The Mirage is the best. It is centrally located, has an excellent pool, a decent nightclub, and an affordable room. I’ve stayed there multiple times and have yet to come away disappointed. That and the fact that it was home to one of my favorite Vegas movies, Vegas Vacation validate the high seeding.
I’ve been there during the NBA Playoffs and found the sports book to be both spacious and accommodating. I’ve been there on my birthday and found the pool to be both lively and relaxing. I’ve been there during NBA All Star Weekend and found the club to be both spacious and lively. There’s nothing bad I can write about the Mirage except for the fact that I am not writing this review from the Mirage.
In summary, the Mirage demonstrates it is possible to have all the great things that Vegas provides without the obscene costs or risk of isolation.
This is THE MirageThis is the poolThis is the pool deckThis is the club
Before moving to Mongolia, I signed up for Global Entry which comes with TSA PreCheck meaning you don’t have to take off your shoes and belt, remove your laptop, and if you’re one of those people who still separates his liquids, you don’t have to do that either. I paid $100 for the application and scheduled the interview which included straightforward questions like the flattering one, “Why have you been to so many countries?
Global Entry allows you to skip the Customs line that continues to grow longer and slower and proceed to the automated kiosk where you swipe your passport, declare any goods, then be on your way. Gone are the days of anxiety and fumbling for answers when the immigration asks you seemingly innocent questions like “What countries did you visit?” that nevertheless illicit a shaky response, “uhhh, Mexico?”
Registering for Global Entry as I was exiting the country indefinitely wasn’t the most well thought out plan but the benefit does remain valid for five years. Nevertheless, I recommend that every traveler sign up because using it along with PreCheck a few times more than pays for the nominal application fee. Be warned, if you have two misdemeanors on your resume, you won’t be approved. I also must note that Global Entry still won’t save you the headache of bringing along your Jambox.
Two years ago my friend, Brent Dutcher sent me a self-help book that he thought would be of interest to me. To which I replied, “That is stupid. I can write you a better one.” And that’s exactly what I did.
The result is a satirical self-help/memoir entitled Everyone’s Advice Is Wrong . . . Including Minewritten to inspire Mr. Dutcher to get out of the cubicle and start living life on his own terms. Since the book was published I have received great reviews and pretty good ones. Still, many of my friends and even family have, for one reason or another, refused to purchase a copy.
Today, I received a review from a friend of mine that I was a little worried to read. He’s a straight shooter, a no nonsense type of guy that doesn’t hesitate to tell me exactly how things are, despite my thinking to the contrary. Bracing myself for the worst, I started reading his critique.
I was delighted to read, even with a couple of facetious shots at my expense, how much he enjoyed the book.
Please find his review below:
5 years ago, in a back corner of a counterfeit mall, is where I first met one of the most distinguishable acquaintances i have — negotiating for a pair of tennis shoes by increasing his own price and confusing the Shanghainese sneaker slinger to the point of annoyance and getting kicked out of the store.
After introducing myself to the brazen american, we quickly discovered that we were both Wolverines, who graduated in 2004. Not only that — but he happened to be on a study abroad while getting his MBA at Thunderbird School of Global Management. What were the odds that I’d meet someone in a random Shanghai bazaar, who shared both my home state, undergraduate and graduate universities? Well, the bro-mance would continue in infamy. Though my new buddy had questionable morals, character, and wasn’t really someone I ever expected to “Respect” in any way — he recently had his book “Everyone’s advice is wrong… including mine” published.
So, I gave it a read; you know — because he’s my buddy. Not being much of a reader, I didn’t even really expect to get all the way through it. So, you can imagine my surprise when I read the first 8 chapters in one sitting. His substantially self-depricating semi-autobiography about evading the corporate grind, and appreciating what life has to offer is genuinely entertaining. I would strongly encourage everyone to get a copy of the book and use it to get a few laughs… and maybe even to help affirm aspirations of taking a new path in life. For Michiganders, wolverines, and anyone stuck in a Lumbergh-style work-environment… the book is straight up killer.
Well done Alex; you’re still strange as hell, and perhaps the most interesting man in the world, in making… and I rather enjoyed the fruits of your exploits.
So please go out [to Amazon], purchase a copy and if you do not like it, please write a terrible review of it. For doing so, I will refund you the whopping $5 I make per copy. After all, my goal in writing isn’t to make money, it’s to get my message out: reject the teachings of cubicle-ism, be faithful to yourself.
Thus the title Everyone’s Advice Is Wrong . . Including Mine. (emphasis added)
Yours truly,
The Strange Dude
I’ve literally eaten my own words. (see cover of my book if you’re confused)
Don’t worry, we are entering the final stretch of the tourney with the best of the best vying for that number one spot in the Elite 8.
This week the bracket shifted towards partying at the Hard Rock for Rehab and being entranced at the Artisan Hotel Boutique. We went down memory lane at the Riviera (though I do not recommend reminiscing about Vegas trips too much), further explored the Mandalay Bay Resort, leaving us with the following:
You’ve lasted this long in Vegas, what’s a few more days?
There are Hard Rock Cafes throughout the world like the Hard Rock Hotel in Bali, Indonesia, but there is only one Hard Rock Las Vegas.
The Vegas Hard Rock revolutionized the party scene not only in Vegas but throughout the world with the creation of Rehab, the ultimate morning after pool party. After a rough Saturday, when your body is begging for you to slow down before it shuts down, there is only one noble course of action: drink more.
Guests not staying at the Hard Rock Hotel have to arrive as early in the morning to queue in line for hours. Guests of the Hard Rock Hotel are given preferential treatment for admittance and the added advantage of having a home base to pre-pre-party, take a two minute power nap, and rest up for the after party at Body English before the after-after party.
The Rehab concept has been copied by hotels throughout the Strip but make no mistake, the original is still going strong at the Hard Rock.
A peaceful Sunday afternoon with the family…An innocent cocktail…Then all hell breaks looseThe end result?…see video below
If you use the Priceline Trick it is very possible that you can get a discounted room at a great hotel in Vegas including the Mandalay Bay. While hotels claim that they don’t put Priceline guests in the linen closet, the chances of getting a nice upgrade ($20 trick notwithstanding) is pretty remote.
The right way to stay in Vegas is to use your Amex Platinum to book a room that is part of their Fine Hotels & Resorts collection of which Mandalay Bay is a participating member. Here are the perks in writing:
Now let me show you what this perk looks like translated into a picture:
Michigan paraphernalia not included
Instead of a basic room at Mandalay, Amex provides an upgraded suite with a full size dining table room, more televisions than anyone will ever need, and a deluxe shower.
What’s nice about staying at the Mandalay, THEhotel (Delano), or the Four Seasons is access to the many amenities of the complex:
Every resort should have a lazy riverAnd a wave pool
Now imagine all of this coupled with the service of the Four Seasons:
Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Turkey, Occupy Everywhere are all grounded in the hopes that the people’s voice will be heard leading to a reduction of social and economic inequality. Unfortunately, all these movements start and end the same way.
Here’s how the events unfold:
Outrageous behavior from a government or corporations reaches a tipping point.
A resilient few decide to stand up for what is right.
The movement spreads like wildfire via social media.
Peaceful protests ensue.
CNN comes up with a not so clever nickname, Occupy Porta-Potties
The government/corporations get impatient.
The police attempt to clear the area without using force.
Nothing happens.
Tear gas follows.
Rubber bullets are fired.
The police apologizes.
An internal investigation on police protocol is launched.
More peaceful protests.
More irritation from corporations/government.
More intervention.
More tension!
Crowd disbursement.
Nothing changes.
Now we have Occupy Central in Hong Kong better known as the Umbrella Revolution, where protesters arm themselves with umbrellas to ward of the riot police’s crowd disbursement tactics. The reason for the protest is simple; Hong Kong people want to have democratic elections and China is refusing. Presently, Hong Kong operates under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle meaning that Hong Kong can decide how it governs itself, so long as China says it’s OK. To preserve this rule, China wants to approve the list of candidates that run for the office of chief executive in 2017. This would ensure that China would have a Beijing sympathizer running Hong Kong, preventing a possible secession of Hong Kong from mainland China in the future.
Now the perfect storm for an occupy revolution has arrived. It is the weekend in Hong Kong following a national holiday. The number of protesters have grown as have their demands. Protesters are demanding that the current chief executive Leung Chun-ying step down, something he has refused to do while China is calling the protests illegal.
The protesters believe that relieving Leung of his duties paves the way for democratic reform. How many times have we seen this end worse than when it started? From China’s perspective, if Leung steps down, this would appease the protesters in the short run. But will this resolution only quell their anger for the time being, emboldening them to become more defiant in the future?
Here’s what will happen:
Leung may stay, Leung may go. In the end, it doesn’t matter. While China may superficially give into the protesters demand for open elections, come 2017, it will still have a heavy hand in who becomes the next leader of Hong Kong. China’s best strategy going forward is straightforward: It should incrementally grant marginal powers to Hong Kong’s government to prevent further demonstrations then stay the course until 2047 when Hong Kong loses its status as a Special Administrative Region and comes completely under China’s control.
China need only to stay out of the spotlight so come Monday morning, whether it be this week or next, the streets are devoid of protesters, the markets opened, and the umbrellas tossed.
For all it hopes to do and despite its laudable intent, the Occupy Movement will continue to go nowhere until the people go nowhere.
Would you look at that? It’s October meaning the start of the MLB Playoffs broadcast live here in Mongolia. More importantly, it’s time for another edition of Simply the Best, the monthly recap of everything great @thepointsoflife.
For the newcomers, here’s what you have missed in the previous six months that I’ve been in operation: March, April, May, June, July, and August!
For the regulars, welcome back to the lounge of greatness. I’m sure you remember these clever posts:
Don’t forget my newest addition to the blog, the Espresso of the World map, tracking The Pulse of the world, one city at a time, one cup at a time. Also coming this October, are more Trip Reports using my trademark pending Guns And Butter approach.
The Artisan Hotel Boutique is dark. The Artisan Boutique Hotel is unknown. The Artisan Hotel Boutique is haunted.
The Artisan Boutique Hotel doesn’t have ghosts and goblins or anything of that sort, but it does have a magic and delight like no other hotel in the entire world. I’ve never been by day so I cannot tell you of the pool that receives rave reviews. However, I can tell you that I can’t help but be overcome by the mystique of the hotel by simply walking into the lobby for an after hours affair. The place is overrun with chandeliers, paintings from the floor to the ceiling, and couches from yesteryear.
This place is widely known by locals of the Vegas scene but a mystery to outsiders due to its location somewhere off the Strip. That’s what makes it unique. That along with the hotel rooms of which none is identical. Each features its own collection of paintings and its own clever decor. For the lovers out there that want some dash with their Mrs, tune into a certain channel for some interesting programming.
The hallways look like a scene straight out of A Clockwork Orange
The Artisan Hotel Boutique is the sort of establishment that you exit in the wee hours of the morning, your eyes squinting from the relentless sun, searching for not only a taxi but also answers as to what happened the night before.
So you’re tired of the same style of Vegas night…
Better put: If your not tired after a long Vegas night, then press forward onto the Artisan Boutique, an experience that will not disappoint.
I hope you are fine with me calling you by your first name. I have received your resume 110,000 times over and am pleased to inform you that we have an immediate spot available for you on our deserted island.
We understand that the last four years have been quite stressful for you so our goal is to make your transition as smooth as possible. Luckily, you are used to standing on the sidelines doing nothing so we trust that you’ll acclimate quite quickly to island life. Recall the tranquility of playing before an empty stadium at the end of the Utah game. That silent retreat will be a daily reality.
You may be wondering what a day in the life of living on a deserted island consists of? Fear not, each day will be a microcosm of a Michigan football season. The day begins with hope from the new area you scouted for fishing but inexplicably produces nothing. Not seeing the results you had anticipated, stick your head in the sand for a quick respite. With no strategy in mind, you can always go for a swim hoping against hope that turns the tide in your favor. Earplugs, like headsets are optional.After another disappointing day, rest assured you’ll awaken to the blurred reality that you’re not living in mediocrity.
Ready to MAC on this B1G paradise?
Respond to this offer before the end of this season and we’ll even allow you to bring along your buddy Dave Brandon.
Don’t worry, you will still be able to enjoy the maize of the sunny skies and the blue of the ocean water but beware of the downpour from the approaching storm crowds washing away all your progress from which your rendition of the Big Sandcastle was built.
