February 12, 2008

Lantau Island (HONG KONG)

さよなら　東京, 你好香港！

(Goodbye Tokyo, Hello Hong Kong!)

As today was my last day in Tokyo until the end of March I was feeling somewhat nostalgic. I woke up at 5am to watch a live stream of the Arsenal-Blackburn match (2-0 to the Gunners, and five points clear at the top of the table!), and ate a farewell breakfast with Kumagai-san and Neiko-chan before saying goodbye. Then, I typed all my goodbye emails, finished last-minute laundry, made a few phone calls, and packed my 40 liter backpack for my upcoming travels. By noon I was heading out the door into a Tokyo drizzle, stopping for a bowl of hot soba noodles with curry sauce (450 yen), and catching the Airport Express to Narita Airport.

I flew into Hong Kong International Airport late this evening from Tokyo, arriving just after 10 pm. This was my fourth time flying into the airport, and as ever customs was a painless process alleviated by the recognition that more officials are necessary when multiple flights land at the same time; if only more airports around the world were so accommodating. In fairness, Hong Kong International Airport has repeatedly won the award as the world's number one airport (Skytrax), which is impressive considering it was built in 1998 on 90% reclaimed land. In fact, the colloquial name for the airport is Chek Lap Kok, which was the name of the small island on which the airport was built.

After grabbing my backpack from baggage claim, I passed through the "Green Channel" (nothing to declare), and out into the general arrivals hall. Like most people, I still scan the limousine signs with names on them, hoping my lucky day has finally arrived. It hasn't.

My father flew into Hong Kong yesterday, and although he stayed near the ever-popular Lang Kwai Fang district on Hong Kong island last night, today he is staying at the Airport Regal Hotel so he can attend business conferences during the day (he is in something related to the airline business.) Even though I won't be at the center of the action - and out at the airport on Lamma Island I will actually be far from it - there is no underestimating the importance of convenience after a long flight (4h30m from Tokyo.)

I didn't have to take a step outdoors to reach the hotel. Instead, there was a convenient "sky tunnel" that led me directly to the massive lobby where I picked up a reserved key for room 1024 at the front desk. I stepped into the elevator figuring room 1024 would naturally be on the 10th floor, but for some reason the button would not light up when I pressed it. After a bit of head-scratching I noticed that the 10th and 11th floors require key validation, and after inserting my key into a slot I was on my way.

With one of the deluxe rooms at a high-end, albeit inconveniently located hotel, this trip to Hong Kong should turn out all right after all! I dropped my bag off in the room, flipped open my laptop (hello wireless!), ordered a Hainan chicken meal from room service, and began the "unwinding process."