I guess it's never too late for a trip report to be posted. My second RTW took place in March 2004, and I started to write it already during spring, but lost the text as I had to change my PC. Now let's try again.

With my friend, we started planning for this trip in last year’s autumn. Last year we had also done a RTW to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Argentina and Mexico. For this trip we decided to visit some of the old places and a few new one. We bought OneWorld Alliance's Global Explorer tickets in business class (DGLOBEX34) with the following itinerary: HEL-HKG-BNE-SYD-AKL-NAN-AKL-SCL-MDZ/SCL-LIM-CUZ-JUL-AQP-LIM-JFK-HEL. As I had some spare time in December, I decided to go to Cairo to buy my RTW ticket and save some money. In addition to the Global Explorer ticket, I had to buy separate tickets for AKL-NAN-AKL (Visit South Pacific Pass), SCL-MDZ and AQP-JUL-AQP. As my friend wanted to visit BKK, he started his trip a week earlier and we met in Brisbane.

And here's how the trip went:

27.02.2004
AY 091 HEL-HKG (with 1 stop in BKK)
seat: 1H
MD-11
23:50-19:30+1
From previous experiences I knew that HEL airport wouldn't be very busy in the late evening, but I left home early, as I wanted to visit AY's long-haul lounge and have something to eat there. Check-in was fast and I got the seat I had reserved earlier through AY's business class phone service. The check-in staff didn't mention the long-haul lounge, but I went straight there after some duty-free shopping. The lounge wasn't very crowded and I soon found a place to sit and went to get some (very) light salad dinner from the buffet table. A desert lemon-pie was also offered. No announcement was made for boarding the BKK-HKG plane, but I went early enough to the gate and saw that boarding had already started (without long lines).

On board I was directed to my seat in the front cabin. After having stored my bag in the overhead locker, I was offered water, OJ or champagne (from the Iittala glasses used by AY's long-haul business class). I enjoyed my champagne watching around, as the business class cabin was soon full with a few businessmen, but also some couples who were mostly traveling to BKK. Only one seat was left open (which according to a crew member wasn't functioning properly). Also the second business class cabin was full. Menus were offered. Amenity kits are no longer offered on AY's business class, however socks and earplugs are available. All other amenities such as toothbrushes and razors are in the lavs.

After an on time take-off, the crew started a round of drinks as well as hot towels and soon after linens were laid for the dinner, which was served on a tray. Starters were ready placed on the tray. After that we had to wait for over 40 minutes to get the entree, because turbulence started when we entered the Russian airspace (I’ve noticed that it’s the same experience when you enter Russia by road or rail). It was getting very late when I finished my desert. The crew understood to take trays away as soon as passengers had finished and hand out pillows and duvet in order to get some sleep. I think duvets are much better in business class that blankets. I doze off almost right away and didn't even browse what the IFE had to offer. I remember waking up after a few hours of sleeping, a bottle of water had appeared next to me and the FA was serving small smoked reindeer sandwiches. As I didn't feel like sleeping more, I went to walk around and saw that Y-class was also full. The IFE offered Finnish and American movies as well as some short comedies and documentaries.

An hour before landing hot towels were given again and linens lay on the table. Breakfast was also ready on a tray. Champagne was also offered for breakfast but I preferred apple juice. After breakfast the cabin was soon prepared for landing, and I don't even remember if there was a round of duty-free. We landed on time at BKK. People at the golf track were watching as AY's MD-11 was passing and some even took photos. Passengers continuing to HKG were requested to stay on board during the stop, however some passengers went to the terminal (probably for smoking). The crew on the HEL-HKG leg was nice and efficient, but clearly seniors at AY. In BKK the crew was also changed.

From BKK to HKG the passenger loads were much lighter: less than 50% in business and probably even less in economy. The crew for the BKK-HKG leg proved to be as professional as the earlier one (a very senior AY staff also). A lunch was served in the same manner as dinner and breakfast had been served. Before lunch we got the usual drink round. Arrival in HKG was also on time. Both doors could be used for exiting the aircraft. There was a long line for passport control, but it went reasonably fast. My bag arrived among the first ones as it had a priority tag on it.

Menu:

Supper:
Smoked pike-perch and smoke salmon mousse
---
Pike soufflé with crayfish sauce (my choice)
or
Roasted lamb with balsamic sauce, gratinated potatoes
---
Raspberry sabayon

Breakfast:
Fresh fruit salad
Spinach-crepe with cheese sauce

Lunch (BKK-HKG):
Smoked snow fish
---
Tiger prawns Chinese style, pineapple fried rice (my choice)
or
Grilled chicken breast with tomato salsa, egg noodles
---
Mascarpone tart with mango coulis

Wines:
Champagne Comte Audoin de Dampierre Family Reserve Grand Cru 1996
---
Chassagne-Montrachet 1998, Antonin Rodet, Cotes de Beaune, Bourgogne, France (white)
---
Illivio 2000, Livio Felluga, Colli Orientali del Friuli Bianco, Italy (white)
---
Chateau la Pointe 1999, Appelation Pomerol Controlee, Bordeaux, France (red)
---
Kevin Arnold Shiraz 2002-Michael Ian, Waterford Wine Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa (red)
---
Chateau Guiraud 1997, Premier Cru Classe, Sauternes, France (sweet)
---
Niepoort 20 Years Old Tawny, Port Portugal, Niepoort SA (port)

In HKG I bought a 3-day transport pass including train from and to the airport. In Hong Kong I spent two nights at the Sheraton in Kowloon (got it through Priceline). Sheraton's rooms were comfortable but small. During my two days in Hong Kong I some saw friends and walked around a lot (Central, the Peak, Wan-Chai, Stanley, Kowloon, Temple Street market, etc). I tried the double deck tram, but couldn't stand up upstairs. Shopping included a digital camera (my first one) from a store recommended by a friend. I enjoyed my stay in Hong Kong, especially Hollywood Road's antique stores and all the crap at Temple Street as well as watching people participating in live-band karaoke singing (also in the end of Temple Street).

On Monday evening I left early enough to the airport for my next flight, which would be taking me to Brisbane. The train transport was really efficient connecting with the bus service from Kowloon hotels to Kowloon station.