS ANGELES REVISITED

Hollywood Boulevard outside the Kodak Theatre - not as busy as I remember it.

Rodeo Drive still boasts high-end brand names and haute couture, but business seems to have slowed down.

The last time I was in LA was in 1994. It's my third day here on this trip. I have been revisiting places and feeling something missing in the city this time around. It has lost some of its former vibrancy.



The tourists are still there, but most are window-shopping or bargain-hunting. On every street you see vacant shops with the "For lease" sign displayed on the glass window. In downtown LA, the restaurants are deserted when they should be filled with evening diners. There are vagabonds at street corners begging for spare change. Many of them are elderly.

Shopping mall next to the Kodak Theatre - where are the crowds?

Unemployment is high at over 9%. The economy is sluggish, and Obama's approval rating has fallen to 39%. Here in LA, as you talk to cab drivers, read the business news and tune in to the grape vine, you begin to see why the US has lost its AAA credit rating. The country has a debt of USD 14 trillion, and there's no clear solution in sight.

When jobs are hard to come by, you have to come up with novel ideas to make a few bucks.

Venice Beach on Sunday was crowded, but I didn't see many people with purchases.

This tee makes a great gift for parents who spoil their kids.

All I bought in LA were these books from Barnes and Noble.

LA is going through bad times. I'll be leaving for Las Vegas tomorrow. Perhaps the city of lights is faring better than the city of angels and celebrities.

RE-WORKING LONG-TERM CARE FOR THE BABY BOOMER GENERATION

Silver Tsunami: Reworking our Long-Term Care Strategy from Ontario Liberals on Vimeo.

A bit long but definitely worth viewing if you have the time and the interest. Lots of food for thought, especially on long-term care strategies for the baby boomer generation.

AIDS on the rise among elderly Chinese men

The news that an 80-year man was recently diagnosed with HIV should come as no surprise. To quote a report in China Daily, "Experts say the spread of HIV/AIDS has picked up among older Chinese men in recent years because China's senior citizens have become healthier, more open-minded about sex, and increasingly bored after retirement."

A recent survey conducted by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) shows that among the new HIV infections, the percentage of people aged 50 or above with it grew from 7.8 to 14.9 percent. (Photo: An elderly man reads a brochure on AIDS prevention. Source: China Daily)

Source: China Daily

Easy access to Viagra and the availability of cheap commercial sex are other factors that are contributing to the rise in HIV among elderly men in China. The oldest patient tracked by the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control is 94 years old.

According to a paper published in 2009 by Professor Joseph Lau of the Chinese University of HongKong, there are 4 to 10 million female sex workers in China. Some of these women charge as little as 20 to 50 yuan (USD3 to USD7), and they usually attract elderly men and migrant workers.

Many of these elderly men with HIV are widowers. They turn to prostitutes for sex because their adult children prevent them from remarrying for fear of losing their inheritance. Some patients complain their wives are no longer interested in sex, so they seek it elsewhere.

Anti-AIDS and safe sex campaigns are mostly directed at the younger generation. The government is encouraging more NGOs and health officials to include the elderly in their safe sex awareness campaigns in a move to curb the rise in HIV among China's ageing men.

Public vs Private Healthcare

Typical scene at most government hospitals and clinics. Could be much worse, as in India and the Philippines.

Yesterday I was at University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) with our Filipino maid. We were there to see about a small cyst on her back. It had been causing her some discomfort for the past week.

She had earlier seen a specialist at a private clinic and was given some antibiotics and painkillers (panadol). The bill came to RM200+ for the brief consultation. The doctor recommended she returned for a simple surgery to remove the cyst. Estimated cost of surgery - Rm1000.

We decided to seek a second opinion to compare costs, this time at a public hospital. That's how I came to be at UMMC yesterday with my maid. Consultation charges - Rm30, scheduled surgery - Rm80. If she were a citizen, she would pay only Rm15 and Rm40 respectively. These are numbers that warm the heart and are easy to swallow. For a list of UMMC charges, please click here. I'm not sure if these charges apply for all public hospitals.

Long wait to see the doctor in a Manila hospital. Overcrowded with overworked staff.

The downside of seeking treatment at a public hospital is the long hours of waiting. Yesterday we waited almost FOUR hours before our number was finally called. The waiting area was packed to capacity with scores of people standing around waiting for a vacant seat.

The government should be commended for keeping healthcare charges as low as possible so as not to burden the rakyat. But that's exactly why the public healthcare system is under stress. Public hospitals are overcrowded and medical staff are overworked.

In view of our rapidly ageing population, this situation is likely to get worse before it can get any better. What options are available to help relieve the strain on the public healthcare system?

The Straits Times 27 July

The government can initiate a partnership with the private healthcare sector. Public hospitals can refer eligible patients to private hospitals. The government will subsidize the healthcare and treatment of this category of patients at private hospitals. The finer details can be worked out.

Alternatively, private hospitals can make community healthcare an integral part of their CSR programme. For example, they can offer substantial discounts to elderly patients who have no medical insurance.

Click here to listen to a debate on the topic.

In 2000 World Health Organization (WHO) did a survey of the healthcare systems in 191 countries. France's healthcare system was ranked top. In a follow-up survey of 19 countries in 2008, again France came out first.

There is universal healthcare coverage in France. The government foots 70% of the patients' medical bills. Funding for this comes mostly from payroll and income tax. Patients can choose their doctors and hospitals. There is little waiting for medical treatment.

Sounds like a system our government should look into to make healthcare available and affordable to the people.

ANNIVERSARIES AND REUNIONS - TO GO OR NOT TO GO?

The Star. Click here to read the write-up.

Once you hit your 60s and 70s, birthday parties take on a new significance. With each passing year, you mark the special day with a silent prayer. You thank God that you are still around to celebrate the occasion with your loved ones, and attend the 65th birthday of an old schoolmate.

You know that not all of your friends have made it through each year. Some have passed on without saying goodbye. Some are bedridden in nursing homes. You have visited a few in hospital, and you have seen the pain and suffering they go through as they battle sickness and poor health. Not all can count their blessings.

You know that life is precious. So are old friends, especially those you have been to school or college with. You were young then, so were they. Those shared memories are forever etched in your heart. For who will laugh at your silly teenage pranks and escapades except for those who were there with you?

This photo was taken in March 1970 in Wellington at a friendly soccer match. Pictured here are Malaysian students from Victoria University. Click here to read more.

Why then do so many who have retired turn down invitations to school anniversaries and class reunions? Why is there this reluctance to meet up with old friends? My school's 103th anniversary is coming up. As is the case in past years, I know I'll be one of only a handful of ex-colleagues who will turn up. What about the others? Here's the usual response:

The ladies:

~ No transport. Not sure how to get there.
~ Not free. Have something on the same night.
~ I've changed so much - old and fat now. Shy to go.
~ I have to babysit my grandchildren.
~ My husband doesn't want to go with me, and I don't want to go on my own.

The men:

~ It's too far for me to drive. The traffic's is really bad.
~ I don't see well at night. I'm also not sure of the way.
~ It's mostly ladies. Very few men will turn up.
~ I can't miss the ManU-Arsenal match on TV.
~ It's not free? You mean I have to pay?

People who are not keen on something will always come up with endless excuses. And they just can't be persuaded. Reunions are anthema to them.

Click here to access.

Reunions can be a whole lot of fun, as my cousin Henry will tell you. Back in June 2008, he organized a class reunion for his buddies who had attended Victoria University, Wellington, in the 1960s. The event turned out to be such a roaring success that he and his team are planning an even bigger one scheduled for September 2012, and opening it to anyone who studied in Wellington in the 1960s and 1970s.

If you are a Wellington alumnus, do check out Henry's Wellington Alumni website. It's packed with reunion photos and details of the next reunion. Who knows you might even find a long-lost buddy there! There's also a Facebook page, if you are interested to join the group.