Text 19519, 76 rader
Skriven 2014-11-17 05:23:00 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: Asia 304
================
TG 600 BKK HKG 0800 1145 380 1EF

I'd booked this itinerary with the sole purpose of
introducing Lilli to first class on the Thai superjumbo.

We got to the airport to check in a bit early; went to that
little lounge area off to the left, where a bustly efficient
agent went and got our documents, then ushered us to a
private security screening, where Lilli was unduly searched
(this took half a minute or so) and then to a cart that
whisked us through the business class lounge and off to this
private facility for breakfast.

You are discouraged from wandering around the space, which
is quite large, well appointed, and user friendly; but
every effort is made to keep you pent and comfy in your
little den. There's this old cartoon of a woman carrying
her teenaged son into a hotel, and the caption goes, I know
he can walk, but thank God he'll never have to. I always
thought it a bad joke, but I felt that way sitting here
being waited on. Ordering is from a huge menu on a tablet.
You make your choices, and someone comes by and says, no,
that's not available today. I went through a bunch of orders,
noodles, dim sum, what have you, and ended up getting congee
with pork meatballs, which if you know me you realize that
that would not be first or second or third on my want list.

Lilli had an omelet with ham, bacon, and chicken sausage; it
was expertly turned out.

When the time came (pretty late, actually) we were fetched
by a concierge and shown to our flight. No fancy cart this
time - too many stairs and escalators I guess, but the
person walked us over at a brisk pace.

The problem with sitting in the twin seats in the middle
of the 380: you really don't even realize you're on an
aircraft. I suppose the advantage is the unparalleled food
and wine. Sadly, we were full already, so we just zoned out
and pretended we were in somebody's den for the duration.
Soon we were at Hong Kong, where things still go like
clockwork, and we had the day to ourselves.

A same-day return on the Express costs the same as a single,
good for meet-and-greets and layovers. That's what we did.

I got us off at the stop that I thought would give quick
access to the waterfront, but when we alit, we found that
we were in some shopping area that seemed to be cut off
from the rest of the world by construction. We wandered
around this shoppers' paradise for quite a while before
actually getting anyplace before finding our way out of
the labyrinth and to the harbor. Where it was windy,
foggy, rainy, and altogether unpleasant. Wandered around
the neighborhood of the IC and the Sheraton (might have
poked our noses into the Pen as well, I forget) and did
nothing in particular until it was time to return, which
was expeditious and easy. Club-hopped at the airport,
where the formalities were pretty much zero, and then
boarded a quite inconsequential flight, where, aside from
a Courvoisier for me and a glass or two of red for Lilli,
we didn't consume anything except bed space.

UA 895 HKG SIN 2135 0130 744 3CH

We landed on time and all was in order.

We dragged ourselves to the Conrad at some ungodly hour but
were greeted enthusiastically. I got one of my favorite
spots, the corner room on the club floor overlooking the
Fountain of Wealth. Lilli also got club floor, less good
view, otherwise identical.

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