Taipei 101

This weekend I went to the Taipei 101 building: 

the 2nd tallest building in the world.

Pictures do it no justice, but this building is massive.

Unfortunately, I went on a day that was overcast and raining buckets.

But in the end I decided to go up still (glad I did) because now I can look forward to going again on a day that is clear and sunny.

I'm in the above picture but I bet you didn't notice because of the building.

Also, Taiwan has diagonal kitty-corner crosswalks.

Brilliant.

Again, pictures (especially from this angle) do it no justice.  Google "Taipei 101" and see pictures of it from far away.  It was the tallest building on earth from 2004 to 2010 when the Burj Khalifa was built in Dubai.  It's 1,667 feet high.

You had to go to level 5 to get your ticket to go up to the very top.  

Only $10, not bad.

Got my ticket (had to wait an hour).

It has the world's fastest elevator (or according to the sign: "The World Fastest Elevator" (english typos everywhere!) going at 38 mph.  It was the craziest feeling going up and down the elevator.  Ears were popping and you got that queazy feeling in your legs and feet.

As for the view...

It was awesome.

Higher than some clouds.

I enjoyed looking in about 25 second intervals.  But the observatory was humungous and you were able to walk to all 4 sides of the building.  They had restaurants and shopping and even a museum.

The Taipei 101 Mascot: The Damper Baby.

I don't even know...?

As for the museum they had a bunch of coral and rocks and mannequins wearing costumes.

Just upon leaving and getting in line for the elevator to go down it was dusk time and the lights started to come on on the earth below.  Didn't stay long enough for the sun to go completely down...

...but definitely next time!