My god…the traffic in Taipei is just insane today. I’m running around doing a variety of things before I fly outta here tomorrow night, and it is just a filthy bastard out there. No one cares about anyone. No one is obeying the rules (or what semblance of rules are usually followed). It’s just dog-eat-dog.
I noticed the difference already, pre-Chinese New Year, this Tuesday, but it’s steadily build up to an angry tied-up mess of insanity.
Anyone else see it, feel it, smell it?
Also, just curious what anyone might have to say about how long it will take me by taxi from Taipei to CKS airport (sorry, I’m still calling it that…) tomorrow night. I want to be there at 9pm to check-in and have an airport taxi picking me up at 6:30pm from Nan-Jing East Rd sec 4. Is that enough time? 2.5 hours? On a normal day, and I use that phrase loosely, it’s 45 min. I’ve been here a long time and know the routine, but I’ve never been getting off the island on CNY eve.
I left Danshui last year on a Friday afternoon around 4:00 on the Dragon Boat Festival weekend and it took me a good 2 hours to get as far as the airport interchange. Mind you I don’t drive like a cabbie, but I’d bump up that pick-up time just to be safe.
Tomorrow night is going to be mad. Last day of work, everyone will be running around like mad, traveling to their hometowns. I’d allot 90 minutes for the trip to the airport.
Took my wife fully 90 minutes from Taoyuan to home late yesterday afternoon. And we live at the southernmost tip of Hsindian – don’t even enter Taipei at all. SHe said traffic was just as bad if not worse getting out there. She was back there again today. Could see the airpost interchange before she got caught up in it and opted to drive back via Guangdu, it was that bad. Total tailback stretching for several kilometers.
Glad I decided to fly straight to Kao Hsiung. Though I suspect it may take me more than the usual 45min to get to kanting (not kenting)
Can’t wait…gonna get me some tripe soup with basil to start. Then I’ll have some passion fruit shaved ice with peanuts with a side order of sliced green tomotoes with sauce (heavy soy, confectioners sugar & garlic). Maybe I’ll drive over to Donggang and get some sushi and crabs (the kind with 3 blue dots) for dinner. After hours might go over to chaochou for some yang rou lu. Either that or I’ll get some 山產
Make sure an add in extra check-in time. You should be at Taoyuan at 2000 for your 2100 flight , so you’re giving yourself 2 1/2 hours before the check-in cut off on the busiest travel day of the year. It’s a bit close, as the checkin line is probably a bit loco. I’d leave at 1800 or even 1730 and not be late.
I couldn’t believe it…neither could the taxi driver…I got from Nan-Jing E Rd in Taipei to CKS airport in 45 min on Friday night, leaving at 6pm. Glad to have had no traffic trouble, but that left me with an extra 2 hours to spend at the fun and exciting Terminal 2. The traffic was thinner than even a regular Friday night. Go figure…
That’s great! My brother-in-law came out here today in 3 hours, usually takes 35 minutes. I figure the traffic will get worse now that everyone is done doing the family thing and get busy thinking they have to go somewhere.
EDIT: Went for a great bike ride yesterday with the wife. Great “bicycle way” from SanDiMen三地門 to LiGang里港 along the river. UnFUCKINGbelievably still had to contend with motorists from time to time.
Arseholes gallor, there were on the last working day. I really felt that is guns had been legalised here, there would have been a drastic shortage of bullets that Friday night. Bagdad eat your heart out. Is civil war that much different to Chinese New Year traffic?
Finally ( after 17 years) the cops here in Taitung started putting up checks to stop lane-jumpers. Glorious moment - came round a curve and found all the bastards who had been passing on the inside shoulder lined up getting tickets :bravo: