Rick's Roadshow: Toddling Around Taipei

I'm finally getting around to posting photos from my most recent jaunt to Asia. My career takes me to some far-reaching corners of the world, and I must say I enjoy that aspect of what I do. I was in Taipei to attend the wedding. I was deeply honored to be invited to this particular wedding, and delighted to attend. Long time readers of this blog may recall that I've been to Taiwan many times, and in some cases my trip was wonderfully ordinary. By that I mean that side from the wedding, which was very cool, the time I spent with friends in Taipei was very similar to how I would spend time with close friends here at home. In total I was in Taipei five days, which was the longest consecutive number of days I'd spend in Taipei before. Two days into the visit, I found myself truly enjoying it on a very different level. 

I recall being in the car with my friends, driving around and thinking to myself 'I really enjoy being here and being with these friends'. It was a great realization for me because I caught myself truly living in the moment. For some reason that I cannot explain, I seem to have a spiritual connection to two individuals there. When you consider that both of them speak limited English, some might consider it unusual. I do not question what my spiritual connection is, or why but I know it runs deep, beyond this world. And so I just allow it to be. Even as I write this, I feel the energy of that bond. It is very cool to have such a friendship. Ok enough of me being all spiritual, onto a few photos:
Check out this cool artist who painted my name using the side of his hand- no brushes. It says 'Rick' but artistically looks like Chinese ships in the water with a mountain scape backdrop. I love this!

a local artist writes my name using his hand....

...and soon it turns into traditional Chinese art...

Now look at the finished product below. The way he wrote my name 'Rick' looks like Chinese boats and mountains. Cool huh?

                                                                                                                            

OK, now here are a few random photos from an afternoon out and about in a tourist shopping area. This woman wearing the wacky hat was selling sausages-on-a-stick, and was so much fun. She had a great personality, she made me smile.

Well that's it from Taipei. If you are looking for more photos of Taiwan, check out my prior trips. July 2010 or April 2011

Rick's Roadshow: Taipei, Taiwan

Rick's Roadshow continues from beautiful Taipei, in the Republic of China, more commonly known as Taiwan. My business colleagues have extended warm hospitality to me once again, for which I am grateful. We have squeezed in some sight-seeing around the work portions of my visit. Here I am seated on the base of a huge Chinese lion. The weather has been very nice- my short-sleeve Natural Balance shirt was ideal for the pleasant temperatures that day.

I was delighted when my colleagues brought me to the National Palace Museum, which houses an outstanding collection of Asian art, including bronze, textiles, writings, and religious art. I found it to be among some of the finest museums I have visited in my world travels, and highly recommend it to any student of world history. Of course, you cannot take photos from inside the museum, so take my word for it. Here are a range of photos from in and around Taipei. As I mentioned yesterday my time is limited so I apologize in advance for not posting my commentary with each photo, so please enjoy the photo show.

Taiwan founder Sun Yat Sen

Yang Min National Park

view from high up Yang Min Mountain

more flowers in bloom!

fields of calla lilies in bloom on Yang Min Mountain

'Top' restaurant on Yang Min Mountain

an ideal setting for dinner

great mood lighting overlooking Taipei

elegant private dining rooms, nestled in the mountainside

fresh sliced fruit- looks delicious doesn't it?

I love Buddhist Temples

the temple roof details are magnificent

I had some time to pray at the Temple too!

look closely, its a huge dragon spouting water

Night Market in Taipei- they serve snake there! blech

Rick's Roadshow: Taipei, Taiwan Day 3

I decided to squeeze in one more installment of Rick's Roadshow from Taipei. After dinner Monday night I went walking around to see a few sights. Since it was so dark I didn't capture great photos, since my camera isn't very sophisticated. However, the lights are dramatic and make the buildings look stunning. These photos are all from Freedom Square (or Liberty Square) in Taipei. I had not seen these during the day, so it was a real treat for me to see them before I left. Here is a quick run down of what I saw.

above: a sweeping view of the Liberty/Freedom Square. One left and right are the National Theatre and National Concert Halls, and straight ahead are the Freedom archways.

above: The National Theatre

above: National Concert Hall

above: I just liked the angle of this shot.

above: close-up of this sign reads: National Theatre

above: the rich, bright colors were very dramatic against the black night sky

above: Chiang Kai-Shek Hall. He was the former President of Taiwan.

above: the contrast of this white stone Chinese lion in the dark of night caught my attention. Hope you enjoyed my last few photos of Taipei as much as I did.
-Rick Rockhill

Rick's Roadshow: Taipei, Taiwan Day 2

Rick's Roadshow from Taipei, Taiwan continues with day two. I spent most of Monday on appointments and had limited time for sight seeing. I did, however get to visit the Taipei 101 landmark skyscraper building. With 101 floors above ground and 5 below ground, it set World Records in 2004 as follows: the structure's height is 508 meters, or 1,667 feet high. It boasts the tallest roof at 448 meters, and the tallest occupied floor at 438 meters. Guinness Records certified it as having the world's fastest elevator speed, moving at 1,010 meters per minute. If you just did the math in your head, then yes, you read that correctly, that does mean it goes from the bottom to the top in less than a minute! It has the world's biggest passive wind damper (see photo further below). The building foundation is fortified by 380 piles, going 80 meters into the ground and 30 meters into bedrock! It can sustain gale winds of 60 meters per second, and also the strongest earthquake on record for the past 2,500 years. It is quite attractive, with a sort of Asian Pagoda motif. Check out these ultra cool photos:

above: ground floor entrance to the building. I like the design.

above: I like the detail like this corner piece, its called a ruyi, an ancient symbol associated with heavenly cloud. They are found around the building from top to bottom.

above: inside the building, at the ground floor you can see these huge cushion supports, which are quite attractive, don't you think?

above: at the top there are these wonderful details, like this one.

above: view from top out and down. The gold roof is a building I posted yesterday, standing in from of it head on.

above: Still looking down from the top; I just liked the contrast of the green mountain sides with the city sprawl in the foothills.

above: standing in front of the Damper. It weighs 660 metric tons, has a diameter of 5.5 meters and was made of 41 layers of 13 cm thick solid steel plates. It cost a whopping $132 million. The giant gold vertical cables are on four sides keeping it balanced.
NOW FOR THE ULTRA FAST ELEVATOR VIDEO CLIP:
Sorry it was taken sideways, just turn your head to enjoy this quick clip. You will be looking at the screen inside the elevator showing the progress of the elevator as it moves back down from the top in about 40 seconds or so. Watch the orange dot int he center move down the middle of the building diagram.

Then onto Lunch....

above: I've been treated to some of the most delicious Chinese/Taiwanese food for the past two and a half days. I missed the name of this place but it has been in business since 1895.

above: when you walk in, these two chefs are busy preparing noodles, rice and other dishes right there before you eyes. It was pretty cool!
Tomorrow I leave Taiwan. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this stop. My business meetings were productive, and equally important I enhanced my business relationships while here. In addition to that, I feel enriched by a dose of Eastern philosophy from an important new friend. Regular readers know that I do not believe in coincidences in this life. I had the exceptional good fortune to spend some quality time with a very prominent, sage man, revered locally for his wisdom. After a private audience with him in his home, followed by a business dinner last night I feel as though I have received valuable life advice that will guide me for years to come. Tomorrow I am headed for yet another exciting destination, so please stop back again for Rick's Roadshow: Hong Kong. I look forward to bringing you lots of photos to share the experience.
-Rick Rockhill