Even though my flight was 1035, I decided it was best to wake early at 0600 so we could head to the airport to avoid the traffic. Leaving home at 0620, the traffic had built up in lead up to the motorway but it was smooth running all the way to the airport thereafter.
At the airport 3h15 before departure, I wasn’t able to do a mobile or kiosk check-in, presumably because I had an open-jaw ticket into Taiwan but out of Singapore. The agent at the help-desk didn’t know why I wasn’t able to do a kiosk-check in and in casual fashion took down details of my flight exiting Taiwan only because I offered. He didn’t even sight my ticket.
I killed time at the lounge and worked through some schedule changes for future trips and ate lightly.
My new bag is more compact and lighter than the previous meaning that my hand-carry came in at 6.4kg including laptop.
Boarding my Air New Zealand 787, the crew member in my area was super-cheerful and always offering to help everyone with everything. I was seated in an aisle seat in Premium Economy with a paid upgrade which was approved at the last minute. I would probably have been happier back in Economy where three seats would have been quite a possibility today.
For lunch, only the pork belly was left when it got to my turn. It was stewed in soya sauce in a traditional Taiwanese style. It was largely fat and skin (because of what it is). My grandmother would have loved it but not me. Perhaps times have changed and most people are conscious of their diet. Six of the seven Taiwanese sitting around me hardly touched their meals, eating around the fat and skin too.
Six out of seven people I saw having this meal didn’t finish it.
Fortunately the in-between meal snack and the dinner of beef cheek was delicious (but barely warm).
The amazing crew member in my area Lynne, remained amazing the whole flight! She must love her job, or either that, she’s not only faking it well but keeping it up for 11 hours!
We landed early at 1610 instead of 1650. With a bit of a wait for disembarkation and the walk, I got to immigration at 1645 where I waited for an hour, just like the last visit.
Landside, I encountered some ATM hassles with my Mastercard-based card but fortunately my Visa-based one worked. At Taipei Main Station, I was deceived by the map (which was drawn with North at the bottom), and took the wrong exit, walking in the completely wrong direction!
I eventually go to Backpackers Inn at 1930, not far from the station. I had a single room with bathroom and it turned out lovely.
I was ready for bed but nipped out to get a little fruit and water before retiring.