2012 Spring review: Business class, Cathay Pacific Airway

This flight on CX is a 180 degree experience from my BA flight taken 2 weeks ago. On the one with BA, I paid a higher fare but got a forced downgrade (though finally I insisted and kept my premium seat). On this CX flight, I got a complimentary upgrade and the seat and meal service is really nice. Appetizer is smoked salmon rocket salad. I chose the Kung Po prawn as the main course and a choco. ice cream as dessert. Then I slept for 30 minutes to re-charge myself from a hustling busy afternoon.

*as I look back on all my trips, those to Europe and US were really not fortunate. Almost 1 out of 5, I would run into some troubles, from plane engine shutdown (KLM), emergency landing (UA), luggage loss (AF), strike (AF/BA), food poisoning (UA), to various travel disappointments....etc. However, I don't even run into such high frequent travel issues when I travel within Asia.

The new lounge, the Wing, Cathay Pacific, HK Airport

The Wing (near gate 2 of HK Airport) has gone thru' 3 months of renovation, and resumed its services as of this month. I miss their noodle bar a lot. Their wonton noodle is a nice treat before your flight taking off. What's more, there are more varieties of food, including hot and sour soup which I found some very nice dried mushroom. Their pastry and cookies are unexpectedly good. Peninsula catering really got a good merit on all these food services.

This new lounge has more seating areas and long or short bars serving drinks, cafe, ice cream, pastry to sandwiches. Noted quite many different chairs, couches, sofa...etc. You should find one which makes you feel comfortable.

St. Josep Market, La Rambla, Barcelona, Spain

As I asked the hotel front desk about a market I once visited (12 years ago), I got a reply now everything has changed. My vague memory the market was in front of a big circle with a nice green restaurant called Olive serving my favourite Gazpacho (chilled tomato soup). Finally I gotta be back here but it's really changed a lot and the restaurant was gone too. This trip of Barcelona is really another 180 degree experience to me and it looks like it's a new place.

Wok Oyisi, Barcelona, Spain

It's about 1pm something I was starving after a few hours of walking up and down in Sagrada Familia. Hesitated to go in this Japanese buffet restaurant, but paying Euros 8.6 for some Asian food didn't hurt much if it's not good. Turned out it's not bad and surprisingly the grilled seafood is very fresh and all are wild catch! The razor clams are even much better than those I have had in HK, and the shrimp is very tasty with much of sea water flavour. The restaurant is also popular for the locals as after 2pm, it's getting very crowded. The lunch buffet ends at 4pm. Euros 8.6 is an unbelievable price indeed in considering a local paela (Spanish fried rice on pan) can cost over Euros 10.

The subway, Barcelona, Spain

Suggest buying a ticket for 10 times at about Euros 16. A single trip can be at around Euros 5. Just like London or Paris, there are some new lines and old lines. Check on the platform's deco. and you would know it. Inside the stations, there are some stalls selling something I haven't seen for decades. See photo 6.