Sunday, 19 November 2023

Taichung Day 21 (return to NZ)

 Honestly, really just have breakfast, sort out the rest of the luggage, packed and ready to go. 

Go and post the last set of postcards, and then prepare the SIM card to be sent back to Dark H, and then watch some TV.

Have a really early lunch (dumplings), and then 二叔 bought the car around so we can load the luggage. Dropped by 四叔's shop and also saw 康康 (恩) there too. Waved goodbye, 四嬸 was out exercising so didn't see her. 二叔 drove me to Chaoma and unloaded the luggage. Waited for the bus together. Bus was late lol. Kuokuang allows 2x pieces of luggage per person and I had to take the carry on with me, but there was only like 5 ppl on board. Since I chose the single row window seat, it just fit in front of me. 

No internet makes it boring.... but GPS still works (slower though). I feel asleep on the bus... wanted to see more of the country as we drove... so only saw brief bits. Driver was really nice and helped unload the luggage once we were at Terminal 2.

Luggage was ok. One was 23.2kg (blue suitcase) and the cardboard box was 21.8kg. :/ My carry on was 9.8kg lol (but they don't check). Deffo bring a digital scale next time. 

Once check in was done and luggage dropped, I headed outside on level 2F, since cars can drop people off here directly. I had my peanut butter bun, and a quick drink, nasal sprayed, re-N95'd and went back in to head towards the gate.

Once through the gate I tried ages to find the Pili display that Ange sent me photos of. Thank goodness there was a clue, Gate D7, but since there was no floor map it took me a while to find it after going the wrong way, and googling a floor map. Then I spent like an hour at that gate taking photos and reading all the displays! All the themed gates are so fun, why can't NZ be like this lol.

I spotted an older European couple wearing headband respirators, one a white duckbill with blue straps (man) and the other a white one of another kind (lady).

5:30pm, time to go to gate, I kept getting distracted and took quick photos of themed gates. They were still boarding when I get there so I saw away from the crowd (looks a full flight and 2 tourist groups) until most of them were gone. I spotted an Asian lady wearing a white duckbill with blue straps again! Same as the man from earlier. 

Thank goodness online check in (always a problem for me) let me pick the last available $0 aisle seat. I hate being trapped. There's waaaay less maskers at the departures airports, and on this flight, too.

I couldn't sleep on the flight, just doze a little and rest my eyes. Watched Elemental. It was kinda nice, the Fire people were definitely implied to be Chinese or Asian immigrants in America. I didn't see D&D so couldn't finish that film lol.

Used the KF94 method for eating and just hope for the best.

We took off late but still landed early so the wind was in favour. There were heaps of people at the egates so took some time to get out. Baggage took a bit, too.

Declared to customs, the officer ended up looking through all my bags so I didn't have to go through the xray. White rice OK! Sweet.

Once out mum and dad picked me up and I got home and started unpacking very slowly. So tired. Feel so yuck. 

Ew work tomorrow. The tomatoes are growing well. Quite a few of the potatoes died, sadly.


I miss Taiwan already.

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