Taipei Wonders [China Airlines] CI 162 TPE-ICN (Taipei/Taoyuan->Seoul/Incheon) trip report [중화항공] CI 162 타이페이/타오위안->서울/인천 탑승기

CI 162 TPE-ICN (Taipei/Taoyuan->Seoul/Incheon)

DEP TPE 16:20 27 FEB 2013

ARR ICN 20:00 27 FEB 2013

Duration: 2:40

Aircraft: B737-700

Following my last trip report (Korean Air KE 691 ICN->TPE Trip Report Link), I'm posting my trip report back from Taipei/Taoyuan Airport to Seoul/Incheon Airport. Unlike the previous flight, this flight was with China Airlines, and the flight number was CI 162. The aircraft was B737-700, and seats had no AVOD system on them. 

Taipei/Taoyuan is currently divided in to Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, both dominated by China Airlines and EVA Airlines.  

Korean Air counter in Taipei/Taoyuan Airport.

Many construction activities were taking place within the terminal and around both terminals. I believe Terminal 3 was under construction at this time.

I was able to use the China Airlines business lounge this time, since Korean Air and China Airlines were both Skyteam members.

Dim sums and Chinese Pork Buns.

The touch-screen ordering system for noodles.

After you place an order, the cook prepares it right away.

I was starving to death, so it was perfect timing for me.

I saw many Japanese businessmen in the lounge. Overall, it was a quiet lounge with good ambiance. The only bad thing is that it did not have exterior windows.

My boarding pass for today's flight.

I was debating whether purchase this 1:200 A380-800 Korean Air model. I eventually bought the model in the end. It set me back about 60 USD (which was pretty good deal).

In order to board the B737, we had to take an airport shuttle from the gate.

The B737 China Airlines.

Unfortunately, no AVOD system here.

Waiting for push-back.

In-flight meal service commenced about an hour after take off. The choices was either fish or beef.

 

It was probably one of the worst meals I've ever had in-flight. The meal wasn't fish.. it was some kind of fish cake that felt way too dry. The sauce that came with the dish wasn't even good either.

Overall, not an eventful flight. We arrived into Korean Airspace in no time.  

 

 

 

 

Taipei Wonders [Korean Air] KE 691 ICN-TPE (Seoul/Incheon->Taipei/Taoyuan) trip report [대한항공] KE 691 서울/인천->타이페이/타오위안 탑승기

First time with Korean Air Special Livery plane!

KE 691 ICN-TPE (Seoul/Incheon->Taipei/Taoyuan)

DEP ICN 10:00  24 FEB 2013

ARR TPE 11:50 24 FEB 2013

Flight duration: 2:50

Aircraft: A330-200

This trip report marks my first time going to Taiwan, and my first time going on business trip within Asia!  I booked my own flights for this trip, booking Seoul/Incheon-Taipei/Taoyuan roundtrip on China Airlines website.  The outbound flight was code-shared with Korean Air.  The returning flight was with China Airlines B737 (Trip Report for TPE-ICN CI 162 here).  With my dad's help, I was able to gain access to business lounges for Korean Air and China Airlines at Seoul/Incheon Airport and Taipei/Taoyuan Airport, respectively.  

The flight was KE 691 and the aircraft for today's flight was a A330-200 with special livery. The flight was due to leave at 10:00 from ICN, arriving into TPE 11:50 (two hour flight).

A panoramic view from a Korean Air business lounge in the main terminal near Gates 9 and 10.

Not too much choices this morning in terms of food.  There were bacon, deep fried sweet potatoes, Korean style rice porridge, muffins/breads, and some ramen.

Panoramic shot of the Korean Air business lounge.

There was a gigantic A380 model at the business lounge entrance.

My first time ever to board a Korean Air special livery plane.

The clean interior look of Korean Air A330. The layout is 2-4-2 for economy.  Each seats had the new economy AVOD system.

You can see how cold it was outside...

AVOD System

There was airshow which was provided by the AVOD system through cameras on nose and belly.

Flying past Mokpo City.

The choices were Bibimbap or fish. I went with the fish.

As we were flying away from the Korean airspace.

A full movie later, the plane started descending.

This would be my first time ever to land in Taiwan. I've always had a good look at the Taipei/Taoyuan Airport on the flights between Korea and Hong Kong.

Quiet cabin

Right before landing into Taipei/Taoyuan Airport.

And here we are, in Taiwan!

Big Taiwan flags are proudly hung on the terminals.

Taiwan felt like a mix between Hong Kong and Tokyo.  It's an unique Asian city, in my personal opinion.

Taipei 101 is indeed a gorgeous looking skyscraper.

Taipei 101 also looks like some Chinese takeout boxes stacked up in the middle of the city.

I checked out the Lantern Festival near the Shilin Night Market.

A family event near the lantern festival.

The Taipei MRT is very similar to Hong Kong's MTR and Singapore's MRT.

The seafood dish near Keelung Port!

Taiwanese style miso soup

Fish fry (forgot which type of fish)

I got to experience the fastest elevators in the world while going up the Taipei 101.

Great night city views from the top of the Taipei 101.

The mass damper within the building. It's supposed to help with swinging/swaying of the building from wind loads and earthquakes.

Shilin Night Market! One of the best street-food eating experiences I've experienced in the world. With about Taiwanese currency equivalent to 10USD, I ate my hearts out that night.

Oyster pancake was excellent.

Fresh from the seas.

Chicken cutlets.

Vegetables wrapped with meat skewers

Hot dog rice bun.

Mango shaved ice. Now I know why there's such craze about this shaved ice among my Taiwanese American friends.

 

Click the following link for China Airlines CI 162 TPE-ICN trip report

<http://flightsinsider.blogspot.com/2013/03/china-airlines-ci-162-tpe-icn.html>