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Published: December 17th 2012
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My trip from Jinan city to the airport was eventful,pouring rain & sleet, total darkness,blocked expressway to the airport, back roads from hell, I imagined if we had crashed my body would never be found. But...... I was dumped at the domestic entrance by my driver who has night vision and driving skills better than Brock and all those blokes combined, and found my way to international departure.
A big sleep after the morning breakfast and hello HongKong.
My business had arranged my hotel and airport transfers for me, I just had to follow the signs, easy, and by 1-30pm wearing multiple layers, hot sticky and a little shell shocked I found myself in LUXURY.
I was booked into Harbour Grand Kowloon Hong Kong, 19th floor which has a club on this floor similar to airlines lounges for the well heeled passengers. So I arrived in trackydakys, gym shoes, and skivy clutching jumpers and heavy coat which I had discarded. No wonder the dress code was politely pointed out!
My room,bigger than my apartment almost in Jinan had a massive king bed, full size bath tub, 19th floor views of Elizabeth Bay and Hong Kong Island .
A welcome fruit platter, free wifi, unlimited food and alcohol in the lounge, a toilet that you can put toilet paper in, a shower that has a flow of water, western bed, people who spoke English, civility, maybe this is heaven?
Trying to make myself look a little dignified and befitting of the surroundings (note- scarfs add class) I partook of it all.
Afternoon tea was served as a buffet from 3pm to 6pm, think English and you have it. Little dainty sandwiches, scones, small cakes, fruit slices.
Following is evening refreshments from 6pm to 8pm, again small gourmet hot and cold selections, cheeses, fruit, desert, & unlimited wine and beer.
I did leave all of this for a walk along the promenade joining the numerous people walking, jogging & fishing. The warm breeze felt delicious. School finishing time around 3pm so i watched the mothers and the nannies picking up the children from schools and kindergartens which dot this area. So English still, gym frocks, pIaid uniforms, emphasis on blazers and jackets and this is for the little ones even.
I wandered into a ship/shop called Wampoo. Just sort of parked amongst the high rises.
Magnificent sets of high rises in this area all had children's play areas at ground level, washing hanging out the windows to dry, pot plants dotted windowsills.
You drive on the left here, there are mountains and unorganized scrub and little of the barrenness and order of mainland China. Having a big bus trip to and from the airport around the hotels and city area, it gave me the impression of " China towns" in big western cities.
So many races and people's seem to make this place home, westerners, Indians, many Muslims wearing a variety of hijab,and Asians.
Great place for a 24 hour stop or more.
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