HONG KONG TO SEOUL

Started with breakfast at the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong.  The Ritz-Carlton cruise line arranged for a vehicle to take us to Hong Kong International Airport on the island of Chek Lap Kok.  Remember their old Kai Tak Airport?  I do.

• Memorable, because planes went right over building rooftops, coming as close as 100 feet.

• 
  Air traffic would fly low over Kowloon City, making 47-degree right turn at under 1000 feet to line up with the runway.
• Passengers could see people showering.
• Watch this video of the world's scariest airport?
• Finally closed in 1998.

In stark contrast is the new (opened in 1998) Hong Kong International Airport.

• Confusing, but Kai Tak was also called Hong Kong International Airport.

• More accurately, this current one should be called Chek Lap Kok International Airport, but this is not used much, and the airport code is HKG, the same one used by Kai Tak.
• The story of the new Hong Kong International Airport is remarkable.
• Skytrax rates it at #6 airport in the world.  The best U.S. airport is Houston Hobby at #27.
• Is the world's busiest cargo gateway.

• 
  When it first opened, it had the world's largest passenger terminal buildings.  The window were purposefully designed to shatter in a severe typhoon.  Taken over by Dubai, Beijing and Inchon.
• Operates 24 hours/day.
• Employs more than 60,000 people.
• Used by more than 100 airlines.
• 61 million passengers in 2025.  Honolulu handled 21 million.

HKG is remarkable when you consider the political situation and how quickly the whole project was completed.

• Remember that Hong Kong was turned over to China in 1997, the year before the airport became operational.

• 
  China itself has been amazing in how quickly they complete major projects.
• However, the UK was only able to start construction in 1991.
• The time period for finish was 10-20 years.
• China did everything they could to stall progress, objecting to various aspects of the effort, pulling financing and delaying approvals.  You would think there was no way to have the airport ready in maybe 20 years.  Eventually, China relented and became cooperative.  Took only 7 years.

• 
  Three massive bridges had to be constructed and many tunnels, plus the roadway. a distance of 22 miles.  Add a mass transit system.
• The whole system opened in 1998, the year after the turnover.
• Today, the airport express train will cost around $8 to get you into town, with a taxi cost of $35.

So, anyway, goodbye Hong Kong.....and scenes from Hong Kong International Airport.

Walking to our gate, notice a place where you can fill your thermos of cold and hot water,

Our Asiana plane to take us to Inchon, Seoul

On the flight, Bibimbap, Ballantine 17-year old whisky and Cass Beer.

Added a Tawny Port to cheese plate.

Took a taxi from Incheon International Airport to the Westin Chosun for $40.

The hotel is in the heart of downtown Seoul and has 469 rooms.  The Executive Lounge was so busy, that people had to reserve which shift to take.  We made it into the final serving.  Food was desultory, crowd noise overpowering and drinks ordinary.  Once you've been in any Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, anything else gets to be unacceptable.

-