Taiwan - a wonderful experience...

[munitalP]

Taipei Day 4

Up and packed – I hate this knowing I am heading home, I need better time management so I can spend at least a few days in cities such as Taipei where there is so much to see and do.

My itinerary is for a late afternoon flight from Taipei to Singapore, overnight at the Clarke Quay Novotel, a day in Singapore then the late overnighter to Melbourne.

My host picked me up at around 1030 and we done a whirlwind tour of Taipei. We went to the Imperial Hotel – the art on display in the lobby – fantastic. We went to the hero’s memorial where we caught the “change of guard”. This was followed by a tour through the Taiwan Democracy Memorial then lunch at TGI Fridays where I had a burger and a couple of beers. After lunch we went on a ride on the bullet train from Taipei to Taichung return to Taoyuan (closest stop to the airport).

After bidding my farewells and thank you to my host, I went in to join the line for the business check in. I needed to deposit a camera lens into my main suit case and while doing that, I looked up and saw the Singapore Airline ticketing desk in front of me. I grabbed a jumper from my case and headed to the ticketing counter. I asked if I could connect to Melbourne which was done without a hassle and I headed through immigration to the Business lounge where I contacted the Novotel and got my pre-paid booking placed in credit then rung Mrs! and let her know to pick me up the next morning.

Taipei / SIN / Melbourne

TPE/SIN was a lumpy bumpy flight where the pilot flew around the outskirts of a Typhoon and where the bumps didn’t cease until we were descending into SIN. I was in seat 14K (772) with a recline that didn’t go flat but was reasonable and comfortable. I slept (dozed) most of the way only to awake for a drink and a cheese platter planning to get something to eat on the next leg.

Again I needed to transit T2 to T3 at Singapore and I had no time at all at Changi. By the time I had reached the gate, my flight was closed and I was one of the final few to board. Lucky I didn’t need the toilet and did know my way around Changi – I really did think that my luggage would not be in MEL when I got there, this connection was amazingly tight…

SIN / Melbourne

I climbed into 18K (773) and settled down to a quick 6.5 hour flight to MEL. I ordered dinner and a drink with instruction to wake me for dinner. I reclined my seat, used my eye shade from the previous flight, pulled up the blanket and was out like a light.

The FA awoke me asking if I wanted a drink (!) to which I asked for a water and cancelled my dinner request. I tossed and turned in a semi sleep in what would have to be the worst J seat I have ever been in (excluding the old QF domestic J). The seat managed to be “not quite” comfortable in every aspect. With the seat in front fully reclined there wasn’t quite enough room for my feet with my leg rest up. My leg rest wasn’t quite long enough and my feet overhang the end. The shape of the seat wasn’t quite right leaving a huge gap between the seat and your body if trying to lay on your side (solved by placing a pillow at about my hip position, the tray table had been modified due to a previous breakage and didn’t quite fold out correctly…
The seat was the bulk head seat. The 3 class 773 dies not that a abolition facility of the galley between J and Y. I had my #1 hate happening right behind me on the other side of the thin bulkhead, a screaming baby. Ear plugs instead of my iPod.

The service was ordinary, slow and the FA’s didn’t follow instruction.
Singapore Airline had me as a new customer for international flights right up until SQ237 on the 26th of July. I’m sorry to say, but the service was no better than any other airline and I have had far better on Qantas. The seating was ordinary on all my flights compared to the skybed’s of Qantas and the final flight left me feeling tired and sore from an ordinary seat.
In summary…

Taipei – go there if you haven’t been there especially if like me, you love good food.

SIA – expectations met, exceeded then shattered

MEL – best city in the world even if there was a 31 degree temperature change from Taipei J

[auriga]

Enjoyed your report! Thanks.

[Elvin Yeo]

I have been to Taiwan twice and i love the food there.
The night market is a must to visit.

[QF009]

Have just changed swapped a trip to HKG for one in TPE for Easter next yr.

[Elvin Yeo]

Have just changed swapped a trip to HKG for one in TPE for Easter next yr.

I havent been to HKF before. I hope you have fun

[Evan]

I thought the bulle train looked similar to Japan... as you would expect given what else can you buy, French, German, Japanese....
Its the same as they use in JR West 700 series i think.

Photo Gallery

[Alanslegal]

Have just changed swapped a trip to HKG for one in TPE for Easter next yr.

And does this mean you are forgoing Easter weekend in HKG?

[QF009]

And does this mean you are forgoing Easter weekend in HKG?

Yep, sorry about that. Just cannot make another visit to TPE work at any other time and i really do want to go back to TPE.

[dajop]

Singapore Airline had me as a new customer for international flights right up until SQ237 on the 26th of July.

Yes SQ 237 is not at all the best flight (unless operated by a 744), regional equipment whilst perfectly comfortable for the day flight is not at all comfortable overnight. And you really do have to make it clear to FA's whether you want to be disturbed or not - I always skip supper, and ask them only to serve me breakfast if I'm awake.

Now if you caught SQ 218 back the other direction departing at a similar time (and operated by a 77W with the new business class), I am sure your experience would be vastly different. My theory is that SQ238 in particular currently has no competition directly to/from SE Asia from MEL, from QF, TG, MH - or EK, so we get the crap equipment. I hear rumours that MH may be operating a third, similarly timed flight - I wonder if there will be a change in equipment then on SQ.

Oh, BTW, thanks for the Trip Report, really enjoyed reading it!

[munitalP]

Oh, BTW, thanks for the Trip Report, really enjoyed reading it!

Your welcome...

THanks to everyone

Mr!