Paradise in Hong Kong

It was one of those times when moi just had to take off and chill out from Cosmo Manille’s hustle and bustle. So off moi flew aboard Asia’s first and our very own Philippine Airlines’ super aircraft that whisked me to fascinating Hong Kong, my Shangri-La away from home. As always, the superb service one gets on board PAL plus their excellent dishes and wines made the one hour and 45-minute flight a breeze.

Hong Kong International Airport provides a fabi first impression for arriving passengers. Its ultra-modern sleek design reflects the look of Hong Kong’s modern skyline, one of the most recognizable worldwide.

Hong Kong is the Oriental Manhattan. In this glass jungle one can find the world-class Island Shangri-La Hotel. "Shangri-La" means "paradise on earth." The hotel sure is one!

Island Shangri-La is Hong Kong’s tallest hotel. It is beautifully situated atop Pacific Place. There we were welcomed by pretty as a picture, that brilliant director of communications, Kelly Sum who made sure we were delighted with our hotel accommodations that overlooks the city’s gorgeous harbor view. We certainly were, dahlings.

Apres a quick shower in our marble bathroom, off we went to window shop at Central, the hub of business shops. We headed straight to the popular Joyce Boutique, a favorite among Hong Kong’s socialites and hip achievers. This shop is a brainchild of Hong Kong fashion diva Joyce Ma. Located at New World Tower, 18 Queen’s Rd. Central is Joyce Boutique that offers tres chic houseware, cosmetics, colognes and clothes from name brands like Issey Miyake and PRADA.

Next Stop was Gucci at The Landmark, 16 Des Voeux Rd. Central, a fave of Cosmo Manille’s fashionable pack. Would you believe that Hong Kong has more Gucci outlets than even New York? The Gucci logo is worshiped in Hong Kong, and shoppers from around the world patiently queue to get and buy from Gucci’s latest chic collection.

Then there’s PRADA, the hippest and still the most in-demand name in the market. It has the same address as the Gucci store.

Naturellement, we also dropped by the upscale department store, Lane Crawford which carries tons of international brands of shoes; crystals; household ware; plus, plus. It is strategically located at Pacific Place, right below our hotel, the impressive Island Shangri-La, natch!

That night, we first had cocktails at Cyrano. This chi-chi music lounge in the hotel’s 56th floor is perfect for pre- and post-dinner drinks. While having our dry Vodka Martini, our choice from a superb selection of cocktails, I was amazed to see the breathtaking Hong Kong harbor from Cyrano’s top-of-the-world location. The to-drool-over décor evoked the swinging ’30s, the heyday of high society and decadent fun.

Apres, we had an excellently prepared Cantonese dinner, the best in Hong Kong, at the Summer Palace on Shangri-La’s fifth floor. Its understated elegance is simply wow! There are intricately carved screens; door panels; and carpet in a four-petal flower motif which originated from Beijing’s Summer Palace. There are also fabi Chinese paintings and murals against pure white walls; elegantly gilded black and gold furniture contrasting with Viennese crystal chandeliers; and Narumi bone china from Japan.

With a fabi ambiance and the superbly prepared Cantonese specialties by the hotel’s chef Lee Kung, what could be a more perfect night?

Hong Kong has earned a reputation for having a vibrant night life and moi found out that its night scene continues to improve with time. There are sophisticated venues cropping up around the Central Area where night crawlers can go club-hopping or sip expertly-prepared cocktails from professional bartenders.

Moi noticed that the two clubs we went to that night featured music that is more varied. There appeared to be a return to the cocktail and discotheque era but with a contemporary twist.

We breezed into Liquid, one of the leading dance clubs. Its façade looks like a mother spaceship that has landed on Ayala Ave. Upon entering, you are surrounded by a glass wall and a stainless steel capsule gleams, making you feel like you are in a spaceship. Going down to the club, you pass through a boxed-in staircase, seen through sheets of glass and backed by a wall filled with illuminated bags of blue gel. You’d swear you were on the set of Star Wars!

Waking up late-ish and with hunger pangs the next morning après a night of partying, we headed straight to Island Shangri-La’s tres brand new Café Too. There we enjoyed international cuisine with a dash of drama. The café features an impressive floor-to-ceiling wall of–take note–1,500 bottles of excellent wine from around the world at the entrance. Seafood theaters feature a decorative ice-bath display of crustaceans, oysters and fish. The station has a variety of seafood from different continents to drive you bonkers.

While we had our fill of a seemingly endless array of food, we were awed by a wall of authentic tea leaves; Dragon Balls; Rosebud; Chrysanthenum and old tea bricks; and coffee beans ranging from dark to light.

At Café Too, dahlings, the chefs are the performers and the resto their stage. Staying here is a theatrical experience. It is one of moi favorite places in the hotel.

Completely satisfied with our food-trip at Café Too, we walked over to the interesting CAT Street, a bit below Hollywood Road, is one of moi fave dream flea market after London’s Portobello area. All kinds of undiscovered "gems" and "junk" can be bought here, depending of course on your perspective. However, as in most flea markets, one should beware of so called "antiques," since some of them are fakes. But many items like bird cages are new. I bought two gorgeous silver pill boxes and an eye-catching bird cage.

Walking around the central area, we noted how Hong Kong’s skyline quickly changes. We noticed the latest addition which we were told is going to be Hong Kong’s tallest building, the International Finance Center’s South-East Tower. It will have 88 floors which will house the world-class Four Seasons Hotel; office spaces; shops and a "floating resto" on its top floors which will surely offer some of the best views of Hong Kong. The tower will be the world’s seventh tallest building and Asia’s fourth tallest.

We cut short our window shopping and buildings-gazing to meet Shangri-La’s pretty, pretty guest relations manager, Prsche Tsang who toured us around the magnificent hotel. We breezed through some of the 531 spacious and exquisitely appointed rooms including 34 gorgeous suites with spectacular views of Hong Kong Harbor.

Island Shangri-La boasts of Hong Kong’s largest guest rooms with their standard rooms measuring 44 square meters. The hotel’s 16-storey masterpiece is the world’s largest China silk landscape painting. Called "The Great Motherland of China," this awesome masterpiece depicts famous landscapes from the north to the south of China.

The hotel also has the widest choice of F&B outlets including the award-winning French resto Petrus; the Nadaman Japanese resto; Lobby Lounge; Lobster Bar; Island Gourmet; and the Pool Deck.

Finally, we headed for the hotel’s hub, the Podium. Here you will see the ever-bustling main lobby; some smaller restos; the huge ballroom; function rooms; lounges; health club; swimming pool; and business center. We felt like we were in a petit (French for "small") city.

That night we checked out the world-renowned Restaurant Petrus on the 56th floor, which–take note, dahlings–was selected "one of the five best hotel restaurants in the world for the decade," the only resto selected in Asia Pacific, in the August issue of that US publication, Hotels. This is not surprising because this chi-chi, tres elegant resto which boasts of fine cuisine has an exclusive wine cellar featuring a premium collection of Petrus wines, plus over 900 choices from the best vintages from famous Chateaux. Dining here makes you feel like royalty, dahlings.

Complementing the resto’s fine French cuisine and superb wine list is its opulent interiors done in the traditional French style. As with all fabi restos, Petrus can only seat 85 exclusive lovers of fine dining. It’s expensive, yes! But believe moi, it’s oh so pleasing to the tongue that it’s definitely worth every Hong Kong dollar!

That night, we went club-hopping. First stop was that hip and swinging club, Mes Amis for an al fresco night life. Here you’ll find fashionable after-work yuppies quenching their thirst. It’s a fun place to people watch and being watched as well.

Then we dashed off to Alibi which has a completely different atmosphere. It is known for its distinguished drinkers and its sheer sophistication.

Our last stop was Jah. As you enter you’ll be amazed by its cyber-funk interiors. After enjoying three clubs, it was time at 2 a.m. to dash back to our hotel and dive into our comfy bed.

Because all good things do come to an end, we went down to the gorgeous lobby to say goodbye to the hotel’s workasonic lady with the four B’s (as in beauty, brains, breeding and bucks) Kelly Sum. With her was, tall suave, and dashing Ed Brea, the hotel’s dedicated manager.

We found out Kelly was born and raised in England. After her Second Level, she went to the Highburry College of Technology in Hotel Management, Portsmouth, where she graduated with the highest distinction. When her parents moved to Hong Kong, Kelly’s first job there was at the New World Hotel International as corporate trainee in PR for a year. She was part of the pre-opening team at the New World Renaissance Hotel for three months in Makati and stayed on until she became the New World’s PR manager for six years.

In January 2002, Kelly returned to Hong Kong, becoming the mega director of communications of Island Shangri-La Hotel.

Ed, meanwhile, began his career with the Sheraton Group in the US. He moved on with Hyatt Hotels and International Corp. With his love for good food and excellent wines and being a marketing and project management whiz, Ed in 1988 was selected by the industry Singapore’s Wine & Dine magazine as the "Food and Beverage Man of the Year." Ed looks forward to working with the gentleman of the hotel, general manager Franz Donhauser. Hailing from Austria, Franz was the GM of Austria’s ANA Grand Hotel Vienna for several years.

As we waved "goodbye" to Kelly and Ed from our limo, we thought how wonderful it was to stay at the elegant Island Shangri-La. After all, it wasn’t voted by Business Traveller Asia-Pacific and Asiamoney magazines "The Best Business Hotel in Hong Kong and Asia" for the third consecutive year, for nothing.

Before moi could bat an eyelash, we were zooming up in the blue yonder on PAL’s gorgeous 747. A superb supper was served by-PAL’s fantastic crew. A quick shot-eye, and before we knew it, we landed smoothly at PAL’s Terminal 2.

Only PAL flies throughout the day. It ensures your satisfaction with staff so polite, friendly and warm. No wonder, as 17-year-old Karina Borromeo said, Filipinos will keep flying PAL for miles and miles with a twinkle in their eyes and big smiles on their faces.

Yes, you just can’t go wrong flying PAL and staying at the fabi Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong. Check them both out.

Drive safely and have a nice weekend, dahlings.