The Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay has a massive see-through tunnel spanning a section of the 40 million dollar aquarium, allows you to see a wide variety of different aquatic species.

With 100 different species, including the rare Arapaiwa Gigas, the Red-tailed Catfish and the Silver Arrowana, you will be able to see some of the most beautiful fish in the world. Some of the species, particularly the nearly extinct golden saltwater crocodile, can’t be seen anywhere else in the western hemisphere.

Children of all ages as well as adults are welcomed to visit the Shark Reef Mandalay for a chance to see once in a lifetime sights of rare, aquatic life.

One of the most amazing and beautiful creatures in the Hawaii Islands is the Green Sea Turtle, or honu. These graceful animals inhabit the warm waters of Hawaii, as well as many other places around the world.

The honu have long been featured in Hawaiian mythology, petroglyphs and as aumakua (personal family gods). Early Hawaiians used the green sea turtles as a source of food, tools and even ornamentation.

But more importantly, native Hawaiians made sure they kept their use of the green sea turtle in balance with nature.

Green sea turtles, Chelonia mydas, actually got their name from the color of their body fat. It’s green from the algae or limu they eat.

The exact life span of sea turtles is not clearly understood. Hawaiian green sea turtles appear to grow quite slowly in the wild. The turtles typically take between 10 and 50 years to reach sexual maturity, about 25 years on the average.

Even though the green sea turtles live the majority of their lives in the ocean, the adult females must return to land to lay their eggs. Biologists believe that nesting female turtles return to the exact same beach as where they were born. This beach is referred to as a natal beach.

The sea turtles often travel very long distances, going from their feeding grounds to their unique natal beach. Hawaii’s green sea turtles can migrate as much as 800 miles from their feeding areas along the coasts of the main Hawaiian islands to the nesting beaches in the Northwestern Hawaiian islands.

An interesting fact is that the green sea turtles nest only at night. The female turtle labors by pulling herself out of the ocean water and crawl to the dry sand of the upper beach using only her front flippers.

Sadly, many of the turtle’s newborns do not reach the ocean. Some are grabbed by hungry crabs and other predators along the way. Some become lost and eventually die. Even the ones who make it safely to the sea are not safe. They can be eaten by sharks and other carnivorous fishes. Only a few baby turtles from each nest will survive all the way to adulthood.

Tropical Rainforest is one of many free attractions at The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Inside the front entrance, you’ll enjoy an extraordinary experience – a lush and verdant indoor rainforest housed under a 100-foot-high dome. Palm trees reach 60 feet above cascading waterfalls. Lagoons meander through a forest of rich tropical flora including bird of paradise trees, orchids and bromeliads.

Woven into this waterscape is an artist’s palette of beautifully colored, delicately arranged tropical flowers basking in natural sunlight. Water mists the area lightly throughout the day to enhance the atmosphere and keep the plants cool.

Four full-time gardeners spend over 160 hours each week to maintain the more than 100 different types of plants in the atrium. Over 300 fresh orchids and 1000 bromeliads grace the walkways.

Photo credit: The Mirage

Photo Courtesy of BillionaireXchange

Help may be on the way for online auction sites such as BillionaireXchange and EBay.

Site traders are hoping for less restrictions on selling luxury goods under EU (European Union) regulators’ plans to knock down barriers to Internet sales.

The European Commission, who is the 27-nation EU’s antitrust regulator, is currently drafting up new guidelines on the extent to which companies can restrict trade through their own authorized dealers.

In a story from Bloomberg News, who obtained the draft plans, it details how how the Brussels-based regulator will apply competition rules to agreements between online producers and sellers.

The draft states that luxury-goods makers would be prevented from imposing any quantity limits on Web-based sales by distributors who are already authorized to sell goods through their “brick and mortar” stores.

This EU move is wonderful news, especially for luxury auction sites such as BillionaireXchange.

At the SEABLUE restaurant and lounge in the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas you can order the Duvet Passion for around $1,500.

The ingredients: a mix of rare aged cognacs and a mix of rare vintage champagnes garnished with a vanilla orchid petal.

This passion drink for lovers was introduced on Valentine’s Day in 2005.

Hotel Meurice is one of Europe’s most fashionable hotels. The Hotel Meurice is located in the heart of Paris France, overlooking the Jardin des Tuileries.

Each of the 160 individually decorated rooms combines state-of-the-art amenities with gracious 18th-century furnishings and luxurious fabrics.

But for a pure luxury experience, stay at the most expensive Parisian hotel room there is – the Belle Etoile Suite at the Hotel Meurice.

The unique rooftop Belle Etoile Suite offers sweeping views from the 3,000-square-foot wrap around terrace.

The hotel faces the Jardin de Tuileries and is adjacent to the rue Saint Honore in Paris’ fashionable First Arrondissement. The Meurice is surrounded by delightful cafes and some of the Paris’ finest boutique shops, including Helmut Lang and Colette.

This penthouse suite is reached via private elevator. Once arriving at the top floor, it opens onto a marble entry hall. The entire Belle Etoile Suite is decorated in a Charles X style, including heavy drapery, intricate wood paneling with gilt edges, chandeliers and murals.

The Suite’s white-marble bathroom has double sinks and a round Jacuzzi tub, along with the panoramic views of the city (yes, the windows have shades).

Having taken the buffet concept to new heights, the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is once again redefining the category with the Village Seafood Buffet that is now open, following an extensive remodeling of its bold and colorful 13,000 square feet of space. From customizable sushi prepared right in front of the guest to sommeliers available to pair seafood selections with the finest of wines, the refined Village Seafood Buffet is Las Vegas’ only seafood buffet serving the freshest seafood from around the world, flown in daily with restaurant-style execution.

The Cuisine

From freshwater prawns from Indonesia to Pacific salmon, Alaskan king crab, Canadian snow crab, shrimp from China and slipper tail lobster from Southeast Asia, the Village Seafood Buffet purchases more than 200 tons of fresh seafood annually.

This global menu features the essence of the Mediterranean, the vibrant cooking traditions in the Pacific Rim, the rich and flavorful creations indigenous to the Baja region, the exotic, eclectic flavors of South America where guests enjoy carving stations featuring six types of proteins that can be made into succulent skewers and the diverse ingredients and cooking styles of North America.

The Décor

Visual enhancements immediately captivate attention. From the grand new entrance showcasing metallic pieces that depict the ebb and flow of the ocean tides, to commissioned artwork from renowned artist Brad Holland prominently on display, the all new Village Seafood Buffet emphasizes the cool hues of the ocean’s blues and ice-frosted whites.

Art lovers and backers of the Las Vegas Art Museum have decided that the museum needs its own permanent spot, instead of the rented space at the All-American Sportpark.

A recent story in the Las Vegas Sun states that donors haven’t decided whether they will purchase an existing building or build a new one. One thing they do know, is to not have an interim rental space.

For the past 10 years the Las Vegas Art Museum has been sharing a building with the Sahara West Library in Summerlin. There is 7,000 square feet of exhibit space and it hosts an education program for about 7,000 students a year.

The initial plans for the new museum call out a much larger facility and an education program for 30,000 students annually. If everything goes as planned, the Las Vegas Art Museum will finally have a permanent spot for the first time in the institution’s 58-year existence.

But more than that, the Las Vegas Valley is a dynamic metropolitan area that needs a thriving arts community, and that means a permanent art museum. It is an important step toward helping Las Vegas grow into a world-class city.

With plans for the Smith Center for the Performing Arts already under way, it gives the Las Vegas Art Museum the permanent home it deserves would be an excellent next step. It’s about time!

(Photo courtesy of Poetry Nightclub)

Poetry Nightclub is Located at the end of the Forum Shoppes at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.  Poetry has been Vegas’ premier hip-hop nightclub destinations since it opened over five years ago.

Poetry is the only nightclub in Las Vegas that plays one hundred percent hip hop and R and B music style. Each night of the week plays a slightly different flavor for their nightclub patrons.

Sin City visitors come from all over the world to party late into the night with all the celebrities that frequent this intimate Las Vegas venue.

Poetry Nightclub is a rock solid guarantee to spot celebs and be in a place to chill and groove to the musical vibe. Customers can always count on top notch VIP service and having a fantastic time.

The nightclub gets its name from the numerous lyrics and verses written all over the nightclub’s walls. Some are from iconic poets like Edgar Allen Poe and master lyricists like Tupac.

Potry nightclub is decorated with soft chocolate hues mixed with black and red color accents. Near the dance floor is the prominent VIP section. Because of its size, it can also double as a stage.  Keep a look out and you may see your fave idol like: E40, Snoop Dogg, Grandmaster Flash or Carmen Electra begin to perform.

The one thing in common, is everybody there is a fan of hip hop and a love having a great time.

Before you go, be sure to find you best stylish, nightlife attire. Your main goal should be to dress to impress. Dress slacks, dress shoes and dress shirts with collars must be tucked in. Not allowed is shorts, hats, tennis shoes, baggy or torn jeans. Men can not wear sandals.

Poetry Nightclub Las Vegas
3500 Las Vegas Blvd, S. #L3
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Inquiries and Guest List: 702-369-4998
Fax: 702-369-0154
Information Line: 702-387-3840

Owner George Maloof, with a recent assist from Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, offers accommodations unlike any in Vegas.

The sky is no longer the limit in Las Vegas thanks to George Maloof. For high rollers visiting Vegas, Maloof has built the Fantasy Tower at the Palms Casino Resort. The Fantasy Tower is the latest development in the Palms Casino Resort’s $650-million expansion.

Among its 347 rooms and suites, the 40-story hotel tower features more than 40 Fantasy Suites and Sky Villas featuring one-of-a-kind amenities never before seen in Las Vegas. “Our client is anyone from a corporation to a couple who is looking for an ultimate fantasy,” Maloof said.

From basketball half-courts and a personal bowling alley to vibrating beds and private “show showers,” the Fantasy Tower is designed for those who think big.

Fantasy Suites in the Fantasy Tower start at $4,000 per night and can go as high as $40,000 per night for the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, which sits at the top.

In addition to accommodations, the Fantasy Tower will feature an entertainment mecca that mixes nightlife and dining, including the first Playboy Club to open in 25 years. An allnew nightclub and Mediterranean restaurant at the top of the Fantasy Tower will open in September. Other Fantasy Tower developments include the all-new, $40-million Palms Pool & Bungalows.

The list of amenities in the luxury suites is as long as the Strip itself. For example, the 10,000-square-foot Hardwood Suite boasts a two-level party room, a half basketball court, three NBA-sized Murphy beds, a living-media room, a 10-person Jacuzzi and customized services such as personalized basketball jerseys and cheerleaders.

The King Pin Suite offers a 4,240-square-foot retro-style party room with two bedrooms, three bathrooms, LCD and plasma TVs (including a theater-size projection screen), regulation bowling equipment and a pool table. Not surprisingly, the Erotic Suite offers sexy amenities including a metal-encased “show shower” and an 8-foot-round rotating bed beneath a mirrored ceiling.

But perhaps the pièce de résistance is the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, which was designed with the help of Hefner himself. Opening in September, the suite will include an outdoor cantilevered Jacuzzi with glass-end walls, a living room, a media room, a full bar, a fully equipped gym with a sauna, a spa-style treatment room, a personal glass elevator, an 8-foot rotating bed, pop-up plasma TVs and a collection of Playboy art personally selected by Hefner.

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Photo: Gigi-hawaii

Ciao Mein is one of several fine restaurants located in the luxurious twin towers of the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort and Spa on Oahu.

Ciao Mein was awarded Zagat’s “Excellent” rating for 2008. David Lewin, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa comments, “We are extremely pleased to again be recognized with Zagat’s ‘Excellent’ rating for Ciao Mein.”

The restaurant distinguishes itself from others by offering “collision cuisine,” a blend of Chinese and Italian traditions.

Excellent fusion really does exist in Hawaii these days and Ciao Mein is a fine example of it. The restaurant presents fine vegetarian offerings, and serves both Asian and Italian inspired dishes. Ciao Mein also stays true to itself and bringing true “collision cuisine” to a few sophisticated seafood items.

Under its Nouvelle Cuisine umbrella, Ciao Mein offers both an Italian and a Chinese selection. With straw and shiitake mushrooms plus vegetables, the Steamed Tofu is meaty-textured and oh so flavorful.

Ciao Mein’s Szechuan Eggplant is a “Taste of Honolulu” first place winner, and very deserving it is.

Located on the third floor of the Hyatt Regency, Ewa Tower, Ciao Mein is open for dinner from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Be sure to call ahead for reservations. Parking is free with restaurant validation. But valet parking is the easiest option.

Ciao Mein
Hyatt Regency Waikiki
2424 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 923-2426