Jan 19 8:00 AM (Taipei) FLIGHT DISRUTPIONS AND AIRPORT FLOORS

Well, following smooth sailing on the Anchorage to Portland flight, things deteriorated rather quickly. After boarding in Portland for San Francisco to catch my Taipei flight, I ended up sitting on the parked plane for 3.5 hours, then had to deplane. We were deiced and ready to push off when they discovered a fault with the forward loading door. After a 45-minute repair, we were, again, ready to go. Oops. Due to ice, the runways were closed. So, everybody had to shuffle off the plane and exit security to claim their luggage. After a long hold, I managed to secure an alternate itinerary...Portland to Seattle, then overseas on Asiana. The flight to Seattle would leave at 6 AM, so it would be a night of lugging 100# of luggage (two large suitcases and two daypacks) around and crashing on the floor. No restaurants, nothing. Within 30 minutes of acquiring the new itinerary, the 6 AM flight to Seattle was cancelled. But, I saw that there was another at 8 AM and tried to call Alaska Airlines with hopes of getting on that one. From midnight until 3 AM I tried phoning the airline with zero success. So, when the Alaska Airlines agents starting showing at 3 AM, I got in line. The result was another itinerary. There was just one seat left on a flight to Los Angeles (an airport that sucks like a 50# leech) that evening at 5:30 PM, so I snagged it. But, I had to wait until 1:30 PM to check my luggage and proceed through security. The flight was very late into LAX, forcing me to gallop non-stop 30 minutes to the international terminal. Anyway, I flew Starlux into Taipei, where I landed at 5 AM today. Massive airplane. The Starlux flight into DaNang lands at 5:20 PM, so I'm hanging out again. I should have landed at 9 AM Jan 18, but now it's 5:20 PM Jan 19. Thus, my plans on arrival must be altered. The visits to Thua, Duong, and Lady The's and Sons graves must be delayed until I return to DaNang from Hue and Dong Ha/Nhi Ha. But, that will work out OK.

So, here I am on a bench at Taipei airport, waiting another 7 hours for the flight to DaNang. 

Taipei Taoyuan Airport

I seem to recall that friend, fellow 'Nam vet, and hometown Versailles, Ohio resident Gary Davidson manged an R & R in Taipei during the war. I'm assuming that he has fond memories of this place. But, he likely didn't spend 10 hours on an airport bench. My butt is sore.

Neil