Hong Kong - Dubai March 21st We checked out of Citygate Novotel at 2pm after a lazy morning spent watching TV and reading, (and writing this blog!) and we caught the hotel bus to the airport. After a quick check in we were on our way through migration and security and on the train to ‘the Pier’ Business Class lounge. Hong Kong Airport is huge, and so many exotic airlines to look at! The lounge was quite busy as it was afternoon peak time for departures to all over the world. There was a Noodle bar and we had Won-Ton [View Full Entry]

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March 22 Jonathan, Jeff’s best friend who has lives in Dubai for just over a year now, and who is a Manager at the Emirates Towers called around 8am, and came up to the room. Jonathan is the Training Manager at this hotel. Jonathan has just come back from Egypt escorting a tour of Australians on his vacation to help out another old friend of Jeff’s who is a Travel agent and Tour escort. He had been awake since 4am as the group had an early transfer to the airport. It was great to see him, and we went down [View Full Entry]

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We arrived at Narita Airport, and checked in strolled the shops. After check in, a few drinks and snacks in the Cathay Pacific lounge, and we boarded our flight, a Boeing 7474-400. Comfortably seated in 2A and 3A, we were offered pre takeoff Champagne by a noticeably friendly crew, all smiles and chatting. Well, these crew turned out to be one of the best crews we have ever experienced! Nothing was too much trouble for these flight attendants! They were so friendly and so professional, and their service was just perfect. After a wonderful dinner (Paul has the Japanese Keiseki [View Full Entry]

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Tokyo. How should I describe it? Busy, crowded or expensive. I will say busy, and crowded, but definitely not al that expensive. We arrived in Narita Airport and breezed through customs (so much easier than Hong Kong) and the airport is so clean, as we found was the rest of the city. The next thing we had to do was find an ATM, however we found this to be a problem because there is lots of them about but very few that will take foreign cards with the Cirrus or Maestro symbols, and the same for downtown Tokyo! We bought our [View Full Entry]

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Next morning we had an early wake up call, after some repacking we were on our way back to Hong Kong airport, only a 10-minute drive away. We checked in at the Cathay pacific First class check in counters, and then went to ‘The Pier’ one of the 2 lounges Cathay Pacific offers. Here we had a great sit down breakfast in the restaurant, and then spent time catching up on Emails and just relaxing. The lounge was very quiet, and a little dark and gloomy for our liking, but very tasteful and luxurious nevertheless. All too soon it was time [View Full Entry]

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ITINERARY PREPARED FOR Mr Jeffrey Blackney And Mr Paul Bevins Thursday 15 March, 2007: Sydney to Hong Kong Qantas Airways QF127 First Class Seats 2K 3K Depart: 11.55 Arrive: 17.45 Accommodation: Novotel Citygate Hotel 51 M [View Full Entry]

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Jeff and I depart Sydney on QF127 11.55am March 15. We will leave home at 9.30am and arrive Sydney International Airport around 10.15am. Once checked in at First Class check in, we will go through customs to the duty free store and the Qantas First Class Lounge. (More about the flight later) The first stop is Hong Kong, and arrival is 5.45pm(HK time). We will overnight at the Novotel Citygate, Hong Kong Airport. This is the first time we will stay at the Citygate, as in previous visits we have stayed at the Regal Airport hotel. Packing wasn't all that stressful. [View Full Entry]

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Hi, Its taken years to prepare for this trip, 6 wonderful weeks flying around the world. My name is Paul and my partner is Jeff. Jeff turned 40 on March 11, and we lunched with 17 great friends at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Sydney to celebrate yesterday. It was a day of fun, laughter, good food, wine and great memories. Jeff and I want to thank Jim, Greg and Linda, John and Lawrie, Robert, Grant, Greg D, Mark and Maryla, Jeffrey, Noya, Marion, John P, Allan M, Ross and Guy. We were so lucky living on the Northside, Sydney was [View Full Entry]

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