বসন্তের জন্য অপেক্ষা

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  প্রিয় ঋতু কি কেউ জিজ্ঞেস করলে বিভ্রান্ত হয়ে পড়বো। কোনটা প্রিয় ঋতু? সবগুলোই যে প্রিয়! আমার বর্তমান ঠিকানা যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের দ্বিতীয় ক্ষুদ্রতম অঙ্গরাজ্য ডেলওয়্যার।এই ডেলওয়্যারে প্রতিটা মৌসুম ভিন্নতা নিয়ে আসে। যেহেতু এখানে প্রতিটা ঋতুর একটা   স্বতন্ত্র অস্তিত্ব  আছে তাই তাদের প্রতি আমার পৃথক পৃথক ভালোবাসা জন্মে গেছে। প্রতিটা ঋতুই নিয়ে আসে অনন্য আমেজ, প্রকৃতি সাজে অনুপম সাজে। সেই সাজ  যেন অন্য ঋতুগুলোর চেয়ে একেবারে ভিন্ন। এই যেমন এখন গুটিগুটি পায়ে এসেছে ঋতুরানী বসন্ত: আকাশে-বাতাসে ঝঙ্কৃত হচ্ছে তার আগমনী সুর, আমি সেই সুর শুনতে পাই।  সবগুলো ঋতু প্রিয় হলেও নিজেকে শীতকালের বড় ভক্ত বলে দাবী করতে পারিনা। গ্রীষ্মপ্রধান দেশে যার জন্ম এবং বেড়ে ওঠা, তার পক্ষে ঠান্ডা আবহাওয়াতে মানিয়ে নেওয়া কার্যত কষ্টকর, বিশেষত সেই শীতকাল যদি চার-পাঁচ মাস স্থায়ী হয়। তাই শীতকাল বিদায় নিয়ে যখন বসন্তকাল আবির্ভূত হয় তখন এক একদিন জানলা দিয়ে বাইরে তাকিয়ে ভাবি, "এত্ত সুন্দর একটা দিন দেখার সৌভাগ্য হলো আমার!" শোবার ঘরের জানলা দিয়ে প্রভাতের বাসন্তী রঙের রোদ এসে ভাসিয়ে দেয় কাঠের মেঝে, সাদা আরামকে
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Las Vegas - what happens there, stays there

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Nicknamed Sin City, Las Vegas is the most populous city of the U.S. state of Nevada. A major tourist destination, the city attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year.


Las Vegas is famous for its hotels, resorts and casinos - 15 of the world's largest hotels and resorts are located in this city. The architectural beauty of some of its luxurious hotels might leave you with your eyes and mouth wide open.


The New York-New York Hotel; Casino, for instance, was built to bring to mind the famous New York City (NYC) skyline. From a distance, this hotel will give you the feeling of standing in the bustling New York City. The hotel's towers were built in likeness of NYC skyscrapers, for instance, the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building. A replica of the famous Brooklyn Bridge graces the front of the hotel; there is even a 150-foot-tall replica of the Statue of Liberty, the iconic symbol of freedom, right in front of this New York-New York Hotel.


Hotels and resorts like Luxor and the Venetian evoke Egypt and the Italian city of Venice respectively. Named after the Egyptian city of Luxor, the Luxor Hotel was constructed in the shape of a pyramid; Luxor is often regarded the world's third-largest hotel. A replica of the Great Sphinx of Giza in front of the hotel continues to mesmerise the Las Vegas visitors. The Venetian Resort, Hotel and Casino, on the other hand, will take you from America to Italy. You can enjoy the famous Gondola rides of Venice right on the artificial water body created in front of this hotel. The hotel also boasts a re-creation of the Rialto Bridge on the Grand Canal.


Famous and infamous for adult entertainment and gambling, this city of sin never goes to sleep. Walking on Las Vegas strip at 1 a.m. is not too different from strolling along it in the early evening or afternoon. One sees people of different cultures and ethnicities all over this Entertainment Capital of the World. Also renowned for fine dining, some of the finest chefs on the planet work for the city's various hotels and resorts. Small wonder that a meal at a gourmet restaurant may cost one a fortune.


Las Vegas also boasts some of the best shopping malls of America. The big brand names and upscale department stores have their outlets in the city. Half an hour spent inside The Crystals gave me goose bumps; the merchandises offered by Gucci, Prada, Versace and Fendi were stunning but their prices made someone like me spin on her toes. Most of these stores do not even have price tags on their products; I realised that people who shop at such stores have no time and interest for prices. Money is what they have in abundance.


Visitors bump into celebrities in this city. There are live performances by big and famous stars all through the year. David Copperfield was doing his magic shows while we were in Vegas. City billboards were promoting upcoming live shows of Celine Dion, Seinfeld and others.


So yes, Las Vegas is a mind-boggling city. It did not garner nicknames like 'Sin City,' 'Entertainment Capital of the World' and 'Glitter Gulch' for no reason. There are so many things to do and to see that three or four days will never seem enough. Besides, one also needs a fat wallet in order to enjoy what this magnificent city has to offer.


By Wara Karim
The Daily Star
September 12, 2011

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