One way to describe Taiwan is an intriguing cross between China and Japan. Certainly that's true geographically and geopolitically, but there's one area where they fall firmly in the latter camp: their love of Mechs. Seriously, how many countries open their design festival with a giant mech?
Adaptive City is a showcase of cutting-edge Taiwanese urban design, housed appropriately in a row of reclaimed post-industrial warehouses.
Taipei Change? It's pretty darn good just the way it is, but I guess it's worth a shot.
So, let's get to brainstorming folks. How can one inspire urban renewal? Got it, let's use a socially-empowered funding paradigm to disrupt the status quo with a team of giant mechs that stomp out urban decay like it's a Dunkin Donuts in Williamsburg.
Funny how graffiti becomes street art once it's surrounded by pop-up cold brew coffee stands instead of burnt-out cars and rusting machinery.
A timely reminder, since he was beginning to think he was in South Williamsburg.
If there's one thing they like more than mechs, it's Hello Kitty. As the unofficial mascot of the nation she appears on everything, from key chains to A330s. Welcome aboard the KittyJet.
In fact, she's so important in popular culture the festival has an entire hall devoted entirely to different iterations of the famous cat.
It's only a matter of time before we have KittyMech.
Since we're on the subject of Taiwanese icons, Din Tai Fung is the best export since those sticks of Gigabyte DDR RAM that powered Melchior's inner beast.
Who are you kidding? You know you'll end up ticking all the boxes before this meal is over.
You're never too young for your first xiaolongbao. Or too old for your one thousandth.
The masters at work. Wrapping steaming soup up in tissue-thin rice paper is just as hard as it sounds.
The Red House Theater is yet another venue that has been converted into a collection of independent designer boutiques. How many designers do they have on this island?
Look who's jealous that Hello Kitty is stealing all the kitty attention.
Good try, but you're nothing without the stripes.
About the only place in the whole city that hasn't been commandeered by designers. Then again, these intricate panels didn't carve themselves.
Where's the gift shop? I need my KittyMonk collectible action figure.
Is that Shibuya Crossing? No, can't be, it's too sparsely populated.
Luckily the bizarrely named Addiction Aquatic Development stands out for more than just its name. In a city brimming with edgy urban design this one ups the ante to a whole new level.
What was once your typical grimy fish market has been transformed into a one stop tank-to-table seafood tasting experience.
Diners congregate around long communal tables whilst the rock-star chefs dart between the aquariums and their sizzling woks, working their magic with the day's finest catch.
Lame, if they didn't stomp the grapes in front of you it doesn't count as fresh around here.
In a trip filled with superior dining, this one might just claim the prize. Or at least stave off elimination until next week's episode.
With all this Hello Kitty worship, old General Chiang is feeling a little left out. Must be why they built him this gigantic memorial hall, complete with wax recreations of his thrilling exploits. Like signing some mundane documents at a big desk. No wonder Hello Kitty is winning the day.
With a march like that, no wonder the Commies won.
The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards another shutdown.
I wonder if the General has a bubble tea shop on his expansive estate?
Things are looking up, the rain has stayed away. Other than a welcome Rain drop from across the Strait.
Someone has a bad case of Tiananmen envy. Just be glad you don't have to be preserved in a glass case.
S.T.A.Y. apparently stands for Simple Table Alleno Yannick. Because nothing says simple like a name so long you have to shorten it to a four letter acronym.
Still, who's complaining? It seems simple means something different to the French.
Bon appetite!
No way! The man voted the Sexiest Chef Alive is actually in town today and not only is he overseeing the kitchen, he's actually manning the grill. In between working the floor that is.
In a lucky turn of events, Typhoon Usagi veers south at the last moment and Taipei is spared a direct hit. That can only mean one thing: it's finally time to ascend Taipei 101. If the elevators can get them up after that meal.
You can almost see China from here. Oh hang on, sorry Beijing, that's China right down there. My bad.
You think they'll give you the corner office?
Turns out we won't need this bad boy today. The tuned mass damper takes up over two stories, and acts as a counter-balance to minimize the swaying of the tower in high winds. Luckily those are blowing their way to Hong Kong now.
And that's a wrap folks. JFK is only six movies away.
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