R & R in Hong Kong

Tom (my best friend in Nam and Hootch mate) decided to go on R&R together. After some discussion we chose Hong Kong. He told me he heard that hotels picks were given by highest rank first. He got me the name of a hotel and asked me to write to them and get reservations. Really sounds strange doing that now but I did and got reservations. The night before we left Nam we traveled by bus from Long Binh to Ton Son Nhut airbase where we spend the night. The following day we flew from Vietnam to Hong Kong on Pan Am. Once we were at cruising altitude the Captain made an announcement stating the cockpit door would be open and for us to come and say hi to them. They also served a really nice meal. I also remember gum hanging in the lavatory which looked much like individual Chiclet gum. There was lots of looking out the windows as we flew over Vietnam and was just a relaxed and enjoyable flight. Why not? Once we landed and went through customs we had to get in line to get a hotel. Since we could show we had reserved rooms we were released and on our way to the hotel. I was literally shocked when we arrived. it was simply beautiful and right on the Harbor. I walked in and told Tom I can't stay here. I think he had stayed at places like this but I was from a very poor family and basically just in shock. Before checking in he suggested that we change our rooms and share on as we could get a nicer Harbor view and after all, we shared a Hootch. So we changed our rooms. And yes, we were just a few floors from the top and had this wonderful view of the Harbor, the Star Ferry going back and forth and in the distance you could see the Queen Elizabeth anchored. This hotel had a beautiful dining room with a huge dance floor and orchestra, or at least what I thought was an Orchestra. They cooked flaming meals at your table and was just so unbelievable to me. At the bar the in the hotel I seem to remember they served hamburgers on freshly made buns and home made chips. We had a waitress named Lily at the bar and she was great and funny. We kept buying drinks for the English piano player and he'd keep raising his glass to us with each new drink. We thought it would be funny to try to get him drunk. Even though they had a push button elevator, they had a man dressed in black pants and white jacket who would push the button for you. It was almost immediate that they knew us and called us Mr. Mahoney and Mr. Hamilton. Well, it's late and I'll get some Zzzzz's and then enter more over the next few days on Hong Kong, the people and my wonderful stay.