TPE to SFO

This flight was better than the flight to Taipei. Maybe because I had higher hopes for the first flight and I was bracing myself for the worst this flight. It also helps that I had an entire row to myself, although I'm too tall to stretch out (I tried). There is no comfortable way to sleep on a plane. I'm convinced.

I found myself engaged in a series called "Killing Eve" about a spy trying to catch an assassin in Europe. I really enjoyed it and it ate up 5 hours of flight time. A good start!

The food on this flight was good; maybe not better than the first flight but definitely not worse. Chicken and rice with ice cream. Plenty of drinks (read beer and bourbon). Breakfast was eggs and sausage. A sandwich in between as a snack.

My sad conclusion is they're serving basically the same food in business as in the back on the international flights. So many business class international airlines are working to distinguish themselves with service and food. Not United. The only difference is real glass and plates. Otherwise same food.

The service in both is also lacking. It's very transactional. No matter what they are there to run through a script it seems. "Would you like something to drink?" I reply "Yes, please juice and water..." before I can say water she's gone to get juice. No water for you. One drink. When you board on international, would you like some champagne? Sure, what kind is it? I don't know. And it's in a plastic cup. Not even close to a bottle of Dom or Krug brought out and poured into a real champagne flute.

In the end, you feel like you're just being processed. Here's a plate of food. Here's a sandwich. Once they're done, you don't see them again. Regardless of what class you're in. You can go in back or front and ask for something from the flight attendant resting. There is definitely 8 hours of the 12 hours where they want you to sleep and not ask for stuff.

I tried many ways to sleep. Fetal position. Sitting up. Flopping my legs off the side. I probably slept 2 hours total in fitful sleep. Which was fine. I kept envisioning that I was in my big bed. Positive mental attitude. Even though I didn't sleep much, having the entire row to yourself is a mental relief. Nobody to share this space. It is a luxury not to be dismissed. There is personal space luxury that serves some of the same purpose as having your own little "suite" in the sky. Even if it is just 24I-J-K.

I played to Texas Hold'em tournaments and won once. I also used the online wifi free access to United to change my flight to an available earlier flight from SFO-ORD. The time went by faster than I expected (probably due to binge watching the show). Immigration in SFO was in a different configuration from any before, where we used paper forms filled by hand to talk to an immigration officer. No kiosks taking our picture. I really need to get Global Entry and TSA Pre.

Cho Hotel - Taipei

I booked the Cho Hotel on Hotels.com for about $95 a night. I was interested in a smaller hotel with some more character than a typical western brand would provide, and the Cho Hotel really delivered on all fronts.

Upon arrival I was welcomed to the lobby and the decor was pleasant with unique furniture and art on the walls. The check-in was very welcoming, and the staff was very helpful in walking me through the hotel and amenities. I was given a welcome kit with postcards (they will send them for you), breakfast coupons for Cho Cafe, dinner coupons and a map all packed up in a pleasing package. I was also walked through the snack bar in the lobby, with instant noodles and chips and soda complementary throughout my stay.

My room was on the top floor and the hallways maintained the decor style. There were only maybe five floors with rooms so the hotel itself was not large. My room was a deluxe double, which I think meant a double bed and a window. Many of the rooms online were "no windows". My room had a small balcony with a table and chairs which was quaint, although I never used it.

The room was small as I expected, but I loved the decor and style. The bed was more of a futon on a raised platform that was the size of the entire room. The bathroom was large considering how small was the room, and the shower was not distinguished from the sink or toilet. Amenities in the room included a kettle, cups, tea, chocolates. two water bottles. In the bathroom were cups, soap and shampoo. Downstairs there was a display with other bathroom amenities including razors, toothpaste, etc.

I asked for help to make a reservations while I was in Taipei and the staff were more than happy to help. They called on my behalf and later when I returned to the hotel, had the information on my reservation written out for me. I felt the service was exactly what I wanted from a small hotel. They seemed to recognize me and help where ever they could.

The Cho Cafe was a good place to get breakfast, I had a pork bao bun and latte for $110 Taiwan dollars (just under $3USD) with the credit I was given on check-in. The cafe and the hotel lobby both were good places to sit and enjoy the wifi and relax.

Overall, the experience was wonderful. Clean and just what I needed as a single traveler. Not large but big enough and comfortable.

Day Two - Taipei

I got up late because I was up late watching football. I ate breakfast at the Cho Cafe again. Another beautiful coffee and bao bun.

I decided to venture the bus system and hopped a city bus to Da'an park, where I read there was a jade market. After wandering around trying to find the right bus stop, I eventually hopped the 20 bus that took me to Da'an park. The bus let me see more sights than the MRT, and it was only about $0.50 US.

I strolled the park an saw many families out enjoying the day. So many were painting or drawing. So much young artistry. I couldn't find the markets I thought were there, and eventually found across the street under an elevated highway were both a flower market and a jade market.

I walked through the markets seeing many flowers, plants and even lots of bonsai trees. It was cool to see the carved jade in many different shapes. I wasn't buying so just looking was enough for me.

I took an Uber to Taipei 101 tower for my reservation at the worlds tallest Starbucks. The Uber was reasonable about $4 US. I waited in line in the lobby for the appointed time slot. A Starbucks barista came down, ensured we all had reservations, gave us the menu, let us know we each had to spend $250NT (about $8 US) and escorted us upstairs. Apparently every 90 minutes a new batch of people arrives after shuttling out the old as it appeared there was no one there before us.

Also on the 35 floor were two other restaurants; empty of patrons but looked fine to me and with wonderful views. I wonder if you could head up to floor 35 and just eat some sushi with a view?

I walked the malls near the tower, there are tons of large shopping with fun stores and high-end stores and anything you could want. Street performers everywhere. Eventually I took the MRT from the Taipei City Hall station to Ximen station near my hotel.

Still early afternoon but I decided to nap. My body has no idea what time it is. I slept a bunch, woken up by the fire alarm in my hotel saying things in Chinese that I didn't understand. I came down to the lobby and was told all was fine, only a test.

I got up late and walked around my neighborhood about midnight to see what was still open. Turns out almost everything. I bought some fried chicken and munched while I walked. Many shops open until midnight, other food places open later. There are many arcades with claw-games where you can win prizes seemingly open 24 hours.

Back to the hotel to get a few hours sleep before I have to get up at 6am to take the train out to the airport.

Day One - Taipei

I started the day early with a run. I ran to Da'an Park which is like the Central Park of Taipei. Very enjoyable. It was early so there was not much traffic. I learned the people of Taipei go out late at night.

I saw preparations for the Taiwan National Day on Wednesday. Bandstands and blockades. A marching band practiced in front of empty seats.

I ate at the Cho Cafe attached to my hotel. Bao bun and a latte for a little under $3 US. I wrote some postcards and asked my hotel to make a reservation at the world's tallest Starbucks in Taipei 101.

I went walking to see a temple nearby Lungshun Temple. It was beautiful. Many folks there. Some using these two wooden objects like dice, they appeared to pray and then toss them on the ground as some sort of prediction. Dozens of people young and old tossing these wooden pieces shaped like bananas (but painted red).

I got coffee at another coffee shop and continued to look at the shops. I walked up to a leg massage place and got a 30 minute leg massage. Similar to massages I've gotten in Singapore and Bangkok. The foot massage places are everywhere. At noon on Saturday I was the only patron. I walked by the same place at midnight and it was packed.

I came across a crowd of people enjoying noodles. It appeared that everyone who walked by this place had to stop and get a bowl, standing there I saw maybe fifty people all eating the noodles. I had to try them if everyone else was, so I got in line and bought a bowl. Delicious.

I napped knowing I was going to stay up and watch Michigan play football at midnight. With a weather delay is started at 1am and ended around 5am.