Officially opened in November 1989, the 549-room Grand Hyatt Hong Kong is Hyatt International’s flagship property. Combining a futuristic exterior of polished marble and silvered glass, with a 1930’s interior pertaining to high society and art deco design, The Grand Hyatt can be considered a bridge link­ing Hong Kong’s romantic past with an exciting future.

Even from a distance the building casts a strong impression on Hong Kong Is­land’s world famous harbor front. By contrast, The Lobby mimics the inte­rior of a luxury ocean going liner from a by gone era when the sun never set on the British Empire. As I approach the doorman motions me into a grand space furnished with pe­riod items, marbled columns and graceful statuettes. Glancing through the ceiling high windows to my left I wonder if I’ve set sail as the sun bounces off the blue waters of Victoria Harbor.

Victoria Harbor is one of the most famous in the world. The skyline of modern towers reflected off a distant sea is as instantly recognizable as Big Ben on the Thames to any English native who looks beyond David and Victoria Beckham’s wardrobe for their cultural identity. At dusk the towers pierce the fading sun like silver blades while echoes of a distant, and sometimes bloody past, enter the frame.

On a wet and rainy day ten years ago the sun well and truly set on the British Empire as we returned control of Hong Kong to the Chinese. Much to the amusement of the locals, the Queen slipped and fell on that fateful day as if to mark the end of an era that began with the first Opium War in 1841. Furious at the volume of opium being pushed onto their people and keen to stem the flow, the Chinese confiscated and set fire to a huge shipment of ‘foreign mud,’ giv­ing the British the pretext they needed for military action. Two British gun boats promptly destroyed a Chinese fleet of 29 ships and the Union Jack was hoisted.

All is forgiven today, after all Hong Kong, with a population of 7 million went on to become one the world’s great financial center’s and is today one of the Asia’s most vibrant and eclectic cities.

There are over 70,000 restaurants in Hong Kong but, according to the in house blurb, only one like The Grand Hyatt’s Chinese restaurant, ‘One Harbor Road’ named after the hotels address. Feeling adventurous I order a bowl of birds nest soup as a starter.

“That’s made of birds saliva, very good for your health and a delicacy for the Chinese” the waiter explains before I flutter onto the next course. The smoky Chilean red that accompanies our meal proves to be some of the best I’ve ever tried. Suitably laced my partner and I prepare ourselves for a night of exploration on the streets of Hong Kong.

Breakfast is to be had on the 31st floor, otherwise known as the Grand Club, a luxurious lounge where one can sip Champaign and pop caviar eggs while gazing across the harbor.

If Hong Kong were a person she’d be difficult to understand. She’d be constantly changing without losing touch of her herit­age. She’d be superstitious but scientific when she wanted to be. She’d love dim sum and pizza too. She’d be exotic but familiar, a gambler but she’d always know the odds. She’d be all this, a contradiction and a conundrum, but more than anything she’d be a lot of fun to be around.

The doorman, who speaks excellent English and introduces himself as Robert sees that we’re pretty much lost the moment we step out of the hotel. We tell him we’re looking for a good spot to watch the night life from the curb of a bar. After chat­ting to us about our tastes he waves down a taxi and sends us on our way to Lan Kwai Fong in Central. Comprising of bars and restaurants on a steep street reminiscent of San Francisco we take our place to observe the night creatures, who file past us in a phantasmagorical blur of liquor induced wonder.

In the morning the sun beams thorough the ceiling high windows. Flicking on the hi definition wide screen TV at the foot of my bed a BBC reporter informs me that China is experiencing the greatest economic boom in its history and has just overtaken Germany as the world’s third largest economy – so watch out America.
Breakfast is to be had on the 31st floor, otherwise known as the Grand Club, a luxuri­ous lounge where one can sip Champaign and pop caviar eggs while gazing across the harbor. Only a one eyed planarian could fail to be impressed with such surrounds but what makes our entire stay in The Grand Hyatt so special are the staff.

From 5pm till 7pm the canopies and Champagne in the Grand Club are complemen­tary, so naturally we begin our evenings there. Dan is the man who serves us champagne and chats amicably about life in Hong Kong. Having served as a drinks waiter in the Grand Club for several years he seems to have an uncanny sense of when to top up my champagne glass.

“More bubbles sir,” he smiles as I sip away.

The Grand Hyatt offers countless arguments for unabashed gluttony, but for those who fear the 7th deadly sin there are ample opportunities to keep mind and body in shape. Guests can work out in the hotels hi tech gym before seeking Spa treatment or diving into a 50 meter outdoor swimming pool perched on the 11th floor. Adjoining the gym an open air restaurant will keep the active fueled with rafts of fruit juice, creamy yo­ghurts and freshly baked croissants.

You’ve probably read enough superlatives for one day so let’s end with a word about what really separates The Grand Hyatt, and indeed Hong Kong as a whole from its competitors – the staff and the people.

On my last day I hop into a taxi, visit Victoria Peak, put my hand in my pocket to grab my camera to snap the vista and realize I’ve left the camera on the back seat of the taxi. De­jected and resigned to the realization that I’ll never see that camera again, or the 100 plus snaps I’d taken in China, I return to the ho­tel to tell the door staff what had happened. Immediately they ask me what time I took the taxi, re-wind the CCTV system, freeze the moment I step into the taxi, record the number plate and phone the taxi company who radio the driver who returns immedi­ately with my camera. There are few hotels in this world where luxury and efficiency com­bine in such a way to paste over the faults of its clientele, but The Grand Hyatt is one of them.

Published by Traversing The Orient Magazine. You want to make an online travel business? Please go to www.web.com.

Sundown Hong Kong