KL, Malaysia Day 17

The doorbell to our room rang promptly at 7:30, ripping us violently from our slumber. Christian, dazed and disoriented, staggers to the door. "What is it?" he queries. "Housekeeping, Laundry?" What? Not again! I yanked the phone to me and promptly dialed 0, "Manager Now!" I seethed. Jania answers. "A person stays in a hotel mainly for one reason, to get a good nights sleep. This has been vehemently taken from me and I will never get that back!". After much heated discussion, I received free breakfast, plus free transfer to KL Sentral (sic) station at 10:30am for ourselves and the Wangs, staying in room 1517.
We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast on the 9th floor, overlooking the pool, then went back to finish packing. We met the Wangs in the lobby and, after checkout, we each got into our hotel sponsored taxis and were quickly taken to KL Sentral.
Christian immediately saw a guy that has a machine that wraps your luggage in cling film for 10 ringgit. Perfect as we would like to keep the new bag as pristine as possible. Ricardo and Christine showed up right behind us, having come direct from her brothers house, and we waited as they quickly rearranged some wedding gifts and other items for Christine to bring to her new home.
We arrived at the Cathay Pacific check-in counter, conveniently located at this rail station. The plan was to check in our bags so we don’t have to worry about them as our flight isn’t for some hours and we planned to go back into town to run some errands.
We arrived at the counter, with 16 bags all told, and were advised that check-in isn’t for another 2 hours. That set both Ricardo and Christine off, since they checked twice yesterday and today to ensure we could check in at 11am. The manager kept saying there was nothing they could do, but the newlyweds would not be dissuaded, and after calling the airline we were all checked in and our baggage taken away.
We had about four hours to kill, so we walked through the Station Market in the stifling heat to the tram, which took us back to the Saigei Wang mall where we all visited the sticker shop and had a delightful lunch at Hot Mama's, where we had eaten yesterday.
Much to my joy I had time for a much needed manicure as well.
We got so caught up in the mall and transport to the airport that we were going through security at final call. I immediately started to panic and we were perplexed when we seemed to have lost the family. I ran to an Info desk to ask them to hold the flight, and I got on the shuttle into the next terminal with only 6 minutes till the gate closed. Christian had me go on ahead so he could find the family, and I rode, panic stricken, on my own. It must have been pretty obvious, since the Saudi Arabian man beside me with his two wives told me to relax, life is too short to worry.
I made it to the gate and needn't have worried, since they were still boarding the stragglers, then Christian and Ric arrived just behind me. Apparently Christine's parents had driven up from Muar to see her off at the airport as a surprise, but since she didn’t know we didn’t alot any time for that.
Luckily, we made it and arrived in Hong Kong after 9pm. Enroute Christian had seen orange explosions on the ground, even photographed some of them. However, it turned out they were most likely fireworks set off to celebrate 10 years since the handover from British rule to China. Nothing can really prepare someone for the magnificence of Hong Kong at night. I have flown over many world cities and few can rival the superb beauty and elegance of this city, with the billions of lights all shining like jewels on the Hong Kong Harbour. We both adore this city.
Ric's auntie, who met us there, arranged a cab for Christian and I, and came with us to ensure we made it to our hotel ok. She also gave us her daughters mobile so that we would be in constant communication with the rest of the family, who would stay in the Northern Territories. It was HK$200 for the cab ride, and we drove up to the hotel that Henry had arranged for us. Slight nervousness when the white-gloved doorman welcomed us in; tiny bit of fear when we walked upon the marble floors and beheld the magnificent chandeliers up above. Full blown panic when we were advised at the reception desk that we are actually Club class members and need to check in in the special first class Club check in on the 36th floor. One of the smiling, smartly dressed staff escorted us up there. Our panic stemmed from the fact that the hotel had not been picked by us, but it will definitely be paid for by us, and it was super elegant and posh, with magnificent views, free internet, free access to the fully stocked food lounge at any time. We sat at the check-in desk and were advised we had been upgraded to a deluxe suite due to lack of rooms. Being Handover this week meant that the city was full of tourists and people returning home for the festivities, and we were lucky to get any hotel room at all. Our suite was unbelievable. It opened to a full kitchen and living room with enormous flat screen television; another in the bedroom, with a large, beautiful bathroom. The tub had a glass panel beside it adjacent to the bedroom, so with the shades up, we could watch the television from the bath. There were enormous floor to ceiling windows with little leather window seats. We decided it was far too late to go outside, so we checked our email, grabbed some drinks and cookies from the lounge, and cuddled up in the plush hotel robes.