3) Taipei Zoo and more

On friday (24.10.) the Ukrainian guy, Simon and I went to the Taipei Zoo. It is incredible that most cultural activities in Taiwan are either for free or incredibly cheap. Entrance to the Zoo was less than 2 EUR per person. While visiting the Zoo, we were lucky that most animals we came across just received their food. The animals are much more easy to spot and fun to photograph when they are eating^^
After the Zoo we took the cable car up to Maokong hill station. The view was so so due to misty weather. Later we had dinner at Taipei101 mall and enjoyed some beer at the bars next to Taipei101. Simon and I decided to go clubbing that night. We were able to convince Svetlana from Serbia and Sesilja from Finland to join us. A huge police raid blocked many clubs... they were looking for someone who shot a policeman in one of the clubs a week earlier. We decided to join an all-you-can-drink party at Room18 club beneath Neo19 shopping mall. All of us were eager to dance and Simon and I were happy about a lot of alcohol too^^ The entrance was about 20 EUR for us guys and like 13 EUR for the girls. The queue at the bar was long, everyone wanted to use the all-you-can-drink option... the club had this typical Asian style looking with sofas at the edges for the pseudo-rich, and a floor in the middle for some dancing. However, the people weren't dancing but cheering for the DJ. The music was RnB with some electronic pimps. Most fun was some kind of girl-competition for some ticket... especially funny when one of the girls dropped her bra and dress accidentally (no, not on purpose;) ).

lazy black bear

otters playing in the water

deer at a waterfall

deer plays hide&seek^^

the famous all-time eating panda bear

butterflies very close :)

Orang Utan mother with baby

Tapir taking a swim

Is the elephant smiling?

love among camels

who are you?

Giraffe eating close up

Tortoise eating close up

Gorilla watching humans

super relaxed :D

colorful chameleon

angry tortoise?

tiny tortoise sharing a leave for meal

A king penguin in Taiwan? come on, that's crazy!

2) Exploring Taipei: Taipei101, Longshan Temple, Chiang Kai-Sheik and Din Tai Fung

On monday (20.10.) evening we arrived at the guesthouse of Academica Sinica in Taipei. Generally, the guesthouse was very good... only compared to the 5 star hotel before it was quite rusty :P Right at the first evening we went to see the famous Taipei101... even if only from outside^^
The next morning (21.10.) Boopathi showed us around Taipei before the main conference started. First the Longshan Temple, which is a really relaxed place in the morning! Next we went to the Chiang Kai-Sheik memorial hall. An impressive place that remembers of the first president of Taiwan. Taiwanese like to see themselves as independent of China, although they are not really.
After the opening ceremony we went to Raohe night market, which is where Simon and I tried "stinky tofu". It doesn't taste as bad as it sounds or smells, still it was disgusting :P

Taipei101 behind a huge shopping mall

relaxed Longshan Temple

Praying at Longshan...

...more praying

simply a charming place :)

massive Chiang Kai-Sheik memorial hall.
the building behind in the middle of the picture is Taipei101 :)

 As this conference was not very exciting nor interesting, most fellows decided to rather explore Taipei^^ Bruno and I had a walk in the morning (22.10.) through the streets. We also visited the Pacific Core or "Living Mall". It is supposed to have a crazy space-ship like look. The look was indeed very unusual, but not too exciting nor like a space ship. At evening a group of us enjoyed dinner at the Din Tai Fung Michelin Star restaurant within Taipei101's mall. After dinner we made a small photo-session in front of Taipei101. Afterwards Simon, Sergej from Russia, Ivan from Spain/Serbia, Ingrid from Taiwan and I went to a real bar in Taipei... one with a crazy name Woolloomooloo. Nice but not special. At thursday (23.10.) I presented my poster at the conference. I joined the group at evening for another Din Tai Fung meal and finally going up the Taipei101 (we were lucky to receive free tickets through the conference). The view was great although it was rather misty. Somehow I love this building, it is really amazing!

YSP fellows after dinner at Din Tai Fung
back: Simon, I, Ivan, Sergej, Engin
front: Ingrid, Yu, Firdaus, Nina, Kyle

Photo-session in front of Taipei101
Simon, me and Sergej

View from Taipei101's observation deck