Round The World and other travels

A frequent flyer's collection of trip diaries

This is: Round The World 2006-07

Return to Hong Kong

Today was all about relocating back to Hong Kong via Bangkok and, for once, there was no need at all to be up at the crack of dawn. With my first flight leaving at lunchtime, I could afford to take my time and have a proper breakfast. I did just that, in the usual place, before returning to my room to pack. I had arranged transport to the airport for 1000 and I received a phone call at 0940 to say that the tuk-tuk could come and collect me anytime. Soon I was on my way to the airport, via a more inland route this time, in a little mini-bus that I had all to myself.

The only minor inconvenience at the airport was the queue just to get through the front door but, that achieved, it was a straightforward matter to check-in and find the TG lounge. I was the first to arrive, but was surprised at the extent to which it filled up.

(Link to flight log in side panel)

At BKK, after being taken by bus to the main domestic terminal building, I collected my suitcase and made my way, via a rather horrid walkway, to the much nicer international terminal. I soon found my way to the Cathay Pacific check-in desks and was delighted when the agent offered to move me onto the 1610 departure, thus saving me a very long wait. (I had left a four-hour gap out of caution, as I was travelling on two unrelated tickets on different carriers.) Although a lounge invitation was issued, it soon became apparent that there would be no time for a visit. I needed to proceed directly to the gate, where boarding was about to get underway.

(Link to flight log in side panel)

Once again, all the formalities at Chek Lap Kok were easily negotiated. It was on this pass through the airport that I noticed, for the first time, that the computerised voice making announcements in English had an attractive Scottish accent! I was soon gliding towards Kowloon aboard the Airport Express, where a very easy transfer was made onto the K4 shuttle, which would take me to my latest hotel, the InterContinental Grand Stanford. On a day when everything had gone swimmingly, it was there that - arguably - things came unstuck. For only the second time since becoming an IC Royal Ambassador, my upgrade was only to an Executive Room, rather than a suite of some description. It was a very nice room, but I couldn't disguise a slight sense of disappointment, especially in view of the fact that the other InterContinental, just down the street, had treated me so very well. I suppose that's the danger of going to the same destination twice in one trip : you can't help comparing the second visit with what happened first time around.