From: Xiaofeng Xu
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 16:29:01 -0800
Hi All,
I just want to everybody know that I really had a good time
in Vegas. Enjoyed every second there. Could someone post some
photos taken at the reunion?
Regards,
Xiaofeng
_____________________________________________________________________
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2001 16:46:45 -0800 (PST)
From: Cao Shawn
Subject: our reunion
Dear All,
When the tea is still hot and the memory is still fresh, I want to let you know that I really had a great time at our class reunion over the Thanksgiving weekend. After all, I haven't seen most of you since the graduation! You all look great and are happily surrounded by kids and loving spouses. The humor produced from our leadership made the lunch much more enjoyable. The ways Tang Zizhou, Zhang Shouyu, Jiang Feng, Che Liangping, and Xu Zengli communicated among each other and with us definitely brought us back to the old 784 days. If anything else changed, this hasn't changed at all after two decades.
During the lunch, the black & white pictures of our ambitious class and our 5-year living together on the campus constently came back to my mind. Interestingly, our lives have entered the "normal" and "traditional" stage which we laughed at back to those days - an indication of our maturity. I also sensed a not-easy life each of us has gone through to get where we are today. Looking at the kids in the room, I wonder whether they'll understand our experiences when they enter college here one day.
Anyway, the reality comes back as I'm packing for my business trip to Paris tomorrow. Though I'm tired over the weekend, I feel it's worth to make the reunion trip. I'd love to see all of you again, soon. I'm sure next time we all want to know how Chen Liang-ping's "wedding" business has been, don't we? :->
Good luck for everything, everybody! Many thanks for Li Qiang's oranization, again.
Cheers!
Cao, Xiaonan_____________________________________________________________________
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 17:43:19 -0500
Subject: [784 Reunion] Our Main Event: Friday Party
Time: 12:00 Noon - 3:00 pm, Friday, November 23
Place: Harbor Palace Seafood Restaurant
Guangdong (Cantonese) style
Las Vegas China Town
4275 Spring Mountain Road
They have Karaoke equipments (LD) So we can bring some old songs there.
If any of our car driving people can bring a VCD player, we can hook it up.
Map
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Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 12:38:22 -0500
Subject: [784 Reunion] Vegas: Arrival Information
Hi, buddies,
To get from the airport to the hotel (2 miles), the taxi is quite convenient.
However, if you want to rent a car instead, the rate is also quite good, so
you can get to the downtown area (5 miles away), China Town for our main
event party and surround area easier. The rental rate is about $18.95/day
for a small car and $22.95/day for a mid-size one. I can book one for you
(no need to put down credit card information for car rental). Just let me
know.
Hotel:
BALLYS LAS VEGAS CHECK IN - 3:00PM
3645 LAS VEGAS BOULEVARD SOUTH CHECK OUT-11:00AM
LAS VEGAS NEVADA 89109 GUARANTEED TO CREDIT CARD-AX
PHONE-702-967-4111 TOLL-FREE 888-742-9248
AMERICAN EXPRESS SPECIAL
RATE INFO-59.00(SUN-THU)/79.00(FRI-SAT)
CANCEL RQRMTS-BY 4:00PM PACIFIC TIME 3 DAYS PRIOR ARRIVAL
PERSONS INCLUDED IN RATE-2
I'll fax our list to the hotel's front desk to request them to check us in to
the same tower (Bally's has two towers), and preferably the same floor. Ask
the check-in front-desk person to look for the faxed list. Please refer our
group name as "USTC 784 Class" when you ask. (But this is not a group booking,
since group rate is quite a bit higher than the AMEX rate.)
In the hotel, we can call each other's room (front-desk can always help you with
the person's name). Calls between hotel rooms are free (local calls or long
distance calls are not!). Please print a list of our people to bring with you.
More
If anyone wish to put your cell phone numbers on the list, please let me know.
Cell phones can be used as a secondary means to contact each other (may not all
work while roaming though).
_____________________________________________________________________
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 12:54:48 -0500
Subject: [784 Reunion] Bally's - Hotel Payments
Hi, If you have used my AMEX card to hold your hotel rooms, when you check in
with the hotel, they would ask you to present a credit card for payments.
According to the hotel, that you can give them any credit card at that time
and still use the AMEX special rate. Make sure that they don't change the
rate. If they insist that you use an AMEX to pay, let them charge to my AMEX
card and we will deal with the payment between us later. If you have already
sent a check to me, I'll bring that check (I'm not going to deposit it) to
you on the trip, so you can still use your own other credit card to pay for
your room if possible.
You might have 2 separate reservations due to different rate for Weekdays
and Weekends. Please be aware when you check in. They can combine the
separate reservations over there.
CANCELLATION: For anyone to cancel your room, please try to contact me first.
In case someone else needs the room, we can still pass to other goers if
needed. If you cannot reach me at the time and you are nearing the
3 days (4pm) cancellation deadline, you can call hotel directly to avoid
being charged.
_____________________________________________________________________
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 16:16:26 -0500
Subject: [784 Reunion] Las Vegas = Casino + "Disney" + Mini-Europe
Since we have quite many kids going there, let's see what they and we all
can enjoy.
Disney in Vegas? Is it EPCOT or Magic Kingdom (MGM Studio, Animal Kingdom)?
I must be wrong on this! Disneyland (and the new one CA adventure) is 5-hour
away in LA. Disney World is really in our neighborhood in Florida, not Vegas.
Wrong again. Vegas (-Casino) has become a family friendly destination.
Different from Disney, quite many great shows are free. (Certainly there are
lots of even greater shows with some price tags.) Let me give a sample 3-day
itinerary to see what we can do in these days.
Day 1 (Thursday, Nov 22)
Arrive Bally's. Check In. Relax. And walk within 1 block around Bally's.
Map is at http://www.vegas.com/map.html. Walk south, next to Bally's is
Paris. You can get on the top of the Eiffel Tower (1/2 of real size)
(not free). Next to it is Aladdin. Or you can take Monorail (free) from
Bally's to MGM Grand where you can see lions and even take pictures with a
baby lion cub (A multilevel habitat featuring four waterfalls, overhangs,
a pond and Acacia trees. Can house up to five lions). Across from the
Strip, you can get on Brooklyn Bridge in New York New York and even try
the Manhattan Express roller-coaster if you dare. Cross Tropicana Ave,
you can enjoy a Round Table Buffet at Excalibur ($9.99). After dinner,
watch the battle between a fire-breathing dragon and Merlin the Magician
(Dragon Battle, every hour on the hour, dusk to midnight, free). Then take
a look of the Pyramid at the Luxor. (Further south, there is a "Sea World"
with sharks in Mandalay Bay, not free.) On the way back, stop by Bellagio
(across street from Bally's) to enjoy THE FOUNTAINS OF BELLAGIO (free).
details. The
fountains span more than 1,000 feet and soar up to 240 feet in the air.
The shows are choreographed to music ranging from Luciano Pavarotti to
Frank Sinatra (Every 15 minutes 7pm-midnight, or every 30 minutes
before that). Bellagio has a fine art museum, lots of rare
collections (not free).
Day 2 (Friday, Nov 23)
Outdoor activity in the morning. Or walk north to Flamigo Hilton to see
Chilean flamingos and African penguins.
At noon time, our main event: party in a China Town Chinese restaurant.
After our party, come back the Strip (back to hotel for a nap?), now explore
the north block of our hotel. Visit FORUM SHOPS AT CAESARS
More than 100 specialty retailers and upscale restaurateurs are featured
in a re-creation of an ancient Roman Forum streetscape. The Fountain Festival
features Bacchus and his entourage in an animated robotic show that includes
lasers, music and sound effects. The Lost City of Atlantis show in the Roman
Great Hall and features a fountain, lifelike animatronic characters, lasers,
fire, steam and a 50,000-gallon saltwater aquarium. Also features the Race
for Atlantis IMAX 3-D motion simulator. (The Fountain Festival starts
at 10 a.m. and the Lost City of Atlantis starts at 11 a.m. Both shows
continue every hour on the hour. Both shows are FREE.) There is a 1:1
real size David sculpture.
Then walk to Mirage to see tigers and dolphins (not free). A very
impressive one is VOLCANO (free). An erupting volcano. (every 15 minutes
from dusk to midnight)
Have dinner buffet at Mirage or Treasure Island ($12.95).
Then walk further to Treasure Island to watch the eight-minute Pirate Battle
at Buccaneer Bay. (every 90 minutes 4-11:30 pm, free)
Cross the street, visit Venice, Italy at the Venetian where you can sit on
the side of Grand Canal or even take a boat ride (not free). There are some
art collections of van Gogh, Renoir and Picasso there.
That's more than enough for a day, should have a good night of sleep, unless
you want to chat all night long.
Day 3 (Saturday, Nov 24)
A little bit too far to walk to Circus Circus, better drive or take taxi.
This is a few blocks north on the Strip.
CIRCUS CIRCUS: 'WORLD'S GREATEST CIRCUS ACTS'. Aerialists, high-wire walkers,
trapeze artists and clown shows (twice an hour 11am-midnight, free).
THE ADVENTUREDOME AT CIRCUS CIRCUS. The Adventurdome is a 5-acre indoor theme
park. It features 19 rides and attractions for all ages, including a roller
coaster, a boat ride, bumper cars, an IMAX RIDEFILM cineplex, virtual reality
games, climbing wall, arcade, miniature golf (10am-midnight. $3-$5 each ride).
Across the street, the buffet at Sahara has the lowest prices
($4.99 lunch/$5.99 dinner), not the great one, still lots of choose from.
Further north, you can visit STRATOSPHERE TOWER. America's tallest
free-standing tower, with indoor and outdoor observation decks. The tower
houses two rides -- the High Roller Coaster and the Big Shot (10am-1am, $6).
After dark, you can drive further north to downtown to see FREMONT STREET
EXPERIENCE (free). The Fremont Street Experience, a pedestrian promenade
in downtown Las Vegas, features a misting system, retail carts, kiosks,
free entertainment, and one-of-a-kind light and sound shows, with more
than 2 million lights and 540,000 watts of sound. Shows include
"Odyssey," "Las Vegas Legends," "Country Western Nights,"
"Heartbeat of a Planet," "The Rescue" and "Dancing in the Street."
(on the hour, dusk-midnight).
Enjoy a Rib-Eye dinner at a downtown hotel Four Queens (Magnolia's Verdana)
for $5.49 (don't know they still have it).
If you'd like to get more information, see the links:
Free shows
Animals
Rides
"Real" Shows
In case you are interested to the "real" shows only Vegas has, here are some
information. Most shows has a 7:30pm time, and a late night one. Show price
can be over $100. Our hotel has a show Jubilee ($66), not allowed for kids.
Some great shows are: "O" show ($99) at Bellagio (Cirque du Soleil's O),
"Mystere" ($88) at Treasure Island (Cirque du Soleil's Mystere).
I heard that "Mystere" show is good for kids over 5 years old.
You might want to print some of these to help plan the trip.
_____________________________________________________________________
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 15:00:55 -0500
Subject: [784 Reunion] Las Vegas Trip: Around Vegas
Hi, all, just want to share with you some brief information about Vegas.
I was in Vegas two years ago, and went outside of Vegas to
Hoover Dam, which is worth
to see, one of 7 man-made world wonders.
A half day trip, 1-hr drive each way.
more
I have visited Red Rock Canyon
last time, it is less than an hour away on the west side of Vegas.
It was the seabed million years ago.
This time, I've planned to see Grand Canyon next Wednesday, and get back to
Vegas on Thursday afternoon (Nov 22). Li Gang and the kids will go be
going to the Canyon too.
P.S. I've listed links to some information you might need, please check it
out here.
_____________________________________________________________________
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2001 22:15:07 -0500
Subject: [784 Reunion] Hoover Dam, Hotel Hospitality room, photo session
Hi, all,
Just found that Hoover Dam's visitor's center is not open on Nov 22. All
guided tours are suspended. more
The hotel room I reserved for our hospitality room is under my name
Charlie Li. You can call front desk to find out. My own room is
under my name Qiang Li. The room should be available from the afternoon
of Nov 22 through Nov 24 night.
Xiong Hui suggested that we can have a photo session after our lunch. Outisde
the restaurant is the China Town plaza, perfect for pictures, group and
individual. more
If you fly, please always call your airlines first for possible last minutes
schedule changes. Be prepared for possible delays.