The entry lobby is immense and filled with light.
There's a familiar face up there greeting us...
Actually it is greeting Bill Clinton's autobiography!
Downstairs, in the "food court" there were hundreds of choices for interesting lunches...which everyone in our group needed since we had worked up a good appetite on the Karaoke bus and at the Palace Museum for a few hours before.
Even Spiderman was there for lunch! This is probably an "impersonator" of the real "Spiderman" who climbed Taipei 101 when it opened. We were intrigued by this unexpected Italian–Taiwanese choice (see sign in background).
We were not disappointed! Since Taiwan is tropical, Italian food stuffed a pineapple was a natural. Kathy especially loves pineapple, and mixed with rice, a light tomato sauce, topped with a touch of melted mozzarella and toasted shrimp and calamari, this was really a delight! The little yellow ball on the side was a tasty whipped potato salad. It came with a little glass of orange drink.
Rick had a more garlicky version, without the pinapple.
This was a very nice corn soup, served with a light pasty
shell baked on top.
Now, that you aren't hungry any more...(or are you?) go back up to the Observatory in TAPEI 101 (the world's tallest building)on the world's fastest elevator!
SEE ALSO:
SEE: TAIWAN CONFERENCE PORTRAIT GALLERY
See also (part 1) ARRIVAL IN TAIWAN(May 18);
*************************************** SHANGHAI CONFERENCE
5 Shanghai Dumplings, 2005
SEE THE SHANGHAI CONFERENCE PORTRAIT GALLERY
Portrait Gallery of Speakers:
Excerpt from
Turner's website (contractor for Tapei 101):
Skyscraper Inauguration Features French Spiderman’s Climb
Extreme climber Alain Robert, a.k.a. the French Spiderman, successfully scaled the TAIPEI 101 skyscraper today (in December, 2004). He started from the ground floor to the west of the building carrying nothing but a safety harness. It took him 2 1/2 hours to bring the flag from the 508-meter-tall pinnacle to TAIPEI 101 representative. The scaling of TAIPEI 101 by the French Spiderman is the first of a series of inauguration events for the tower which started December 25.
Go back to where you were in the food court
See story below
Our Karaoke Bus Ride to Tapei May 22, 2005
We were on our way to
THE PALACE MUSEUM IN TAIPEI, TAIWAN
after which we were ready for (May 22)OUR FLIGHT HOME
(All on the same day!)
Newest update: Friday, May 20, 2005 talks
Thursday, May 19, 2005 talks
(above includes a ride on the fastest train in the world!)
Go to THE CTS Conference on Combinatorics and Its Applications
at National Chiao Tung University IN HSINCHU, TAIWAN (May 19-21)
Go to TAIWAN CONFERENCE CELEBRATIONS PHOTO ALBUM
Go to TAIWAN BANQUET FOOD ALBUM
Go to RICK'S TAIWAN LECTURE(other conference photos to come)
Go to A WALK IN THE GARDENS OF HSINCHU(May 21)
See Read Dinky's Best of Taiwan Reviews
Go to update (June 1):
The Conference Tourist Boat on Taihu Lake
May 17, 2005
poems written during the 5th Shanghai Conference on Combinatorics
Speakers Tuesday and Wednesday, May 17 & 18, 2005
Speakers Monday, May 16, 2005
Speakers Saturday and Sunday, May 14&15
(Saturday, May 14, 2005)
Robert has climbed many world-renowned buildings, including the Empire State Building in New York, Petronas Twin Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Sears Tower in Chicago and National Bank of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The skills and spirit to challenge the extremes makes him the leading solo climber of the world. He has hoped to challenge TAIPEI 101 since it became the world’s tallest building. TAIPEI 101 representative gave a carabiner as the sign of safety to Robert prior to his climb. Starting from the ground floor in the southwest corner of the building, he first climbed to the 34th floor before turning northwest. His next goal was the 91st floor. From there, he scaled the upper levels, traveling the centerline of the tower’s west side. He reached the 101st floor and then the pinnacle for the flag. Back to the ground floor, he gave the flag to a TAIPEI 101 representative. The 2 1/2-hour climb involved no tool other than a safety harness, enabling the public to witness some world-class solo climbing skills either firsthand or via TV.
The TAIPEI 101 representative was very impressed by Robert’s climbing skills and spirit. “We have witnessed some of the world’s best climbing skills at the world’s tallest building today. The spirit and courage to challenge the impossible is in line with that of our team, which created TAIPEI 101. The climb by the French Spiderman and inauguration of TAIPEI 101 both epitomize the pinnacle of human skills and spirit and inspire the public to pursue their dreams and embrace the ensuing challenges,” he (she) said. TAIPEI 101 will organize a series of inauguration events from December 25, including Boxing Week Sale at its MALL from Dec. 26, the inauguration banquet on Dec. 27 and media preview for the high-speed elevators and the observatory on Dec. 28. Grand opening will be held on Dec. 31. In addition, year-end countdown and fireworks are slated for the night. From Jan. 1 to Jan. 7 2005 there will be guide to public art and TAIPEI 101 construction review exhibition at TOWER 1F lobby.
The climb not only marks the first of a series of tower-inauguration events but also attracts world attention to the world’s tallest building as well as Taipei. As an extraordinary building can transform a city, the inauguration of TAIPEI 101 will bring Taipei to the world and bring the world to Taipei.
Go back to Tapei 101, elevator and Observatory story