Taipei 101

If you ask anybody the one thing you need to see when you're in Taipei, it's definitely the Taipei 101. It is currently the largest occupied building in the world, with 101 functional stories.

The architecture is significant, reflecting indigenous natural elements such as bamboo and local good luck charms, reflecting the number 8 it is separated into 8 sections with 8 floors in between.

The Taipei 101 is revolutionary in many ways. This becomes obvious the moment you step on the elevator, which moves at 55 feet per second or 37 miles per hour, taking you from the 5th floor to the 89th floor in under 37 seconds, you waste no time in the 101.

Once on the 89th floor observation deck, everything slows down. Where at your leisure, you can make your way around these all glass walls and see all of Taipei from this magnificent view.

The 101 has a reputation for being one of the safest buildings in the world. This 728 Ton ball suspended in the center of the 87th through 91st floors serves as a damper.

Due to inertia, as the building sways in an earthquake or strong wind, this ball will exert a force in the opposite direction and prevent the building from being damaged by swaying.

Here is a view down the stairs from 101 floors up! 

Yours,

Rachael 

Photos Property of Bakers Man Productions

Meet my Co-host and Friend (A Taiwan Native), Simon Twu

Simon Twu, a native of Taiwan acts as my guide on this journey around the Island. Simon is an actor, model, and secret foodie.

Check him out in Around The World

Yours,

Rachael 

Photos and Video Property of Bakers Man Productions

Food + Culture

Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated with culture. I grew up in a small town in Missouri and most of my childhood was spent in a car traveling the United States. I have so many unique memories with my family of the towns we would visit and the food we would eat.

Here I am talking about Culture and food... drinking an Icee 

The two were always connected for me, when we would travel one of the biggest perks was trying new types of food. As I grew and our travels extended over oceans, I began to realize that food and culture are interrelated and I could learn a great deal about people, a region, or a country through their culinary roots.

After I graduated from UCLA I began working as a Producer in LA and decided that I wanted to travel, and continue learning. So with the help of Bakers Man Productions and the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, me and a crew traveled to Taiwan for 16 days and we had the biggest adventure of our lives. We met so many incredible people who welcomed us with open arms, tasted some of the most exquisite food on this earth, saw some of the most beautiful natural wonders (that I may have never heard of if it weren't for this trip), and experienced the very best Taiwan had to offer.

This is currently being turned into a television series, but until then, I want you to come on this journey with me to....

Yours,
Rachael