Introduction
Seattle to San Jose
San Jose
San Jose to Narita
Narita to Hong Kong
Hong Kong Part 1
Hong Kong Part 2
Hong Kong Part 3
Hong Kong to Narita
Narita to Seattle
Conclusion
After clearing customs at Hong Kong Airport our In airport staff member handed us over to the representative from the Peninsula that was waiting for us just on the other side. It seemed that the Peninsula staff are not allowed airside (even though they do the catering for some of the airport lounges).
With the handover came the reconfirmation of which way to go and it was a flash back to be back in Hong Kong Airport. My brain was starting to crash out and I was REALLY wanting to just get some rest but I also wanted to see what was taking us into the city. All we had been told was that we were being met at the Airport and “transported” to the hotel. Part of me expected that this would be on a mini bus considering there was 6 of us. Part of me figured it might be a standard coach transfer with other people maybe… but deep down, way deep down, a burning desire wanted the Phantom. The Peninsula owns a fleet of 14 Rolls Royce Phantoms, 2 Mini Clubmans and 1 Vintage Rolls Royce.
As we headed towards the “Limosuine Lounge” as the airport called the pick up area, we were directed to use the bathrooms prior to leaving as it was a 30 minute ride to the city at that time of night and the funny thing was at any window, we kept looking for the Rolls. I mistook a few S Class Mercedes as Rolls’ and had declared I had seen 3 of them for us! Fail!
After everyone was refreshed and ready to go the driver confirmed to us that our vehicles were loaded and ready to depart (not that we had touched our bags much since getting off the flight) and we headed towards the exit. The vehicles that awaited us outside the door were everyone’s dream come true. Two Green Rolls Royce Phantoms, with their suicide doors open and awaiting us. Photos were flooding out from the last remnants of the Airport Wifi and then the escort said the most amazing thing to us, “Just ask the driver for the WiFi password once you leave the terminal” O M G. A WiFi equipped car. I am in heaven.
I joined Jason in the back seat while Deborah took the front and it was off to the city we went. As we headed out we got the WiFi password which took me all of 3 seconds to work out the meaning (its the year the hotel was founded) and the funny thing was the access point was the Registration of the vehicle. It is funny what the small things mean. We cruised towards the city and the WiFi was chugging purely because all of us were smashing it hard. Photos, tweets, video, whatever we could do, it was getting sent out. It is funny to think that had we not been able to tweet I probably would of fallen asleep. We had to take it in turns to try and tweet out photos.
The ride inside was so comfortable, there was even a fridge for the water bottles that were everywhere. Almost a dozen small bottles of evian, soft gentle music coming from the stereo, wood and leather everywhere. It was like sheer perfection. I wanted to never leave the car. We passed bridge and tunnel and each time Jason was dumbfounded, he was so distracted. Me, I just wanted my phone to work cause it was giving me hassles (something that seemingly did not end for most of the trip actually).
We pulled into Kowloon and sights started to look familiar. We passed the elements mall and that was still looking like the whole area was still under construction, like it had when I was last there. Pretty soon we were pulling into TST and the hotel. Our ride was coming to an end but this was where the true test of a good hotel comes into account. If your travelling to a hotel in their car, you would expect that once you arrive, they would know you who you are and where you are going. That your check in would be seamless, especially for a high end hotel. It was going to be a true test of just how amazing the Peninsula service was going to be, to see how they handled the arrival. The driver advised us we were “moments away from the hotel”, he was also wearing a Bluetooth headset so he could of been speaking to the hotel staff as well… who knows.
Into the driveway the two Rolls Royces pulled in convoy with each other. What was awaiting us, dumbfounded me. I don’t know if it was because I had to pre-submit my photo for the press credentials before we left, but somehow as soon as I stepped out of the vehicle and got a few photos, a staff member approached me with a “Mr Muir, I hope your journey was pleasant, shall we step inside?”. WHAT THE HELL! I was dumbstruck. How the hell did she know who I was, I hadn’t even spoken!!! All I could stammer was “Ok” and inside I was swept, just carrying my backpack. I didn’t see my bags, I had’t seen my camera bag since the airport and I wasn’t even wearing my jacket (it was damn hot anyway) and I didn’t even see that anywhere.
I was escorted through the lobby directly to a lift and a few things were pointed out to me during the walk. I was small talking while trying to take photos at the same time. A little bit difficult to do at times I assure you. Everyone was following me as I seemingly was leading the wave towards the rooms. We were escorted to the lifts and the room levels were all pressed. Floors were lighting up 19, 20, 22, 23, 25. I had no idea where I was going, I was just following my assigned staff member. The pint sized asian had full control over me and what I said and did. She could of told me drop and give her 20 and I probably would have if it meant me getting to bed quicker.
As we approached the 19th floor, I heard “This is our floor Mr Muir”… I let out an “awwwwww” mainly cause everyone else was higher than me but it’s not as if I could complain. It was the 19th floor of the Peninsula Hotel… shut your pie hole Mr Muir and suck it up! As I waved goodbye and goodnight to everyone else (having no clue what I was doing other than as I was told) I followed my way into the corridor and there ahead of me was 3 more staff! All carrying something or holding something ready for my arrival. This was all so much. Stepping into my room (1911… 1928 would of been funnier) I was dumbstruck. The room was magnificent. Elegant and refined. Asian & colonial all rolled into one. It was modern yet did not lose that charm that you would expect of this hotel that stemmed back to the Colonial days of Hong Kong. The refurb sure did the hotel well.
At this point I was dead tired, I wanted my bag so I could lay out my gear for the morning run and to get some sleep. So although I was offered to be explained everything in the room, I politely declined (plus it meant I got to play with more things on my own and explore it in my own time) and I signed my life away to the room. I was handed my room keys, some vouchers for the shopping mall, some other bits and pieces, shown one or two things and then I was left to my own devices.
What was the first thing I did when I was left alone? I ended up taking a photo of the view from the room. Full Harbour view, I didn’t know what else to do I was so lost! I got the wifi connected up next which really was easy as hell (and free!) and then just explored some while I waited for my bags to show up and then it was as though I was a little child again, exploring each and every little bit of the room, opening draws, opening doors, looking inside panels, every nook and cranny had to be explored but there was so much in the room!
My bags arrived and again I was asked if i needed anything, I politely declined, hit do not disturb and unpacked my running gear for the next morning. I worked out how to set the alarm in the room and hit the sack. Within minutes I was asleep for the first time since waking up in San Jose.
