Day 4 – Monday, 10 December 1984
Journey into the Desert – Anaheim to Las Vegas
At around 9:00 am myself, wife Hansa and kids Nitin and Shital set off once again, this time heading east towards Las Vegas. The long desert highways were very different from the forests and coastline we had experienced over the previous days. Vast open landscapes stretched endlessly ahead of us.
As evening approached and darkness slowly descended, we caught our first distant glimpse of Las Vegas. The city appeared like a sparkling diamond in the middle of the desert, glowing brilliantly against the dark horizon. The sight was unforgettable.
Excited by the spectacular view, Nitin and I climbed carefully onto the roof area of the motorhome to get a better look at the glittering skyline in the distance. For a young child, seeing Las Vegas illuminated at night must have felt like entering another world.
The first RV park we encountered upon entering the city was Circusland RV Park near Circus Circus Casino. Since it was already late and convenient, we immediately checked in. The location had easy monorail access to the casinos, making it ideal for us.
Hansa stayed back in the motorhome feeding the tired children while I ventured into the famous casinos. Although I have never been much of a gambler, the flashing lights, ringing slot machines and excitement all around were irresistible. I spent some time trying my luck on a few slot machines while walking through the enormous casinos.
Everywhere there were scenes of excitement — some people celebrating wins while others looked disappointed after losses. The atmosphere was thrilling, energetic and unlike anything I had experienced before.
Eventually I returned to the motorhome after enjoying the spectacle of this fascinating city.
