August, 2006, I was backpacking in Thailand. A friend in Hong Kong recommended the lunch buffet at Oriental.
從清邁回曼谷的火車上，有人建議我搭船去。東方文華有碼頭，船票便宜得像公共汽車一般。
On the train from Chiang Mai back to Bangkok, someone suggested taking the boat to the restaurant. Oriental has a dock. The fare is as cheap as bus.
第一印象，極其惡劣。「不接待背包客」這太跩了吧？如果不是訂了位，肯定掉頭走人！
My first impression was very bad. They were too darn snobbish. Hadn't I already made the reservation, I would have walked away.
我才剛從泰北的山區回來。那天我的巴伐利亞鞋看來就是這麼一副德行。
I just came back from trekking in the northern mountains. That day, my bavarian shoes were not in much better condition than in the above picture.
我硬著頭皮穿過庭院，來到大門。
I bit the bullet and walked through the court to the front door.
時間還早。我就到處逛逛。這時，一位高大的白人帥哥向我走過來，一臉親切的笑容，用英語跟我打招呼、閒聊。他是酒店的一名經理。他領著我在酒店裡到處走，介紹那家酒店，最後來到後院，給我看一隻會說話的九官鳥。這之間不經意地問起我的來意、來處。既然離午餐時間還早，他建議我在後院寬坐，有任何需求，隨時吩咐。
這就是五星與四星的差別！這樣一來，既不得罪我，也將我帶離其他客人的視線。
It was still too early for lunch. I was working around the hotel while a tall handsome man approached me and greeted me in English, with very affectionate attitude. We began to chit chat. He was a manager at the hotel. He showed me around. Eventually, we arrived at the back yard before a bird. He said that bird could speak. During the meanwhile, he causally asked my reason of visiting and where I was from. Since it was too early for lunch, he recommend me to have a drink in the garden, and ask for him if I needed anything.
This marks the difference between five stars and four. He had tackfully lead me out of the sight of other guests.
從小處也可以看得出這家酒店無微不至，無可挑剔的管理。這是男廁所。洗手液常會滴到洗手檯上。要放個盤子接著，放便宜貨的話，沒格調；放貴的，容易被偷。於是就在便宜貨裡放朵新鮮蘭花。完美！再看：只放一朵，偏一邊放，疏落有致。要是兩邊各放一朵就俗了。這肯定是高人手筆！
The elegance of this hotel is omnipresent. The above picture is taken in gentlemen's room. The washing lotion often drips onto the counter. If a cheap dish is in place, the ambiance would be degraded; an expensive one would raise the concern of theft. So, they place a fresh orchid in a cheap dish. This is just perfect!
Ho Chi Minh City Airport, Viet Nam: Cut off the bottom of a plastic bottle/越南胡志明市機場用的是切下來的寶特瓶瓶底：
沿河的五星級飯店都提供這種船免費接送客人往來附近的捷運站及購物中心。
Five star hotels along the river all offer free water transports to metro station and malls nearby.
當晚，我在夜市買了個大背包。提著它，大搖大擺地要從前門晃進去。離大門還有幾步，司閽朝著我走過來… 問：「先生，您好！我幫您提好嗎？」
That evening, I bought a giant backpack in a night market. When I was about to enter the front door, the door man approached me, and asked "Good evening, sir! Would you like me to carry that for you?"
後來，我在上海遇見個酒店業的大頭，告訴他我對東方文華的印象。他微笑著告訴我，他第一次去東方文華時，才剛進大廳，經理早就在大廳恭候大架。一見他，立刻上前握手，稱「某某先生」－－人家早就將他的資料、照片傳真到酒店了！
Later, in Shanghai, I told my story to a VIP in hotel business. He smiled, and told me his experience. In his first visit to Oriental, as he entered the lobby, a manager approached him and addressed him by name. They had faxed his information and photograph to the hotel way before his arrival!
如果我再回到曼谷，要放鬆、享受一番的話，東方文華將是我不二的選擇！
If I ever return to Bangkok, and plan to pamper myself, Oriental is going to be my only choice!
Since May 20, 2010:
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