Taipei
Trip Start
Feb 04, 2005
1
13
39
Trip End
Ongoing
Loading Map
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
Taipei, Taiwan
Monday, April 4, 2005
The entrance cost was NT100. Saw a lot of beautiful jades and bronze statues. The museum was undergoing major renovations. Maybe that's why there weren't a lot of items on display. It was still worth the trip.
The world's tallest building, for now.
The world's tallest building, Taipei 101, is 508m tall with 101 storeys and built to resemble a stalk of bamboo. But it wouldn't hold the title long. In 2008 a new building in Dubai is slated to open at a height of about 610m. And the Freedom Tower in New York is due to open in 2009, at 541m.
Nonetheless, it was quite awe inspiring to be standing at the current world's tallest building. It also holds the Guinness record for the fastest elevator in the world, with a speed of 1010 meters per minute. It takes only 38 seconds to reach the 89th floor.
The view was spectacular. Unfortunately, there was a thin haze over the city that day so most of my pictures look sort of dull.
Temple Street Night Market
I went to the night market to checkout the famous Snake Alley mentioned in the Lonely Planet guide book. But I only saw one snake demonstration. It wasn't as gross or crazy as I read about it or saw it on T.V. Throughout the demonstration, the snake handler, dangling a small mouse over a snake in a cage, spilled out one sales pitch after another. Where were the cobras and the handlers taunting them?
Nonetheless, I had a great time sampling most of the food in the market. They taste great and cheap too.
