From the observation deck of the Taipei 101 marvel the visitor a fascinating Panorama, which is the baseball stadium, Taipei Dome, the National Palace Museum, the Railway Factory, or the many « green lungs » of the million-includes a metropolis. Curiosity arouses a strange device: four enormous wire cables of a gigantic half-globe, 600 tons. If there is a Typhoon on the capital’s sweeping Taiwan, and the tower is shaken, the metallic colossus with the skyscrapers in Balance.
Until 2010, for the opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, was the Taipei 101 thanks to 508 meters in height, the highest occupied building in the world. Taiwanese life with the forces of nature – and it takes a century Typhoon, the world record lift, and shoot the passengers in 20 seconds in the 400 meters above the ground, throne at the end of the platform, is failing.
Who lives in the Metropolitan area of Taipei, get used to uncertainty, can not affect the man. Felix Nägeli, 31, pulls out his Smartphone, and conjures up a little movie on the screen: A room lamp on performs a monkey dance, accompanied by grim Rattling and rumbling. « I have put myself in the earthquake in the door frame and the events in my living room to be filmed, » explains Nägeli calmly.
trained as a mechanical engineer from Marthalen in Zurich’s wine country has been working for two and a half years for a Swedish company in the production planning. The company manufactures in a suburb of Taipei, injection syringes for medical use.
« most of The earthquakes are harmless. »Felix Nägeli, the Swiss abroad
Nägeli dared, after nine years of working in Switzerland to make the leap to the far East – and does not regret the Experiment: « The camaraderie in the workplace is extraordinary. The Expats together in the REC a lot. » The son of a Builder, is driven in the Taiwanese traffic jungle « still no Meter yourself with the car », but he uses a scooter and fits in the flood of Töffpiloten.
they are everywhere: on the main transport axes, as well as in markets or in front of the city between the rice fields and Mango plantations. « If you leave the car », had warned us David Huang, the highest-ranking diplomatic representative in Bern, before the trip, « be sure that no scooter rider seam from the back. »
In the cut shaken three times per day, an earthquake in Taipei. Taiwan is tectonically unfavorable, to the breaking point between the Philippine and Eurasian plate. « Most of the earthquakes are harmless, » reassures Felix Nägeli, you can read on the Internet the values on the Richter scale.
The historical treasure from mainland China
The Swiss abroad learned in his early days in Taiwan, a little Mandarin. He has climbed the highest mountain on the island and drove on a (large) motorcycle hundreds of kilometers around Taiwan. « It’s great that you can access in a short period of time in various Asian countries. » Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, he has already visited. « Japan is still on the wish list, » says Nägeli, « it’s not far. »
In Taipei is pleasing to him, in addition to the camaraderie among work colleagues, the friendliness of the Taiwanese people: « Even though many barely speak English, they are very helpful. » Only a small percentage of the tens of millions of tourists who fly per year, according to Taiwan, is not native to Asia As a Westerner is in the heart of Taipei.
For example, in the National Palace Museum, in a temple-like building and a green hill, 700’000 objects of art involves: the historic treasure from mainland China. Ming vases, century-old paintings and precious stone occupied the Imperial jewelry was made in 1949, over the sea, as Chiang Kai-shek fled with millions of followers in front of Mao on the former Formosa. The National Palace is one of thanks to the four million visitors a year to the most popular museums in the world.
dumplings from the chef « purchase »
high-rise buildings and residential silos, the Silhouette of Taipei to dominate, in between the everyday bustling life. For example in the Bin-Yang-market, where Hackebeile goes relentlessly on pork feet, low-whiz and rice in bast bowls on the counter. In the adjacent Park squirrels flit in wagons to children, over the heads start machines from the city airport in the direction of Seoul, and Tokyo.
From the Raster of the digital age, the drugstore Huan Yang Shen Ginseng & Herbs, in the shelves of dried worms waiting (for health in General), penis of deer (for potency) or bird’s nests (for the energy).
In the most famous dough pockets of the country such archaic ingredients are not desirable: In the Restaurant Din Tai Fung in the basement of the Taipei 101 700 guests make at the same time, Dumplings of all facets. The Store even has a « Michelin »star. In front of the entrance, the Hungry wait up to 80 minutes to get a table.
The trip was supported by Cathay Pacific and tour Asia.
(Sunday newspaper)
Created: 15.12.2018, 23:48 PM
