Taipei & Typhoons

Graham Parker on 02 October 2015
The last weekend in September is Autumn Festival time in Asia. It is celebrated by a long holiday weekend. So once we knew of the dates we decided we'd book a weekend away in Taipei, it is only a 1 hour 45 minute flight from Hong Kong.

We flew with Hong Kong Airlines business class on Friday evening, the service was excellent and very attentive, we were very pleased we had paid the small sum extra for the flight, even wishing it was slightly longer to enjoy the full flatbed seats and service.

On arrival in Taipei our driver was waiting for us and took us to the kerb, where we waited for him to return with the car. The police are quite fastidious in moving on cars parked, therefore there can be some time between your driver meeting you and returning with the car. The run into town was quick and took a little over 40 minutes.

We had decided to stay at the impressive Grand Hotel on the outskirts of Taipei, built in typical Chinese style. Massive red painted pillars, huge reception rooms and conference facilities.

We were allocated a room on the 9th floor, which was the top floor of the hotel, under the VIP rooms, and a small concert hall. The room was large, very well appointed with tea and coffee facilities, flat screen TV and a large bathroom with separate shower and electric toilet with the welcome warmed seat, and now usual wash, spin and rinse facilities.

Breakfast mainly served Chinese dishes, but there was an egg station, and a nice line in cold meats and cereals. The hotel provides a shuttle bus to nearby MRT stations for quick access to the centre of Taipei. We caught the bus and made our way to the Expo Centre where the bus stops. We purchased two Taipei Passes for two days use on the local bus and underground transport system.

We spent time taking in the sights of Taipei, we visited the Taipei history Museum and the Taipei 101 Tower, where the viewing gallery gives a great view of the city, even through the gloom of the approaching typhoon.

That evening we made our way down to the waterfront for the firework display scheduled to start at 8:30 pm. Crowds were already beginning to gather, the display started just as the rain stopped, so we were able to watch it without the need for a brolly. It lasted around 20 minutes and had been set off from barges in the river and along one of the bridges. We managed to get out of the park and reach the MRT station before much of the crowds. We managed to catch the hotel bus and made our way back to the Grand. We ate in the coffee shop that night, as many of the restaurants local to the display had closed early.

The following day we were watching the progress of Typhoon Dujuan, it was estimated to reach Taipei sometime the following afternoon, so after breakfast we got out early to continue looking around the city.

We went to the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, where the guards perform an impressive changing of the Guard on the hour, every hour. Sadly views are now obstructed by the masses and their mobiles. I still can’t believe most people watch much of their experiences at a later time, they should be enjoyed for the moment.

We made our way to the Red House, and paved shopping areas, all very interesting to visit and people watch. We then made our way to a temple we had been recommended to visit and after a short walk through the city we arrived at Longshan Temple, just as the heavens opened. The temple was most impressive, we arrived just as prayers were taking place, the volume and feeling of chanting was very intense. It gives me goose bumps just thinking of it. We respectfully made our way around the temple, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. As the weather was starting to close in, we decided to return early to the hotel, where again we ate dinner in the restaurant.

As expected Typhoon Dejuan’s effects were starting to make their effects known, with strong winds and driving rain battering the hotel overnight. At the time our driver picked us up for our trip back to the airport the flight was scheduled to depart and was on-time. That afternoon, the typhoon closed in severely, the aircraft for our flight arrived over two hours late, which meant our schedule take off time was right when Taipei would experience the main weather effects of the typhoon. As expected, while we watched the weather close in, the airport became closed to all departing and arriving flights. We sat and watched a B-747 jumbo jet literally rock around its centre wheels, trying to lift off.

Although very frustrating, we were pleased the flight was delayed but as expected, the flow of meaningful information was non-existent. The airport still maintaining the flight would leave on time, even though online flight monitoring software positioned the aircraft still in Hong Kong. The authorities have much to learn when it comes to keeping passengers aware of developments.

So we had an unscheduled extra night in the centre of Taipei. We were bussed to a city centre hotel, where we had something to eat and a large glass of red.

We were due to be picked up at 9 am the following morning, for the trip back to the airport. We woke to a lovely day, if a little breezy, and to the news that the typhoon was now making its way to the Chinese mainland.

We arrived at the airport to find chaos, all flights from earlier the previous day were cancelled and seats had to be found for several thousand passengers. Hong Kong Airlines booked us on one of their other flights, and not our original rescheduled flight. So we arrived back in Hong Kong by 2 pm in the afternoon, which was earlier than expected.

We will go back to Taipei if we get another chance. We hadn't managed a visit to the excellent Taipei National Museum, and several other points of interest that were closed because of the typhoon.