[MX6]

You know there are dampers in the skybridge between the two towers of petronas? And did you also know that the skybridge is not attached to either of the towers but is hinged on ball bearings?
This is another great concept here. When the wind sways the two towers, if the towers start swaying in opposite directions, the bridge will cleave if attached. Hence it stands free on those ball bearings and sways sideways. And to reduce that swaying, we have tubular dampers running on either side of the sky bridge!

[StarVegabond]

Originally Posted by vasoo

Excellent pics. Being the largest manufacturer of electronic components, the city itself looks like a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) from atop Taipei 101.

Very well said, i had not imagined it to be a PCB, indeed it looks like a mother board.

Originally Posted by LongDrive lover

Tremendous information there Star. I just browsed through, but will have to take another look at it in slow motion to grasp the details. Nice pics. Views from the 85th and 89th floor, specially the night shots, are very impressive.

Advantage of TBHP is one can anytime view the information. thanks, i am happy that you guys liked the pictures.

Originally Posted by TaureanBull

Wonderful information. Very exhaustive. Never knew about the damper concept. Thanks to you that I am more knowledgeable.

The night shots are good. Is there some special area to see the damper? Is there a ticket for it?

You mentioned before you spent 2500RS to explore the building. Was that the expenditure on personnel purchases or something else?

Today, i have become a true traveler who helps in transfering the knowledge gained during the travels to others. I am happy that you became more knowledgeable.

Damper does not have a special ticket. As i said before the visit to the entire 87th to 91st floors had a ticket of 400NT$. Then i bought the 2 photographs of mine with two different backgrounds 300 NT$ x 2, TAXI fare to and fro is approx another 500 NT$+ = totaling approx 1500 NT$, totaling approx RS 2000/- (not RS 2500 as i said earlier).

Regarding personal purchases i will write about it in shopping section.

Originally Posted by ampere

Very well said Vasoo. I had the same opinion!
What is so surprising is to go through their story about their rise to this level, from scratch.

if a tiny island community can achieve this, what is the entitlement of a great nation like ours which has more than 5000 years of history, culture, knowledge, abilities, working hands and brains. I am sure our time will once again come in future.

Originally Posted by MX6

You know there are dampers in the skybridge between the two towers of petronas?
...
...

that is a good information, i was not knowing. thanks for sharing.
will look for it if at all i visit petronas towers


Visit to the 91st floor..

91st floor is the highest point a visitor can visit. I am sure the view during the day time would be fantastic. I made the best out of the available opportunity. It was almost 8 PM

145 view above from the 95th floor, all those floors till 101 are not accessible to general visitor


146 a view around


147 have a closer look at binoculars, there are about 8 of them


148 what one should not do on 91st floor


149 view down below


150 view down below


There are several security guards maning the 91st floor, but they are non intruding. Body language is also very friendly.

after spending about 10-15 minutes, i returned to 89th floor.. It is time for shopping.. window shopping i mean..

[sirajbose]

Loved the questions from your daughter. Very simple ones but very insighful - and love the way that you handled them. My daughter is just about a year old now and she already talks so much - or mumbles should I say! Can't wait for her to actually start talking!

[Thad E Ginathom]

Yes, that is the Eurostar train that goes through the channel tunnel.

That wind damper is amazing! As is the description of the attachment (or, rather, non-attachment) of the walkway between the twin towers.

[MX6]

Thad. Here's the pic of the dampers for you. Look at those huge cylindrical structures on the ceiling of the sky bridge.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Thanks. It's amazing.

Unfortunately I don't have a head for heights!

[StarVegabond]

Originally Posted by sirajbose

Loved the questions from your daughter. Very simple ones but very insighful - and love the way that you handled them. My daughter is just about a year old now and she already talks so much - or mumbles should I say! Can't wait for her to actually start talking!

Once she starts talking, you have only one thing to do..Listen
make the best out of both the situations. it is good that you will go back to Mumbai, you will get more time with your daughter.

Originally Posted by MX6

Thad. Here's the pic of the dampers for you. Look at those huge cylindrical structures on the ceiling of the sky bridge.

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Thanks. It's amazing.

+1 to what Thad said.
5 elements (Earth, Sky, Fire, Wind, Water) have amazing powers. I feel we humans are yet to know these elements fully. What we know could be just the tip of the element-burg. But what we have achieved till now is also remarkable.

next one hour was spend in window shopping. Initially on the 86-89th floor, later on on the floors 1-5. attaching some random images here.

151 Flowers, of-course artificial ones


152 Glass house


153 Artificial trees


154 Chinese Mythology


155 Chinese / Taiwanese Tea


156 Corals


157 Owl made up of Corals


158 Eagle


159 Wanted to buy this for my wife, checked for the price, it was available for NT$ 800000 only (~RS12.5Lacs).


160 On seeing my face the lady showed me this one for NT$ 12500/- (~RS20000/-), i was not sure of the real value


161 one can send the Taipei 101 memories by post from the 89th floor


162 Does any one remember The Ghost Who Walks, was one of my favorite cartoon character when i was a kid.


163 There was a discount scheme at the coffee shop, one has to rotate the disc, based on the place it stops, the mentioned discount one will get when he/she buys the food/coffee.


after spending time till 9:30 PM, my phone drained fully, my legs started telling me "please call it a day"...so i hoped on to the taxi from the basement of Taipei 101 and reached hotel by 10 PM.

[StarVegabond]

Some more trends from Taiwan..

I am told Taiwan is self dependent for the food produce. Organic farming is being use in plenty. Taiwan grows Lichie and Mangos. I have attached here locally produced Mango variety. It was tasting ok, no where match to Indian mangos.



Second trend i am witnessing is Indian Thali becoming popular, even in the so called modern chinese theme resturants. They also have the curry masala available in packed form




Some of my Taiwanese colleagues simply love the Indian curry and the Roti/Naan. Even several of my customers love it. I also find that increasingly they are adapting our food and especially vegetarianism.

[TaureanBull]

Would love to see the inside of menu card and the prices. It looks like they review their prices every three months. This one is from Jul-Sep 2010. Is that true?

[StarVegabond]

Originally Posted by TaureanBull

Would love to see the inside of menu card and the prices. It looks like they review their prices every three months. This one is from Jul-Sep 2010. Is that true?

Yes, This is for July -Sept 2010 period. I have seen several resturants change the themes (seating arrangement, lighting, decorations, flags, background pictures, uniforms of waiters etc) depending on the season. This time the resturant has donned the flavour of worldcup soccer with the different country flags, T-shirts, balls being displayed.

I do not have the price list, but this one was not very expensive, middle class resturant where office people often go for lunch.

now to the last leg of this trip..

After spending 5 days..it was time to go back home now..
Bidding goodbyes was quick, boarding the cab was quicker.

167 some views on the way..


168 attractions on the way..


BTW, i have covered Taiwan airport extensively in my last log
please read..posts #74, #76, #77, #79, #80 in the below link
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...-meetha-8.html

169 some views of the airport..internal train to go from one terminal to another


170 some information on taiwan's local tribe


171 Taiwan's Tribal Festival (this is an high resolution image, one can download/zoom to read it)


172 some colours of Taiwan


173 Taiwanese art


174 Taiwanese Ceramic art


175: ceramic art background


176 Taiwanese jewllery..the right most one almost costs RS 30Lacs


177: Taiwanese leaders for Sale


178 (Taiwan) Fermosa Tea, I wanted to buy a hat like that..may be next time


179 some boat


180/181: Kids play area



182 Growing a green lawn vertically


183 some different attractions from Taiwan..i need to explore more


184 Taiwan...a Twin of our own Kerala


185 Taiwan Sea Ecology


186 I could capture a plane taking off


187 At last at the boarding gate


188 flight was on time, on the runway..ready to exit taipei


i had an un-eventful flight to hongkong, After a customery coffee at Starbucks, i boarded the flight to Bangalore which was another un-eventful journey.

this log is now coming to an end... till i visit Taiwan again some time in future.

Thanks for reading, commenting, appreciating.

[aargee]

Great travelogue as usual from you SVB sir; I wonder what's in store for 30L in that necklace? The beads/pearl being so rare?

[benzbala]

a wonderful, excellent use of words, and made us feel as if we had traveled there with you! more over superb photos and descriptions made it feel great
Keep up the great work buddy and god bless you to have more and more of these kinda trips, provided, you write the travelogue without fail

[MX6]

Welcome home SVB. Now really looking forward to the next trip 2 months down the line!

[arindamray]

@Star: Wonderful account. Thanks for showing us Taiwan.

[foby.sebastian]

Originally Posted by aargee

Beach looks beautiful & wondering what all can be done from disco, area for children, sports, shades, windmill & even a chapel besides swimming pool, windmill/light house; I'm really sad recalling our good old Marina, which is the second largest beach in the world & its pathetic condition.

OMG how come I missed such an informative thread