So to the last stop on our amazing trip – Hong Kong to shop till we drop – and we were in the right place. Staying at the Conrad, Hong Kong Island (Gill who hates heights on Floor 61 and Ant on Floor 56), but as it was nearer to the free benefits of the fantastic Exec Lounge (thanks Hilton Honors again…), Gill was happy. The view from this top floor Exec lounge as we tucked into a very civilised full on breakfast served by flunkeys was fantastic – the Star Ferry below plying its way over to Kowloon, cruise ships looking tiny docked across the water and various junks and working boats doing their thing. The increasing smog that Hong Kong suffers restricted the views at times – on occasion we couldn’t even see Kowloon, but when it was clear we could see for miles. We discover (although I think Ant knew all of this which is why he booked here… ) that the express lift from Floor 61 takes you down directly in a matter of seconds to the biggest shopping mall ever, Pacific Place, packed with every designer name you have ever heard of and a few names new even to us. The lift pops you out just by Louis Vuitton, how handy! So this long weekend was going to be shopping and relaxing around the lovely pool at the hotel. Luckily, we have both been to Hong Kong before so there was no need for too much sightseeing – a quick whizz down the Nathan Road and the required trip on the Star Ferry left us free to do as we pleased. And we did! Some good food around the pool and some posh and some not so posh food in the evening. But our “posh dinner” left us somewhat sartorially challenged. Looking through the wardrobe we had both done our best, but a wardrobe that had been washed in the Mekong several times was perhaps not as crisp as we would have wanted. We had both bought a couple of new bits of clothing which we wore, but the other bits were not fabulous. We looked at each other and for the first time ever, could not think of a single compliment! We looked exactly what we were – a couple of backpackers attempting to look like flashpackers and failing miserably… But “whatever” (see pic of Ant!), we were happy and enjoyed our stylish meal even though we perhaps didn’t quite match the surroundings. There were visits to the other major sights of Hong Kong – the other shopping malls – but frankly, they were all “same, same and not very different” – seen one Prada, seen ‘em all! On the night we leave, on the way to the Airport for our late flight, we go to the Spring Deer for the best Beijing Duck in Hong Kong which was a delicious but interesting experience – a very brightly lit, freezing, over air conditioned restaurant somewhere in the back streets of Hong Kong, and yet again, as so often on this trip, we were the only travellers in the village. The restaurant was so noisy with large local family groups enjoying the great food. As we leave the restaurant the rain came – we have seen very little of this in Asia, so obviously Hong Kong was crying at the thought of our wallets and credit cards leaving….. We then sadly make our way on the Airport train (having already checked in our 5 bags at the town terminal during the afternoon – how civilised) – but the shopping hadn’t finished. One last flourish – Ant finally found the watch he wanted at the Airport so the credit card came out one last time. Soon after, following a welcome glass of champagne or two, we were tucked up in our British Airways flat beds and sleepily on our way home.
