In Xandadu did Kubla Khan a Pleasure Dome decree

Ok so the Conrad in Hong is not quite a pleasure dome but how do we compare chalk and to be honest soy-cheese at best. After I disembark the “flight of disappointment” the HKIA FV card does a grand job of getting me back on track and on to my second home – the Conrad Hong Kong.

As usual I am whizzed up to the Exec floor for check in and as it is just 6:55PM I manage to sneak a G&T and again I am given my preferred mountain view rather than harbour view. Now this may seem strange to many of you but it is all about context. I grew up in Birmingham in England which is pretty much as far from the sea as anywhere in England. I then lived in Germany in a place called Gutersloh which again was as land bound as they come – so being close to water is not ingrained in me. What I do look out on from the Conrad is a beautiful green landscape where eagles (or perhaps some form of falcons but to me they are relatives of Gwaihir. – I told you I was in a Tolkienesque mood) fly past my window rather than looking over a six+ lane highway and the clouds obscuring Kowloon.

At breakfast my little chap welcomes me back (only been here three time previously so this is impressive) and I am set for a couple of days turgid work. I have one eye on my trip to SHA and really the HKG visit is unpleasant from a work point of view. It is not enhanced by my boss in US calling me at 5:45AM

On the Tuesday I have a fairly busy day but have chance to check expertflyer and see the Y and J availability reducing so joke with Tscharke that I am in line for an op-up – but it’s a tired sim (aka simongr – changed for ease of typing) that is off again to the airport train (y’know serfty I am going to take issue with this – if you didn’t bleat on about this I would probably have a pre-booked Merc driving me there and back again – the fact that the train is faster, cooler and very comfortable is neither here nor there…)