Cycle 17 – Item 234
Post 6,078
27 (Thu) August 2026
Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup
2.5
at China Airlines Business Class Lounge
(Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport)
-Taoyuan, Taipei, Taiwan-
solo
Feathering the (Kid’s New) Nest: Day 9 of 9
-
- Day 1 (17.226 Premium Seafood Trio in Dried Scallop Sauce)
- Day 2 (17.227 Boston Lobster with Ginger & Scallions)
- Day 3 (17.228 Vodka Sicilian Pizza)
- Day 4 (17.229 Pizza with Chanterelle Mushrooms and Gremolata)
- Day 5 (17.230 Carne Asada Burrito)
- Day 6 (17.231 Jjamppong)
- Day 7 (17.232 Sushi Dinner)
- Day 8 (17.233 Grilled Beef Tenderloin and Lobster Tail with Whole Grain Mustard Sauce)
- Day 9 (17.234 Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup)
In transit, flying back to Seoul via Taipei. DJ, upon finishing his freshman year at Cal, has moved out of the dorms and rented an apartment. Though my parents didn’t (physically) help to furnish my first apartment (financially, yes), DJ seemed hopelessly lost on what needed to be done and utterly incapable of getting it done, so here I am. Always happy for an excuse to visit Berkeley – 3rd year in a row (see previously 16.228 Korean Beef Short Rib with Vegetables Wraps; 15.182 Top). Mission accomplished, for the most part.
BREAKFAST
– China Airlines Business Lounge –
Time stamp: 17:28 (SFO) / 08:28 (TPE) / 09:28 (ICN)
Arriving in Taipei at 08:00, over 3 hours late, I missed my connecting flight to Incheon, which had departed at 07:55. I was rebooked on a Korean Air flight scheduled to depart at 13:00 and issued a lounge pass.
One of the better lounges in my experience, probably gets better in the evening.
LUNCH
– China Airlines Business Lounge –
Time stamp: 20:39 (SFO) / 11:39 (TPE) / 12:39 (ICN)
Nearing noon, I passed out. Not entirely sloshed, but I’d been steadily imbibing for over 22 hours, so pretty drunk.
I woke up at 13:30, 30 minutes after the scheduled departure time of my flight to Incheon. Fortunately (if that’s the appropriate sentiment), it had been delayed 2 hrs to 15:30.
Time elapsed: 1 hr (transit, Berkeley to SFO) + 2.5 hrs (lounge) + 4.5 hrs (delay) + 12 hrs (flight) + 5.5 hrs (layover) + 2 hrs (delay) = 27.5 hrs
DINNER
– Korean Air KE 2022 –
Time stamp: 00:36 (SFO) / 15:36 (TPE) / 16:36 (ICN)
After boarding, the plane sat on the tarmac for over 2 hours, citing various issues with air traffic control and maintenance.
Finally, the plane took off at 17:44.
Time elapsed: 1 hr (transit, Berkeley to SFO) + 2.5 hrs (lounge) + 4.5 hrs (delay) + 12 hrs (flight) + 5.5 hrs (layover) + 2 hrs (delay) + 2 hrs (delay) + 2.5 hrs (flight) + 1.5 hrs (transit, ICN to home) = 33.5 hrs
I arrived home at 22:30.
Not sure if the trip was the longest in my experience (e.g., Manila to Paris/Istanbul to Geneva, Manila to Incheon to Nadi to Suva might’ve take longer), but it felt long. I’m grateful that the business class ticket made things a bit more comfortable, though I suppose that a direct coach flight could’ve avoided the (transit) delays altogether (maybe).
(See also RESTAURANTS IN TAIWAN)
(See BUSINESS CLASS LOUNGING)
(See IN-FLIGHT DINING)
(See BUSINESS CLASS DINING)
(See GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)
(See BOOZE)