By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.NET

LAS Vegas, Nevada — What can you do with US$100? Not too much, if you’re in Las Vegas.

That amount will run out in 30 minutes when all of it is used on any of the slot machines, another 30 minutes when playing craps. It’ll last 40 minutes when playing blackjack or just 10 minutes in poker (if you have a bad hand or simply not too good at the game). Las Vegas will literally suck you dry with its dry heat and sinful invitations.

Then again, there is the good side to having only $100. For one, you’ll be forced to stay away from the gambling spots, which could bankrupt your wallet. Another is that having a small amount of money will encourage better financial management when in the city and perhaps wisely use it for other non-gambling activities.

Lucky for me, I got that chance to be in Las Vegas, courtesy of IBM when they had their huge Information-on-Demand conference. Despite staying only for two days I was able to go around the city, particularly the famous Strip where most of the major hotels and resorts are located. I had to make the most of my $100.

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INQUIRER.NET executive editor Leo Magno goes to the highest point in the state of Illinois at the viewdeck of the Sears Tower, 1,353 feet from street level (the building itself is 1,451 feet high, 1,730 feet if the antenna is included). Magno visits the restroom at the skydeck which, according to Sears, is the highest restroom in the world from street level, excluding restrooms inside airplanes flying overhead at 30,000 feet.

Video taken in Chicago, Illinois.

INQUIRER.NET executive editor Leo Magno accelerates from zero to 160 kph in less than three seconds onboard the tallest Slingshot in the world.

The amusement ride, the tallest such Slingshot at 390 feet, is at the Midway Arcade on International Drive in Orlando, Florida.

INQUIRER.NET multimedia reporter Erika Tapalla tries out the unique spiral escalator at Caesars Palace.

Video taken by Eribelle Tapalla in Las Vegas, Nevada.

By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net

AS we approached the Seattle-Tacoma airport, one of the flight crew members announced that the temperature outside was negative 1 degree Celsius. In short, it’s freezing. Thus started our little adventure in Washington, where Redmond is.

I’m here to cover a Microsoft event along with fellow tech journalist Melvin Calimag of the Manila Bulletin. We had to bring the thickest jackets that we could get (not to mention the layer of clothing that we already had on). According to some locals, it snowed the night that we got in. So the streets, roads, and even sidewalks are slippery. You have to walk carefully when you cross the street here.

We’re staying in Kirkland, just a few minutes away from Redmond, where Microsoft’s main headquarters is located. After going through  immigration, we had a bit of trouble locating our airport transfer. Apparently, we missed seeing a little sign held by Paul, our driver, who is an Indian who now lives in Seattle. Paul drives a”high-end” Lincoln car which he offers for rent to visitors and business executives (I assume mostly from Microsoft ). By the time we got into the hotel, we were told that we had to wait until noon to be checked in. Then we met a young American named Stephen at the Heathman Hotel. Stephen was apparently born in the Philippines and has lived there for about 15 years. He now works in the hotel, and has been staying in the US for three years. His eyes lighted up when he heard us talking in Filipino. He blurted out, “Kamusta.” A conversation ensued, which lasted for a while. I’m sure he misses the Philippines.

With just a few hours of sleep (blame the on-demand movie on the plane), and jet lag, I’m barely awake, trying to recall in a warm and cozy coffee shop the first time I crossed the Pacific Ocean.