April, 2022
After two years the Taiwanese government stopped renewing the ARC, meaning I have to leave Taiwan.
COVID19 cases in Taiwan have been rising recently (as for April 20th it was 2,476 new cases). A new student was diagnosed with COVID19, so as a precaution, the Mandarin Training Center moved all courses online for a week, April 11-15. That was my last full week in Taiwan, so I decided to stop the class a week early.
My dilemma was, do I do a pre-departure test or not? The Australian government says that from April 18th you don’t have to do it on flights into Australia. However I didn’t know whether the airline has a policy of mandatory pre-departure testing, or the departure airport has one, or the country I transit through has one, etc. So I visited Taoyuan Airport to check.
Above is the express train to Taoyuan Airport from Taipei Main Station. The commuter train is more basic, with just seats facing inwards.
The train goes over a range of low hills (above) between Taoyuan and Taipei. Taoyuan means “Peach Orchard” in English.
In Taoyuan Airport I went to the Medical Centre. It turns out they have the means on-site to a pre-departure test. I booked in to do a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT). A nurse showed me how to logon and complete the form (that’s my Chromebook on the table to the right of the door). PCR tests are the gold standard, but it seems governments are switching to RAT tests, which are cheaper than PCR tests and gives an indication sooner.
Testing is really peace of mind. At the moment regulations change weekly. I think you could probably board the flight without a test, but it gives me confidence in a rapidly-changing environment. Cheap at NTD1,500 (about $AUS 75).
The day of my departure, it was raining. I took the same train to Taoyuan Airport.
The picture above was of the same medical centre. I was standing in line to do the test.
The nurse shoved a thin stick up my nose – the above image is of another person undergoing the same procedure. A half-hour later and NTD1,500 later I had my result – negative.
I then went to check-in for the flight. I was one of a dozen of so passengers. Same with customs, which was deserted except for the customs officers.
Waiting for my flight (above).
The flight was only about 10-20% full (above). I was the only passenger in my row.
Goodbye, Taiwan! Until next we meet.
I stopped in Singapore to change flights. Singapore Airport looked the same as any airport in the developed world.
I boarded a Airbus A380 on my flight to Sydney. I was quite exited, but I didn’t get a look at the plane. I was seated in the middle row. The aircraft was 80-90% full.
I flew into Sydney on a sunny morning, temperature about 20 degrees. I wanted to photograph a sign that said ‘welcome to Sydney’ but my phone battery died. Honestly I was in the same condition.
I took a taxi from the airport. I read that it was recommended that I wore a mask, so I did – but the driver was unmasked. I could have saved the $AUS86 and taken the train.
My parents at home.
Sydney is waking from COVID19 like a bad dream. Even in areas like shopping centres the rate of mask wearing is around half. Quite a surprise when compared to Taipei.
Still, Sydney is a beautiful city. I’m glad I’m home.
Wandering Richard 