SPRING TRIP TO THE FAR EAST

In April we left Comox on a three week trip to Singapore, Bali, Ho Chi Min City and Japan.

We left late one evening on the Central Mountain Air flight to Vancouver where we were catching an Eva Air flight to Taipei en route Singapore.

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Comox to Vancouver

Vancouver to Taipei

As you can see we had a short layover in a very quiet Vancouver Airport.  The flight to Taipei is a long one taking about 12 hours.  The plane they use is a Boeing 747-400 and the upper deck is not the usual higher cost section but regular Economy.  It is like being in a single aisle 737, 3-3 seats.  It is very quiet up there.  Even with the take-off at 2.20 a.m they serve a full meal shortly after take-off.  It is altogether a very nice experience.  The route took us up the coast and North of Fairbanks Alaska before travelling down over South Korea and into the international airport in Taipei just as dawn was breaking, so 12 hours all in the dark.

We had a long layover and enough time to go on a free tour out of the airport.  The morning tour takes you to three places of interest, the town of Sanxia where the main attraction is the Zushi Temple, built in honor of Song Dynasty (960–1279) loyalist Chen Chao-ying.  

Zushi Temple in  Sanxia

Inside the temple

A typical school group

Second port of call was Yingge, where hand-painted replicas of elegant Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) vases, along with other types of artistic and functional ceramics, are produced.  Final stop is The Yingge Ceramics Museum, the first pottery museum in Taiwan and a street with a host  of pottery shops.  Tired as we were it was an interesting morning.

Pots for sale

To prove Robin was there

Back at the airport we boarded our flight to Singapore with Singapore Airlines, deservedly recognized as one of the best airlines in the world. 

On to Singapore

Airbus A330

We were met by David and Sam at the Singapore Airport - Changi  - and took a taxi into the city.  We had arranged to stay at the same hostel we had used before when in Singapore - the Hangout on Mount Emily. We had found this to be an excellent place, very reasonable in a very expensive city.  Only one slight disadvantage, we always had to climb up a long flight of steps to reach the hostel. 

End of Part 1 of 16