Pokeraver TR
05-08-2014
, 03:01 PM
I've arrived back into the real world after a fantastic week in Vegas between the 27th April and the 3rd May. So much happened, with so little sleep.
The trip was 6 months in the planning. I had a bankroll that I was willing to spend on anything (except Hookers & Blow, although there are a couple of stories) that I had read about and wanted to do. There was also so much that I wanted to do that there was no way I could try everything on my list of activities. You know what that means don't you, I have to come back to sin city.
Just a little bit about the protagonist of this TR.
I'm the Pokeraver, can you guess what my favorite casino game is.....? That's right its Keno. Just love those balls bouncing in that cyclinder. Only joking, it's poker of course. Unfortunately I didn't play too much poker this trip mainly because I was degening in the pits, and timings of all the other activities. I was travelling with a very good friend so decided it would be unfair to spend long sessions in the poker room.
It was my 40th birthday last year and my wife after much persuasion, accepted I was going to Vegas.
My shoes
27th April - Day 1
I wake up on the 27th April at 5:30 in the morning. Damn that's early, and as I don't sleep on planes it's going to be a longtime before I sleep again. I flew direct on Virgin Atlantic from London Gatwick to Las Vegas. The flight is approx 11hours on the way out, and 9:30 on the way back.
I checked in online the day before and chose a seat close to the galley on aisle. At the time I checked in there were no other people sat next to me. I was hoping this would remain the status quo as I boarded. I walk up the plane to my seat and unfortunately I see a Big Blonde Chap sat in the middle seat, with a brunette slim lady in the window seat. The BBC was tot fat just solid. This is not good. I'm a 6'2 big chinese bloke and hit 17st. I'm not fat, just broad. There just isn't enough room to sit back and relax with this chap next to me.
I try to build a bit of rapport with my next door neighbour as if I’m going to be rubbing shoulders with him all 11 hours I might as well get to know him.
Me“Hi there where are you travelling from?”,
Neighbour “wiejrweopngwkne”
Me “Didn’t quite catch that?”
Neighbour “weojtreknsgekn”
Me “Oh Ok???”
Me “why are you travelling?”
Brunette sitting next to BBC decides to take over.
Brunette “Hi, we are travelling for our honeymoon. Just got married a couple of days ago.”
Me “fantastic, congratulations, your going to have a great time.”
And that was that, conversation died down so no real rapport built. Will just have to rub shoulders in that non-sexual way for 11 hours, FML.
The head cabin crew came on and started her spiel and I have to admit that her opening line made me laugh out load.
"Welcome to this flight....., my team are here to help you, they're very pleasing to the eye and they make a mean cup of tea!"
I can confirm that the female cabin crew were all solid 8 & 9's (although no photographic evidence), however can't confirm whether the tea was any good as I don't do tea on planes.
We get up into the air and they put the entertainment on, my headphones don’t work, they give me a new set of headphones, these don’t work either…erm I don’t think it’s the headphones that’s the problem Miss Cabin Crew, looks like the socket is broken on the armrest. Do you have any other seats available?????
She toddles off and what do you know there are other seats available, get to my new seat and I’m next to a lovely slim blonde girl, that’s a win in the books! Her new husband was sat next to her (both from Ireland), and they were in Vegas for their honeymoon, what are the odds of that happening. Probably quite low as there were at least a further two sets of couple getting married on my flight.
Nothing else really happened, Entertainment on the plane was excellent some very good up to date films. The flight was drunk dry about 7 hours into the flight which was a bit crappy.
Arrived at McCarran airport at 2:10 in the afternoon. Didn’t leave for the Monte Carlo until 4:00, the customs exit queued so long, but did it really matter for the sign’s with Welcome to Las Vegas were high above the custom exit, I was here in Las Vegas, the land of make believe that sits in the middle of the desert, where dreams can come true!
To Be Continued……..
The trip was 6 months in the planning. I had a bankroll that I was willing to spend on anything (except Hookers & Blow, although there are a couple of stories) that I had read about and wanted to do. There was also so much that I wanted to do that there was no way I could try everything on my list of activities. You know what that means don't you, I have to come back to sin city.
Just a little bit about the protagonist of this TR.
I'm the Pokeraver, can you guess what my favorite casino game is.....? That's right its Keno. Just love those balls bouncing in that cyclinder. Only joking, it's poker of course. Unfortunately I didn't play too much poker this trip mainly because I was degening in the pits, and timings of all the other activities. I was travelling with a very good friend so decided it would be unfair to spend long sessions in the poker room.
It was my 40th birthday last year and my wife after much persuasion, accepted I was going to Vegas.
My shoes
27th April - Day 1
I wake up on the 27th April at 5:30 in the morning. Damn that's early, and as I don't sleep on planes it's going to be a longtime before I sleep again. I flew direct on Virgin Atlantic from London Gatwick to Las Vegas. The flight is approx 11hours on the way out, and 9:30 on the way back.
I checked in online the day before and chose a seat close to the galley on aisle. At the time I checked in there were no other people sat next to me. I was hoping this would remain the status quo as I boarded. I walk up the plane to my seat and unfortunately I see a Big Blonde Chap sat in the middle seat, with a brunette slim lady in the window seat. The BBC was tot fat just solid. This is not good. I'm a 6'2 big chinese bloke and hit 17st. I'm not fat, just broad. There just isn't enough room to sit back and relax with this chap next to me.
I try to build a bit of rapport with my next door neighbour as if I’m going to be rubbing shoulders with him all 11 hours I might as well get to know him.
Me“Hi there where are you travelling from?”,
Neighbour “wiejrweopngwkne”
Me “Didn’t quite catch that?”
Neighbour “weojtreknsgekn”
Me “Oh Ok???”
Me “why are you travelling?”
Brunette sitting next to BBC decides to take over.
Brunette “Hi, we are travelling for our honeymoon. Just got married a couple of days ago.”
Me “fantastic, congratulations, your going to have a great time.”
And that was that, conversation died down so no real rapport built. Will just have to rub shoulders in that non-sexual way for 11 hours, FML.
The head cabin crew came on and started her spiel and I have to admit that her opening line made me laugh out load.
"Welcome to this flight....., my team are here to help you, they're very pleasing to the eye and they make a mean cup of tea!"
I can confirm that the female cabin crew were all solid 8 & 9's (although no photographic evidence), however can't confirm whether the tea was any good as I don't do tea on planes.
We get up into the air and they put the entertainment on, my headphones don’t work, they give me a new set of headphones, these don’t work either…erm I don’t think it’s the headphones that’s the problem Miss Cabin Crew, looks like the socket is broken on the armrest. Do you have any other seats available?????
She toddles off and what do you know there are other seats available, get to my new seat and I’m next to a lovely slim blonde girl, that’s a win in the books! Her new husband was sat next to her (both from Ireland), and they were in Vegas for their honeymoon, what are the odds of that happening. Probably quite low as there were at least a further two sets of couple getting married on my flight.
Nothing else really happened, Entertainment on the plane was excellent some very good up to date films. The flight was drunk dry about 7 hours into the flight which was a bit crappy.
Arrived at McCarran airport at 2:10 in the afternoon. Didn’t leave for the Monte Carlo until 4:00, the customs exit queued so long, but did it really matter for the sign’s with Welcome to Las Vegas were high above the custom exit, I was here in Las Vegas, the land of make believe that sits in the middle of the desert, where dreams can come true!
To Be Continued……..
Last edited by Pokeraver; 05-08-2014 at 03:05 PM.
Reason: Shoes picture
05-08-2014
, 05:26 PM
27th April Continued
I get in the taxi queue and only have to wait a few minutes. Told the driver Monte Carlo please and no tunnel, and what do you know, no tunnel. There was a lot of traffic and journey + tip was $25. Driver seemed very happy with that.
My stay at Monte Carlo was for one night and a MyVegas reward. Not sure what I was expecting really, when the taxi pulled up, it looked really nice, into the foyer, also really nice although the smell was cross between smoky and sickly vanilla perfume smell, so not so nice. The lady that served me again was very nice and she gave me a strip view. Up I went to my strip view room and opened the door (took a few attempts as there is a specific way that you need to open the door with the key) and what I got was very plain and dated. I don’t really mind as I don’t intend to stay in my room, but it was dated, creamy coloured room. The chairs to the side were plain looking and there was a big CRT TV on a main desk. Whilst I get my self sorted why don’t I try the TV and watch some American fare, there’s the TV remote, I can see the standby light on, how difficult can it be to work. Well after pressing every button from every position in the room the TV comes on, onto the MLife channel on very loud, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was full volume but there was no way to work out what volume it was as the remote no longer worked, the remote was a one hit wander. GREAT!!!
Phone up housekeeping – sending someone up with new batteries straight away. 10 mins, 20 mins, 30 mins pass by but no housekeeping. I need to get my Vegas time underway and you Monte Carlo housekeeping are delaying things. I go down with the remote to the reception desk. Tell them my story, you know the response, “we’ll phone housekeeping and get them to send someone up straight away”. I’ve done that already, hoping they have more weight than I do to make things happen I go back to my room to wait with MLife blaring at me at what I can do in Vegas. No I can’t I’m waiting for batteries from housekeeping. I wait a further 20 mins and decide the only option is to unplug the TV and just go downstairs. You may ask why I waited for the batteries and not just do what I did in the end, I have no idea, may have been fatigue, but on reflection I wasted the first hour of my holiday waiting for batteries for a TV I didn’t really plan on using, DOH!!!
First things first I need food. I wander around Monte Carlo and it is very smoky, the smell is also getting to me a little bit. I walk all the way to the front, strip entrance. There was the Dragon Noodle place, after a bit of duck and noodle soup I was ready to go. First stop Aria Poker room, I wanted to check out the 7pm poker tournament, $125 entry.
I find the walkway to the Aria and I have to admit leaving Monte Carlo into the Aria the smell changed, to something much more appealing. Good job I’m moving here tomorrow. The feel is airy, lots of chocolate and orangey shades. It is also huge. The poker room is right next to the entrance from the Monte Carlo so not difficult to find.
I still had an hour to go, so I did a little exploring and played a little Pai Gow poker, it was the first time I played the game ever but wasn’t going to be my last. I liked it from the very first hand I played. I like being able to squeeze the cards to find a hand to beat the house.
At 7 I make it over to the poker room and buy in. I’m thinking to my self this is not a good idea. I’ve been up for 21 hours, by the time it finishes it will be at least 1am, adrenaline will only take you so far. So I did what any Vegas newbie would do and buy in.
I hold my own for the buy in levels which last up to the end of round 4, get up to about 14k from a 10k starting stack. Just after the break I witness one of the most amazing hands of poker I have ever seen.
Mid position calls the blind, 2 other callers, SB calls, flop Ac2c8h, SB comes out firing, MP calls, other 3 in the pot fold. Before the turn is dealt the SB turns his cards over 3x4x, thinking all had folded. When in fact MP had called. Floor ruling was the hand gets played out and then a penalty would be placed on SB next hand. Turn card is 5c, making the guys straight, but everyone knows he’s made the straight. SB bets out a 1k. MP thinks for a bit and calls. I don’t think you have to be a genius to work out the range of MP here, given what he knows…. Turn is a blank SB bets I think 2k, after much deliberation MP raises to 6k, SB shoves his remaining chips (why?????, he only beats a bluff) of course MP has the flush.
Nothing really happens for me for the rest of my tourney life and push with a semi decent hand and lose. The time is now 11pm and I need some sleep, so off I go back to the Monte Carlo, before I go back to my room though I wanted to get some pictures of the strip, what a beautiful sight, not of the strip I haven’t made it there yet, but the go go dancer at the front basically the first set of tables and games at the entrance. The music was blaring, massive bass, not that I’m complaining, just unexpected and personally didn’t really get why this stand was there. Oh well onto the strip for my first photo opportunity of the strip. It actually felt quite cold outside but what a sight either direction up and down the strip. That really did warm me up and I’m happy, really happy. Off to bed then to my room with no working TV, hopefully I’ll sleep in now I’ve stayed up 25 hours.
To Be Continued…..
I get in the taxi queue and only have to wait a few minutes. Told the driver Monte Carlo please and no tunnel, and what do you know, no tunnel. There was a lot of traffic and journey + tip was $25. Driver seemed very happy with that.
My stay at Monte Carlo was for one night and a MyVegas reward. Not sure what I was expecting really, when the taxi pulled up, it looked really nice, into the foyer, also really nice although the smell was cross between smoky and sickly vanilla perfume smell, so not so nice. The lady that served me again was very nice and she gave me a strip view. Up I went to my strip view room and opened the door (took a few attempts as there is a specific way that you need to open the door with the key) and what I got was very plain and dated. I don’t really mind as I don’t intend to stay in my room, but it was dated, creamy coloured room. The chairs to the side were plain looking and there was a big CRT TV on a main desk. Whilst I get my self sorted why don’t I try the TV and watch some American fare, there’s the TV remote, I can see the standby light on, how difficult can it be to work. Well after pressing every button from every position in the room the TV comes on, onto the MLife channel on very loud, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was full volume but there was no way to work out what volume it was as the remote no longer worked, the remote was a one hit wander. GREAT!!!
Phone up housekeeping – sending someone up with new batteries straight away. 10 mins, 20 mins, 30 mins pass by but no housekeeping. I need to get my Vegas time underway and you Monte Carlo housekeeping are delaying things. I go down with the remote to the reception desk. Tell them my story, you know the response, “we’ll phone housekeeping and get them to send someone up straight away”. I’ve done that already, hoping they have more weight than I do to make things happen I go back to my room to wait with MLife blaring at me at what I can do in Vegas. No I can’t I’m waiting for batteries from housekeeping. I wait a further 20 mins and decide the only option is to unplug the TV and just go downstairs. You may ask why I waited for the batteries and not just do what I did in the end, I have no idea, may have been fatigue, but on reflection I wasted the first hour of my holiday waiting for batteries for a TV I didn’t really plan on using, DOH!!!
First things first I need food. I wander around Monte Carlo and it is very smoky, the smell is also getting to me a little bit. I walk all the way to the front, strip entrance. There was the Dragon Noodle place, after a bit of duck and noodle soup I was ready to go. First stop Aria Poker room, I wanted to check out the 7pm poker tournament, $125 entry.
I find the walkway to the Aria and I have to admit leaving Monte Carlo into the Aria the smell changed, to something much more appealing. Good job I’m moving here tomorrow. The feel is airy, lots of chocolate and orangey shades. It is also huge. The poker room is right next to the entrance from the Monte Carlo so not difficult to find.
I still had an hour to go, so I did a little exploring and played a little Pai Gow poker, it was the first time I played the game ever but wasn’t going to be my last. I liked it from the very first hand I played. I like being able to squeeze the cards to find a hand to beat the house.
At 7 I make it over to the poker room and buy in. I’m thinking to my self this is not a good idea. I’ve been up for 21 hours, by the time it finishes it will be at least 1am, adrenaline will only take you so far. So I did what any Vegas newbie would do and buy in.
I hold my own for the buy in levels which last up to the end of round 4, get up to about 14k from a 10k starting stack. Just after the break I witness one of the most amazing hands of poker I have ever seen.
Mid position calls the blind, 2 other callers, SB calls, flop Ac2c8h, SB comes out firing, MP calls, other 3 in the pot fold. Before the turn is dealt the SB turns his cards over 3x4x, thinking all had folded. When in fact MP had called. Floor ruling was the hand gets played out and then a penalty would be placed on SB next hand. Turn card is 5c, making the guys straight, but everyone knows he’s made the straight. SB bets out a 1k. MP thinks for a bit and calls. I don’t think you have to be a genius to work out the range of MP here, given what he knows…. Turn is a blank SB bets I think 2k, after much deliberation MP raises to 6k, SB shoves his remaining chips (why?????, he only beats a bluff) of course MP has the flush.
Nothing really happens for me for the rest of my tourney life and push with a semi decent hand and lose. The time is now 11pm and I need some sleep, so off I go back to the Monte Carlo, before I go back to my room though I wanted to get some pictures of the strip, what a beautiful sight, not of the strip I haven’t made it there yet, but the go go dancer at the front basically the first set of tables and games at the entrance. The music was blaring, massive bass, not that I’m complaining, just unexpected and personally didn’t really get why this stand was there. Oh well onto the strip for my first photo opportunity of the strip. It actually felt quite cold outside but what a sight either direction up and down the strip. That really did warm me up and I’m happy, really happy. Off to bed then to my room with no working TV, hopefully I’ll sleep in now I’ve stayed up 25 hours.
To Be Continued…..
05-09-2014
, 04:50 PM
28th April – Day 2
It’s 11pm, I’m knackered and when my head hits the pillow I’m off like a light straight away. Not like the lights in the room which I couldn’t switch on in the first place. I must sleep for sometime surely….
Bing, I wake up, I’m feeling refreshed, I’m in a weird place. I hope I’ve slept a long time. Look at my watch 2am, FFS! Turn over and nothing I’m wide awake and I’m also feeling a little hungry. Might as well get up and get some food and see what is happening.
Down I go and get to the lobby area and hit by the smell again. I go to the pizza place in the food court and get a mushroom pizza. In front of me is a young blonde thing must have just come from one of the clubs, shoes off in a Little Black Dress. She was looking great if not a little dishevelled. Interesting to see so many people wanting Sub’s and pizza’s at this time of night. I thought the pizza was pretty good.
It’s 3am, I can’t sleep, I’m in Vegas what’s a man to do except get my gamble on. I sit down at Pai Gow poker and play for a while, talk to the dealers and there very chatty. Tell me their life stories, very varied. I like this, a bit of fun and some interaction. Cocktail waitress comes along and I ask for some water and “what brandies do you have?” I think this in hindsight is a mistake, as they keep coming and I keep ordering them. I hold my own, down a little bit, I move to blackjack and I make a mistake, and I don’t think the players on the table are too happy, but what the heck. The brandies keep coming. I move back to Pai Gow, it’s 7am, I some how make a conscious effort to go to bed. I think the phrase that is used in this situation for someone in my position is FUBAR!
I hear the door open in the room “Hello Housekeeping”, Oh ****, “I’m in the room!!!” Look at the watch and f*** it’s 12:15pm, check out 11am, and even better I’m still buzzing from the brandy. Quickly sort my stuff out and down to the lobby. I must look like a mess, probably nothing they haven’t seen before.
Check out was uneventful and no extra charge for being late. However I somehow lost the MLife card and the money I took down with me in my wallet in my tiredness during the early morning (that may be the reason I decided I needed to go to bed), so they printed a new one for me. I then make the short journey to the Aria and drop my bags with the bell desk, and go to explore. I’m getting hungry so decide on Lemongrass. I’d read many good things about this place and it delivered. I had the Tom Yam Goong for starters, hot and sour Thai soup with large prawns, they asked how spicy I wanted it from a scale of 1-10 with 3 being medium. I go for a 5, that was spicy, god knows how hot at 10 would have been. After the soup I have the stewed beef and udon noodles, again very tasty. Washed down with and Stella beer.
I’m now feeling half normal, not sure if it was the food or the beer. I might as well have a beer and play some Pai Gow poker. I hit a nice little run and end up winning a good portion of what I mislaid earlier in the morning, indulging in the wares of the cocktail waitresses. I again chatted to the dealers and asked them whether they dealed to celebrities. Those that have been to the Aria will know that the Pai Gow poker tables are in front of the high limit rooms. She told me that Ben Affleck was in the high limit room playing blackjack. I got up and walked in and looked around and there he was. Just wanted to see him and turned around. Must have had some funny looks from the pit boss, as I did my 180degree about turn. Cool to see an A-list celeb on my first day in town.
I meet up with my friend and we go and check in. What a room, we had a strip view, two queen beds. The opulence was wonderful. Tried the beds and wow how comfortable and the electronics were amazing, all controlled with a tablet by the bed. Big 42”+ flatscreen on the wall. Bathroom was massive, double sink, power shower and a separate bath. The only issue was the price of the mini bar, which we had no intention to use.
Get some dinks at the bar and go up to the Aria buffet for dinner. These were my second MyVegas rewards and very easy to redeem at the MLife desk. I have to admit I was very disappointed by the buffet. If I had been paying I would have been cryiung blue murder. The meat was very well cooked, there were crab legs, however that was it. Everything else looked very bland, or not appetizing. That’s my opinion only.
Play a little more Pai Gow poker and a little roulette and finish up about $300. It’s now about 11pm, and we’re flagging. The jetlag is getting to me. Hopefully I’ll have a proper nights sleep in my wonderful Aria bed….
To Be Continued…..
It’s 11pm, I’m knackered and when my head hits the pillow I’m off like a light straight away. Not like the lights in the room which I couldn’t switch on in the first place. I must sleep for sometime surely….
Bing, I wake up, I’m feeling refreshed, I’m in a weird place. I hope I’ve slept a long time. Look at my watch 2am, FFS! Turn over and nothing I’m wide awake and I’m also feeling a little hungry. Might as well get up and get some food and see what is happening.
Down I go and get to the lobby area and hit by the smell again. I go to the pizza place in the food court and get a mushroom pizza. In front of me is a young blonde thing must have just come from one of the clubs, shoes off in a Little Black Dress. She was looking great if not a little dishevelled. Interesting to see so many people wanting Sub’s and pizza’s at this time of night. I thought the pizza was pretty good.
It’s 3am, I can’t sleep, I’m in Vegas what’s a man to do except get my gamble on. I sit down at Pai Gow poker and play for a while, talk to the dealers and there very chatty. Tell me their life stories, very varied. I like this, a bit of fun and some interaction. Cocktail waitress comes along and I ask for some water and “what brandies do you have?” I think this in hindsight is a mistake, as they keep coming and I keep ordering them. I hold my own, down a little bit, I move to blackjack and I make a mistake, and I don’t think the players on the table are too happy, but what the heck. The brandies keep coming. I move back to Pai Gow, it’s 7am, I some how make a conscious effort to go to bed. I think the phrase that is used in this situation for someone in my position is FUBAR!
I hear the door open in the room “Hello Housekeeping”, Oh ****, “I’m in the room!!!” Look at the watch and f*** it’s 12:15pm, check out 11am, and even better I’m still buzzing from the brandy. Quickly sort my stuff out and down to the lobby. I must look like a mess, probably nothing they haven’t seen before.
Check out was uneventful and no extra charge for being late. However I somehow lost the MLife card and the money I took down with me in my wallet in my tiredness during the early morning (that may be the reason I decided I needed to go to bed), so they printed a new one for me. I then make the short journey to the Aria and drop my bags with the bell desk, and go to explore. I’m getting hungry so decide on Lemongrass. I’d read many good things about this place and it delivered. I had the Tom Yam Goong for starters, hot and sour Thai soup with large prawns, they asked how spicy I wanted it from a scale of 1-10 with 3 being medium. I go for a 5, that was spicy, god knows how hot at 10 would have been. After the soup I have the stewed beef and udon noodles, again very tasty. Washed down with and Stella beer.
I’m now feeling half normal, not sure if it was the food or the beer. I might as well have a beer and play some Pai Gow poker. I hit a nice little run and end up winning a good portion of what I mislaid earlier in the morning, indulging in the wares of the cocktail waitresses. I again chatted to the dealers and asked them whether they dealed to celebrities. Those that have been to the Aria will know that the Pai Gow poker tables are in front of the high limit rooms. She told me that Ben Affleck was in the high limit room playing blackjack. I got up and walked in and looked around and there he was. Just wanted to see him and turned around. Must have had some funny looks from the pit boss, as I did my 180degree about turn. Cool to see an A-list celeb on my first day in town.
I meet up with my friend and we go and check in. What a room, we had a strip view, two queen beds. The opulence was wonderful. Tried the beds and wow how comfortable and the electronics were amazing, all controlled with a tablet by the bed. Big 42”+ flatscreen on the wall. Bathroom was massive, double sink, power shower and a separate bath. The only issue was the price of the mini bar, which we had no intention to use.
Get some dinks at the bar and go up to the Aria buffet for dinner. These were my second MyVegas rewards and very easy to redeem at the MLife desk. I have to admit I was very disappointed by the buffet. If I had been paying I would have been cryiung blue murder. The meat was very well cooked, there were crab legs, however that was it. Everything else looked very bland, or not appetizing. That’s my opinion only.
Play a little more Pai Gow poker and a little roulette and finish up about $300. It’s now about 11pm, and we’re flagging. The jetlag is getting to me. Hopefully I’ll have a proper nights sleep in my wonderful Aria bed….
To Be Continued…..