Our first stop at Grand Canyon West is at the Administrative Point where they took our weight for the helicopter ride. Each helicopter sat five passengers and the lightest two will be in the front row beside the pilot. The three of us were assigned to Helicopter 56 with the honeymooners Damien and Claudia.
After a gruelling two-hour wait, we finally boarded our maroon helicopter. We were all excited since it was our first time in a helicopter. Once we were strapped in, the take-off was swift. The pilot took us over the canyon and into the valley. Although the ride was less than 10 minutes, the experience and view was heart-stopping.
It was very much warmer in the valley, our wait for the boat ride was difficult under the scorching sun. One of our tour members became ill and had to forfeit the boat ride. The boat ride was brief, and took us a few hundred metres upstream and back. Then it was back on the helicopter for a 10-minute ride back to base.
From the Administrative Point, we took the shuttle to Point B - Eagle Point, and Point C - Guano Point. The Skywalk, at the Eagle Point, is a glass bridge 1200 metres above the Grand Canyon floor. A few of our tour members paid US$30 each to walk across the bridge. Jerrain, Daniel and I decided not to take up that optional tour because you are not allowed to bring your own camera on the bridge. Instead, we took several photos a short distance away.
We had lunch at Guano Point overlooking the beautiful Canyon. After lunch, Daniel and Hui Ling climbed a nearby peak while Jerrain and I tried to capture them from afar.
We had two other stops before heading back to the Monte Carlo hotel - Hoover Dam and the 'Welcome to Las Vegas' sign.
The night ended on a high at Treasure Island Hotel where we caught Cirque Du Soleil for the first time. Mystere was such a feast for the eyes, there were so many (I mean SO MANY) dancers and artistes doing their thing at different points in the theatre at one time we didn't know where to look! My favourite parts were the trapeze item, guys crawling down walls like spiderman, and the super graceful dancers. It was my first time watching a circus and Cirque Du Soleil definitely delivered and exceeded all my expectations.
Cost: $12.03 supper from Sbarro at Monte Carlo, $5 snacks from Hoover Dam, $3.45 chocolate milk from Treasure Island
Nana Fund: $15 McDonalds breakfast, $12 taxi to Treasure Island, $11 taxi back to Monte Carlo
Highlight: Our virgin helicopter ride over the magnificent Grand Canyon