I've always hated these expensive hotels, particularly in Asia. I used to regularly make fun of the Shangri-La in Beijing back when I was living there, and looked down a bit on the people who stayed there. Even while traveling on business, I would opt for cheaper alternatives, regardless that I wasn't picking up the tab.

Henning relishes his role as "corruptor." First he has to drag Jan and me out to the one "Western" section of Kinabalu, a pedestrian street with a Pizza Hut and a disco. We stay out far too late, but I find the experience interesting, particularly because it is one I wouldn't have had on my own.

The Shangri-La beds are good and the shower water is hot, the first I've seen in Asia during this trip. Our breakfast buffet the next morning is excellent. We can soak our sore legs in the whirlpool and loosen up on the bike and rowing machines. Henning rents a small sailboat and goes out around the islands while I go for a swim.

What can I say? I consider myself corrupted a bit. I enjoyed my stay at the Shangri-La. I may never live this down with my hardcore backpacking friends and Henning will always have this over me. I'm not the first to fall to his temptations.