My latest trip was to Taipei with my mum and sis for some shopping and sightseeing as they have not been there for quite some time. Also my sis wanted to visit the famous ximending street.

08/05/2004
Singapore – Taipei
Singapore Airlines SQ 872
B777-200 9V-SRF
STD: 0830 STA: 1305
ATD: 0845 ATA: 1255
Departure Gate: F40
Arrival Gate: C2

Arrived at Changi airport at about 0715 and proceeded to check-in. As it is not yet the holiday season, the check-in counters are not that crowded and processed very quickly. Got seats 49H,J, K. Then, we proceeded through immigration, which again, have no queues, and headed to the duty-free shops. My mum bought some cosmetics from the shops before we proceed to the gate. When we reach the gate at about 0810, boarding was already underway.
Boarded the aircraft and was greeted by the chief steward and a flight stewardess at the door. Also newspapers were offered from a trolley on the aerobridge just before the door. We then walked to our seat at the center cabin, just before the toilets. This particular aircraft (9V-SRF) does not yet have the Wiseman 3000 system and it is also my second time onboard this aircraft (the 1st being 2 years ago on an army chartered flight back from Kaohsiung). The passenger load on this flight is really very low, with approximately only one-third of the seats occupied. In fact, the middle column of seats in the rear economy cabin was almost empty. On the seats were a pillow and a blanket. Amenity kits were not handed out on this flight but plenty is available in the toilets. After the doors were closed, we spread ourselves out. Each person can have 3 seats to him/herself if desired. We pushed back at about 0835. Hot towels and headsets (the more comfortable overhead ones and not the clip-on ears ones) were offered. The flight stewardess serving my aisle was an Indian and a Taiwanese. Both were very friendly, particularly the Indian flight stewardess. All announcements were made in English and mandarin (mandarin announcements by the Taiwanese stewardess). The estimated flight time is 4h.
During pushback, the same cheesy safety video was shown. Lights were then dimmed as we taxied to runway 02R for takeoff towards the north. Took off at 0845 and the flight path took us towards
Tekong, turning left towards Mersing, turning right again to the South China Sea and tracking straight towards Taiwan, over flying the western towns of Taiwan like Kaohsiung and Taichung before hitting Taipei. This is through my own perceptions as the airshow is not in operation throughout the entire flight flight. What a disappointment!! No airshow and no Wiseman 3000. Luckily the rest of the entertainment options worked fine, with the exception of the radio channels, which were broadcasting music for flights into Singapore instead of flights out of Singapore.
Once the seatbelt sign was turned off, menus were distributed, followed by 2 rounds of drink service of orange juice or water on trays (Hey, its still morning. Who wants to drink beer/wine in the morning). However other beverages are also available if one desires. The cruising altitude was about 12100m (??feet). Then, brunch was served. The menu is as follows.

Brunch from Singapore to Taipei

Fruit
Fruit appetizer
(One slice of papaya and pineapple each and three grapes)

Wholesome beginnings
Singapore carrot cake
Singapore style fried savoury radish rice cake with prawns and egg
Or
Baked crepe with scrambled egg, chicken sausage, sautéed mushrooms and hash brown potato
(Had this. All I can say is that I should have gone for the carrot cake. The egg is not scrambled, but mashed)

Dessert
Chocolate banana cake with vanilla sauce
(This tasted heavenly, just like a dessert in a high-class restaurant.)

From the bakery
Roll
Butter – Fruit preserve
(Can’t find the fruit preserve on my tray, or in anybody’s tray, for that matter.)

Hot beverages
Coffee –Tea
Chinese tea

I also had a cup of fresh milk with my meal. The meal service was fast due to the low load. Two rounds of coffee/tea/drinks service were offered with the meal. After the meal, duty free sales was offered. There was a 10% sale for certain products in may/june so as to coincide with the great S’pore sale. Then, it was time to stretch out and watch a movie on Krisworld entertainment system. I really miss the Wiseman 3000 system. Drink patrols are done every half an hour. If one desires, there are two drinking water fountains on the B777s at the toilet areas. When we overflow Kaohsiung, I was able to spot Kaohsiung international airport from the left windows. Descend soon started and the skies started turning hazy. When we approached Taipei, the haze was so thick that nothing could be seen until soon before touchdown. We flew out towards the seabefore turning back for a Rwy 24 approach. Had a firm touchdown and braked heavily with the aid of thrust reversers and brakes. After so many B777 flights, this is the first time that I could hear the thrust reversers being used on landing. We arrived about 10min ahead of schedule and parked at gate C2 at Chiang Kai Shek international airport terminal two. Deboarded with the usual farewells and thanks by the crew members. The crew will be stopping over in Taipei for 1 day before operating the next day’s SQ 871 flight back to SIN. I thought that they will be doing a turnaround flight as it was only a 4h flight but this was obviously not the case. Also the Raffles class seats are the Ultimo light ones.