March 30 - Taipei 101 CAS Escape

Today we arrived at the port of Keelung, Taiwan. And we started out our day by going on a Crown and Anchor Society (CAS) Escape to Taipei 101. It's a building, and it was considered the world's tallest building until 2010.





Art Work outside Taipei 101, The one on the left looks creepy.


When we arrived we were greeted with a traditional 'Lion Dance'



He wagged his tail at us

Then it was a 37 second ride up 88 floors to our private reception. The ride down takes 47 seconds. I believe the elevator is still considered one of the fastest elevator in the world at 60.6 km/h (37.7 mph), with the fastest being 75.6 km/h (47 mph). I have a video counting the floors up and all the metrics (floor, height above sea level and speed) heading down.

There they provided local snacks, refreshments and more entertainment.

Then it was up one floor, to the observation floor were we saw a 360 degree panoramic view. 
   South   

 East   

 West

and North


Because is had just rained we weren't allowed onto the Sky Deck on floor 91, this is as close to it as I could get

Taipei 101 has a 'tuned mass damper' also known as a 'harmonic absorber'. It was built by A&H Custom Machines. It's basically an enormous weighted ball (590 tons) near the tower's top that is sitting on hydraulic cylinders and counteracts the building's movement, especially during earthquakes.


Fun was had by all. And here are some pictures to prove it.





They had an area with see-through glass. Here I am looking down and up 



This is Bobbie and Joe. Those of you who worked with NASA, might remember Bobbie as Robert Peterson.


What a Great Day!!!

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