LET me tell you a story. A story about “Life Well Travelled”. Traveling is all about the experience, from the point of origin, the destination and everything in between. It’s about opening your mind to anything and everything that comes your way no matter how frequently the destination is visited.
To many, Hong Kong may be nothing new. But do you ever tire of its shopping and cuisine? No. In the vibrant city, “been there, done that” may prove untrue. It’s either you want more or there is something new to discover.
So what’s new for us Davaoeños?
For one, Cathay Pacific’s Cathay Dragon connects us to Hong Kong directly. Only three hours on board the A320 plane from hometown to HK with no connecting flights. Nothing beats that convenience. While you’re at it, travel in style.
Seats on coach have ample leg room, but trips are more comfortable on Business Class. Sip wine and dine in style.
Immigrations clearing is quick and you can zoom to the city via the Airport Link. The city check-in sites provide free shuttle service to various hotels, including to all three Marco Polo hotels—HONG KONG, Gateway and Prince, all of which are attached to Hong Kong’s largest shopping complex, the Harbour City, where you can grab a bite or get your first stab at shopping before it closes at 10 p.m.
Get a room at the Club Floors as it allows you access to the Continental Club Lounge. Among its exclusive services are private check-on and check-out, turn-down services, breakfast, afternoon tea and cocktails, all day refreshments and complimentary use of meeting rooms.
Cucina, one of my favorite restaurants in town, is in this hotel chain. Must-have in this Italian restaurant is the Wagyu Beef Cheek. The 8-hours slow-cooked dish is melt-in-your-mouth delight that can turn vegetarians to meat eaters.
Shop like a superstar. Canton Road is like the Rodeo Drive of HK. A smaller Lane Crawford and other luxury shops are found along this street. You say you have the IT bag of Hermes, Fendi or Chanel, but did it stop you from acquiring more IT bags in another size, color or skin?
Eat with a star. Harbour City is not only a shopper’s paradise but a gourmand’s Utopia. There are four Michelin-starred restaurants in this place.
In HK, there’s always something to experience, or revisit spots with a different group of friends. In their company, Disneyland, the market, or a dim sum place seems to offer a new form of excitement.
Covered your ground? Perhaps you missed a few on the list, but the weekend in HK was just as delightful. With Cathay Dragon flying four times a week, it’s easy to return.
Flying home on Business Class from HK is just as exciting—and filling. With Cathay Pacific lounges—The Wing, The Bridge, The Deck and the Bridge— across the huge airport, surely there’s one near your gate.
Not only can you relax, recharge and catch up with work in a quiet niche in the bustling international airport, you can also have the gastronomic specialties of the house.
At the chic long bar with a view, you can have as much alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage as you want, but do ask for the Cathay Delight. It’s a refreshing drink concocted with fresh kiwi, mint leaf, coconut milk, creamier and essence of vanilla.
The Noodle Bar will change the way you think about airport food. Having the signature dish, the dan dan noodles, is such a delight. The area exudes the vibe of an Oriental resto making the rich dish before you as authentic as it can get.
I have my plane to catch. I’m not going home yet. Bangkok is my next destination, and upgraded to Business Class, no less. Finally, I was able to get my shot at the pod-like seats arranged in 1-2-1 configuration offering direct-to-aisle access. I could fly horizontally if I chose to, but I enjoyed my lounging posture along with the entertainment and meals that came with it.
Bangkok is another busy airport with thousands of arrivals daily. Clearing immigration is time-consuming. On Business Class, each passenger is handed a Priority Pass that allows access to segregated immigration counters. No long lines and more time to enjoy Bangkok.
This is what I love about Cathay Pacific. It not only flies us directly to HK but connects us to other destinations around the globe. The airline opened up Davao to a “Life Well Travelled”.
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Email me at jinggoysalvador@yahoo.com