On January 26, I fractured a bone in my foot while in BKK, so I decided to return home early. Didn't have to, but I was spending far too much time (i.e., all of it) in my hotel room, so why not just go home? Due to the CX schedule I had to overnight in HKG. I was on crutches.

I had a non-trivial carry-on bag as well as a very large and über heavy regular suitcase. Ever try to do this with crutches? Wasn't going to happen. Well, I'd always wanted to stay in the HKG Pen, so this seemed as good a time as any. Called the hotel from BKK and spoke to a charming rezzy agent, Christie, I think, couldn't tell if she was actually at the hotel or part of the central res center. Explained my situation, she told me not to worry, and that everything would be taken care of. All she needed was my arrival and departure flight info. She booked me a one night package which included RR transfer one way, and I bought MB transfer for the other way.

Arrived HKG on CX, the crew could not have been nicer. The wheelchair was waiting directly outside the a/c door, but one of the cabin crew accompanied me to the terminal because she was concerned that I might not be able to manage. Very sweet. As I entered the terminal from the jetway, there was a greeter with my name on a board. She apparently works for the HKG greeter company (I forget the name). She took me through immigration and customs.

As we exited the customs area into the arrival hall, there was the man from the Pen in traditional morning clothes, striped trousers and all. "Good afternoon, sir. I trust that your journey wasn't too uncomfortable." He discharged my greeter and took command. Wheeled out to where the RR was waiting. Luggage was apparently dealt with, although I was unaware of the details. Three Pen staffers helped me into the back seat. Door closed, driver back in his seat, and off we went. The driver (well, this man truly deserves the title of chauffer, he was obviously a professional) gave me a completely smooth ride to the hotel.

On arrival at the hotel, there was a female management-type person (off-white business suit with walkie-talkie and a sheath of papers) supervising a staff of several, all awaiting my arrival. As soon as the car pulled to a stop, they went into action. A wheelchair was waiting, which I declined. Two people supervised my alighting from the Rolls, one holding my crutches, the other making sure that I didn't fall. Mgmt lady took me right up to the room. First, she spent some time showing me how everything worked. Nice room. Very high ceiling, centralized modern electronic controls for everything, including curtains. In the bathroom, the marble and plumbing fixtures seemed original, but electronics and lighting were right up to date. View was across the street to the Sheraton.

Now it wasn't a suite, although more than adequately sized. Nevertheless, she looked at me on the couch and asked if it wouldn't be more convenient to have some of the furniture rearranged to accommodate my requiring crutches to move. I did not want a wholesale rearranging of my room, would have taken far too long, but I did allow that removing the glass coffee table would be incredibly helpful. She telephoned someone, and no more than two minutes later a gentleman appeared in formal clothes with a white jacket. After speaking with me he reviewed the situation, decided what was going to be done (coffee table removed, cushioned ottoman moved into its place) and disappeared into the hall for a moment. Immediately, he returned followed by the two movers, who apparently had been waiting in the hall until summoned. They, too, were immaculately dressed, though without ties. Apparently, the requirements were explained to them in the hall, as they went right to work when they entered. Coffee table disassembled and removed in under 60 seconds.

As they were leaving, someone appeared with a pot of jasmine tea, -- perfect. The woman who had been supervising my arrival left me her business card, and asked me to call her if I needed anything. Very nice.

I had trouble connecting to the internet, so I called the Business Center. Someone appeared in fewer than five minutes, he seemed very knowledgeable and got the problem solved. Later, I ordered dinner from room service, it was great.

In the morning, the bellman removed my bags, and I went down to check out. (I always like to check out personally at the desk, don't know why.) The woman at the desk insisted that I sit on the sofa across the way, and she brought my bill to me. When we verified that it was correct (needed a small adjustment), she returned, dealt with the credit card payment, and brought everything back to me. Then, as I rose to begin my hobble out of the hotel, she called over two staffers, one of whom walked on each side of me as I made my way to and through the front doors,... On the other side of which was my ride (MB S Class) along with the driver and two more staff. Luggage and I both installed in the car, and off we went.

Arrival at HKG was pretty much the same as last night. Pen staffer met the car, dealt with the bags, got me up to CX F check-in. He stayed with me until Passport Control gate.

In short, everything went off without a hitch. From the moment that I arrived at HKG until I got to Passport Control for departure, it was like a very precisely coreographed performance. Everything was perfect, everything happened precisely as it should have. This place has service down to a science. And that's where I level my sole criticism. While everything, and I do mean everything, was perfect, it also seemed to lack the real warmth which I find in other hotels. That said, of course, this is the Peninsula, very British, very old world. Perhaps that's the way that they want it. Just a matter of personal preference, I suppose.

Yes, I'd go back. In a minute.