28/01/2018

2018-01-19 to 20 [Flight & Lounge Report] HKG-TPE HX284 and CX531 + HX & CX Lounge Reports + Taipei Touch & Go



What's my feeling today?

'I could not say a word at all.' Danbo said......


Trip Summary

2018-01-19    HX284@HKG-TPE
2018-01-20    Yong Kang Beef Noodle + CX531@TPE-HKG


How a short trip this time.

Actually, it is not my original trip plan, and there should be visited more place and many activities for almost a whole weekend in Taipei. How unfortunately, because of a really last minute call for OT work, I made use of the Asiamiles to order a signal return flight ticket on top of the original ticket, and back to Hong Kong immediately for the OT work this time.

Really a sad story, and how a stupid Taipei weekend trip I did this time.



2018-01-19@The trip has been started...


As the flight was operated by HX, it should be no doubt to the Midfield concourse directly.

The environment in the lounge was comfortable, and it was not crowded and quiet too. Unlike CX or SQ lounge at HKG, which are full of visitors and keeping noisy anytime.

The food quality in HX new lounge at Midfield concourse Club Autus should be just in average only, especially the tasteless Wonton Noodle, it should be the worst one in my opinion, and the best staff should be the Shumai(燒賣)...

The boarding pass today...

The memory error was not being handled...

HKG "a must" check-in point...LOL

The flight today, HX284@HKG-TPE(B-LNP, A330)...

A330 safety card, the fading out color is an evidence of its age...

The cabin SNAP shot, and the passengers loading were really full.

The Orient Thai Airlines B747 was still parked near 07R for over 2 years.

The in-flight meal today, it was a so-called "Air-Bun" and finally I did not have this any more as I was very full this time and wasted the food this time. (My fault! >_<)

The in-flight coffee and the cup, the cup was beautiful but the coffee was really tasteless at all. It should be no doubt that the HX in-flight coffee is one of the worst coffee among the carriers today.

Arrived TPE with around 10 minutes delay finally, and TPE was raining...

As same as BR, HX is also using TPE terminal 2...

The raining became heavy when I arrived Taipei Main Station...

Arrived the capsule style cabin hotel and take rest then.


This was the first time I flew to Taipei with HX operated flight. Actually, there was not much expectation on HX flight service and the consideration was only based on the fare, which was the lowest HKG-TPE flight ticket I bough.

In addition, as I could access HX lounge by the credit card when I take the HX flight, so the poor quality of the I flight meal would not be a problem to me in such less than 2 hours flight too.


2018-01-20@Taipei ...


Today Taipei main station, it was a cloudy day.

Travelled by subway to Dongmen Station.

The only thing I did in Taipei this time that just ate a beef noodle at Yong Kang Beef Noodle, one of the famous beef noodle restaurant among the local at Taipei.

You could able to see the kitchen when you are in the queue.

The recommended menu, with a simple description by English and Japanese.

The dining hall was not very formal, and as the 2nd floor could not be operated, the 1st floor was crowdy and required to waiting for around 15 minutes.

The Steamed pork ribs arrived first, it was not really impressive but only a typical traditional Taiwanese style food.

The Braised beef noodle, the noodles made with thin noodles, which are tradition Taiwanese style beef noodles, The soup was a spicy soup, but it was fine to me. The most impressive thing of this noodles should be the beef, which was wonderful with good and smooth feeling, and I should be one of the best beef noodles I have tasted.

Then turned back and directly to the TPE and check in at Terminal 1 on Cathay counter.

After check-in and proceed to the immigration then went to the Cathay TPE Lounge because of the Oneworld Sapphire status.

This was my 2nd time to visit the TPE Cathay Lounge.

The overall style of the TPE Cathay Lounge is more or less same as The Pier at HKG. The typical Cathay lounge design.

Ordered a bubble milk tea, which is a special drink only served on Cathay TPE lounge. Do not miss this when you have a chance to visit here.

Then, I have a dim sum(Shumai) and a beef noodle at Cathay lounge. Actually, the quality of the beef noodle in Cathay lounge was very delicious too.

The second round was ordered the Cathay delight (Cathay signature drink), a panini and a beef noodle. The panini actually was nothing special at all.

The Taiwan immigration chops were on the paper visa instead of the passport because of the political reason. Eventually, it saved some pages on the visa, but I am not really happy on this at all.

The return flight boarding pass. It was a pain design since Cathay modified the design to just black and white as the event of the cost down.

I have finished some OT works by the notebook at the lounge. Danbo said how a stupid man to touch and go Taipei with no rewards.

When I arrived the B5 departure hall, the passengers were almost on board the flight.

The passengers loading were not very full today. It is suspected not very rare at this is a return flight on Saturday night.

The return flight is a well known 7773Z with regional fixed shell seat configuration, CX531@TPE-HKG(B777-300, B-HNG)...

Also, the captain announced that the flight held by both TPE and HKG ATC for a while due to the busy traffic of the airport at night. It is quite common according to my personal experience.

The in-flight meal today is Taiwanese Pan-Fried Rice Noodles, actually, it was very well and an amazing dish I have ever tasted in a Cathay flight at all.

The RR engine and the Hong Kong night view.

Finally arrived HKG with no delay.

Parked to the docking at the main concourse, and next to a Cathay B777. The trip finished with just touch and go this weekend, how a sad experience and an expensive trip with no reward. T_T"


This time I was challenged to break my personal record of the lowest cost weekend travel to Taiwan and failed because of the reason of an unforseeable OT work. And just flown to Taipai for a beef noodle, how expensive of this beef noodle. LOL.

In conclusion, I was failed on this weekend trip to Taipei any more. In fact, I like to visit Taiwan for a 2 days weekend trip because it could be a good balance between my personal busy works and schedule.

How a really, really sad story at all.







21/01/2018

2018-01-18 [Aviation Joking] Welcome to Throw your Coins for Luck



Just a funny sharing and say a joke today...

However, only aviation fans have the knowledge about this logo...The Rolls Royce Flight Engine Sticker,of course, the sticker is only a copy only...

This RR engine sticker notebook is welcome for "Throw your coins for Luck". Danbo said...

This thinkpad X230 is a good platform for the sticker decoration. Adding some of the personal markings made it colorful?! but not just a plain black color. Also, not like the Vaio Pro, the thinkpad X230 is also cheap enough for a replacement, and no needs to worry about the removal of the sticker and marking.

In conclusion, how a wonderful playground of this thinkpad X230, not only on the modification ability, but also the flexibility too.


19/01/2018

2018-01-17 [Dinning Comments & Restaurant Reviews] "The Best Value for Money" Baked Pork Chop Rice in Hong Kong@Star River Restaurant(星河餐廳)



We are going to visit a restaurant@Sham Shui Po Area...

Star River Restaurant(星河餐廳), actually there is no official English name of this restaurant. It is a completely localized shop and pleases expected that no English menus and service too.

The fixed tea menu with many choices available between 14:00 to 18:00 daily with the tea set discount.

The most famous menu at Star River Restaurant - Baked Pork Chop Rice is also available for $35 only!

I was added $3 to have a cold lemon tea drink. As one of a traditional in Hong Kong, the volume of the lemon - total 4 pieces cutting lemon in the lemon tea. According to the nowadays market price of a lemon, you may really feel that the added up $3 with 'a great value of money'.

The main dish today should be the Baked Pork Chop Rice. As the Baked Pork Chop Rice here will be made upon order instead of pre-order-made, so you should be patient to wait for almost 15 minutes. Also, please caution that the plate is really, really, really hot, as the plate is also putting to the oven with the rice.

The fresh tomato with the in-house tomato sauce on the top of the pork and rice, the table was full of fresh baked tomato smell when the Baked Pork Chop Rice was being placed on the table and made you hungry without hesitate to start the eating.

Before putting the spoon to the month, mix up the tomato sauce with the fried rice and pork, let the sauce fill up the rice, and releases the pork. The temperature of the hot plate should be cool down to warm level, you could start to enjoy the best condition of the Baked Pork Chop Rice now.

It should be one of the most enjoyable moment, which you will never forget. Especially with the Star River in-house tomato sauce, this is the secret formula that the Star River Restaurant could able to produce high-quality Baked Pork Chop Rice and keep outstanding in Hong Kong restaurant!


In conclusion, Baked Pork Chop Rice should a good choice if you want to have a try on Hong Kong Baked Pork Chop Rice with a reasonable price. Beware of the service time of the tea set menu, otherwise, you may need to pay for the full cost of the Baked Pork Chop Rice instead of the discounted tea set menu price.



##### Map & Access #####

Star River Restaurant (星河餐廳)
Address : 374 Tai Nan St, Sham Shui Po