Day 25: it's raining, it's pouring, Jerome is snoring

It was raining when we woke up - it was kind of a welcomed change from the extreme heat the previous three weeks. After breakfast, we got our stuff together and checked out of the hotel.

One last time at the computer to upload some photos, and we met another couple who had just spent a few weeks in Bali. After a brief discussion with them, we decided we'd go there on our next trip.

As we walked down Nathan Road, we took in the situation: two huge backbacks, dirty clothes, heavy rain and we're walking down the street to check into one of the classiest hotels in the world. Welcome to the Peninsula.

But what's true for the toilets in 4 star hotels is also true for people walking in and out to visit. We walked in like we owned the place, put our bags down and checked in. We were shown to our room...and walked in in total amazement. There was a seperate foyer which led into a huge room with an extra large bed, a sitting room, an office, and all the amenities. Once the bags were brought to us, Rebecca started jumping on the bed like a trampoline. She then rifeled through all the drawers. Jerome was especially impressed with the TV lodged in the marble at the foot of the bathtub. It would have been perfect if there had also been one in the toilet. So THIS is luxury.

We decided to explore the hotel - we went to the spa, the pool, the restauarants, the lobby, and somehow managed to get into a secret elevator up to the 28th floor to see Felix. The place was closed and we were nicely told to come back at 6PM.

Back at the room, we both started to wonder what we could and couldn't touch without getting charged. Everything was thought of - we felt pampered and decided to spend the rainy afternoon in our fancy hotel room. We put in a pirated DVD bought in Shanghai- it's pretty nice to be rich...After seeing a message saying the fruit on thet table was complimentary, we decided to eat it. But we stayed away from everything else, eating out crackers and jam that'd we'd bought at the supermarket.

While Jerome had a nap, Rebecca headed out in the rain to the Temple Street Night Market. It was strange to be in a Chinese market where people didn't push or pester. It was as much a relief as it was strange. It felt like being in China but cleaned up, anespecticized. She was disapointed not to find the equivalent of the nice brown jacket she hadn't purchased in Beijing and still regretted not buying...

After a quick look around the market, which was just being set up since the rain had stopped, she went back to the hotel. We went up to the 8th floor for an evening swim in the marble swimming pool with Roman columns and stunning view onto Hong Kong Island. After a little swim and a dip in the whirlpool, we got changed and went up to Felix's (which was now open) for a cocktail. The restaurant itself was way too expensive for us, but we decided that a celibratory cocktail was called for. We drank house specialties as we watched the "Tron" building from across the harbor...it's nice being rich.