Set off at 9.30am to the airport. Shared a cab with J. Every other persons were late. First time tried the auto gates where you insert the passport with the page turned to the one with your dets. gate opens, place thumb on screen for scanning and the second gate opens.
SQ876 took off after queuing for quite sometime under the good sun. I had a feeling that the climate control system was non-existent. We were squeezed so close behind a Tiger Airways plane and in front of an SQ plane like people jostling for positions. I don't know if 12.40 noontime was peak hour @ runway but isn't Changi Airport supposed to be efficient? Not allowed to carry water, no drinks before takeoff, I was parched!
Having learnt my earpopping lesson on MA, I took along some chewy bonbons to masticate during the takeoff.
Lunch on board was chicken w broccoli, salad and broiled prawns with chilled chinese noodles, a bread roll, wrapped up lunch with a magnum ice-cream cone.
2 days earlier we did online check-in to change our seats from the back to the middle section of the plane. It was a hassle and we ran into some problems we still had to queue the same amount of time for our boarding pass at the check in counter that I wondered what is the point of online check in. However, it was a good thing we did secure mid-section seats becos the plane did run into quite a bit of turbulence halfway through even though the pilots did their best to get around the turbulence.
Although there was turbulence, there weren't alot of clouds blocking our view of Taiwan.
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In the light of sunset, the endless mountains, long grey stretches of roads snaking though the land, small dense huddle of building in cities versus the light sprinkling of houses smaller than a grain of rice amidst the neatly planted rows of crops, running rivers versus heavily sedimented and dried out rivers provided an unforgettable view of Taiwan as the shadow of our plane glided past green and gold fields on the slanted beams of the setting sun.
Had a feeling that we reach there after 5.20pm.
On the way to baggage claim was a quarantine post. Hl was stopped by an official as the thermal sensor indicated that her entire forehead was red. The rest of us decided to go to the loo while she filled out forms. While waiting for my turn, I was secretly tickled that they actually thought to change the name of the airport from CKS Airport to Taoyuan Airport even on a small thing such as the toilet air freshener. If it was up to me, I'd wait for the sprayer to be spoilt before I'd decide to change it, from a pragmatic economical viewpoint.
In the cubicle wall behind the loo was a sign telling users to please throw their used toilet paper in dustbin and not bowl and provided an inkling of the sanitary system of Taiwan for days to come. It was the first time I did not throw it straight into the bowl as it would strain the sewage system.
After Hl filled out her contact details, we left for get our baggage. As we still had much time on our hands before travelling to Terminal 1 to meet our landtour group at 7+pm, we decided to raid the tourist information counter for pamplets, maps and brochures. Signed up for the free international student pass that allows us to have student discounts in certain places.
The pass is a rubbery bookmark-like keychain that can be hanged on bags and it is accompanied by a cute pin with a note that enlighened me on the Naruwan Taiwan logo.
Written on the note: "T" represents the sheltering eaves of Taiwan in a symbol of the island as a warm home. The "a" represents the host of this home, ardently welcoming travelors to Taiwan. "i" is the traveller who has come to visit and is being received by the host and "w" is the host and visitor shaking hands and greeting each other happily. "an" represents the two sitting together drinking tea and chatting casually. On the upper right corner of the logo is an image of the island that expresses Taiwan's earnest and sincere desire to "Touch your Heart".
Took the shuttle bus to Terminal 1 and stopped at a little cafe near the bus ticketing counters for a rest while we check out the buses available and if necessary make transport arrangements to take us back to the Airport on the last day. Decided on Free Go cos unlike other buses it stops directly infront of FS hotel that we are staying on the last day. Bus fare: NT$135.
During the rest time, we tried out our phones and discovered that those using prepaid cards could receive calls from subscription plan mobiles but could not call out to other s'pore mobiles and each sms cost S$1 to $2+ for S'pore mobiles to S'pore phones *gasps*.
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In case we need to contact hotels or each other during the free and easy part of our stay and we need to call back to singapore to our families, we signed up for 2 sets of the cheapest local prepaid IF for NT$300 with NT$400 talktime at the Far East Tone telecom counter situated at the right of the arrival gate which is so much cheaper. Calling to Singapore costs NT$0.075/min on weekends and NT$0.085 on weekdays. To call, simply dial +65 followed by the singapore telephone number will do. To call a taiwan landline, you will need to add area code e.g 02 for Taipei in front of the telephone number. To call a taiwan mobile number, dial 09 blahblahblah whichever number it is will do. The telcom have service licenses for GSM1800 (islandwide) and GSM900 (northern region) . To check value of card, dial "777" They will need to photostat your passport in order to sign you up. You can visit www.fetnet.net for more details.
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