Day #2 I woke up feeling pretty queasy and was super close to sleeping in, but ended up getting up. First stop was an electronics arcade as Stevey (James Bond) needed a portable external battery. The guys use whatsapp to keep in touch via phone, my phone was too old for the app unfortunately (time to upgrade my 3gs!).
Charging session, so geeky.
Next stop, 101. Spot the 2nd tallest building in the world in the background.
We were just amazed at how wild the locals drive, and praising them for not having accidents and knowing how to brake, but then we spotted this.
Taipei 101 from street level.
For lunch we smashed Din Tai Fung and ordered 60 dumplings + a billion other dishes, all of which only came to $20AUD each. Ridiculous!
We then went up to the top, was a really hazy day unfortunately.
Spot the kite, crazy right?!
Exit through the gift shop. The hand carved coral is nuts, this particular piece is over the top.
Detail.
Joe from AAI picked us up and drove us out to visit AAI HQ.
The car we were driven in.
Mugen CRZ in progress.
This MKII Golf staff car blew my socks off.
It’s even got Buddy club seats in it.
More AAI staff cars.
AAI.
The first thing that greets you, this amazing Le Mans racer.
So wide so low.
Tom’s Racing Corona (?) race car.
The boss’ new hobby to keep him fit.
Buell.
This chaser was awesome.
Inside.
Got intake?
Trophies EVERYWHERE.
A new project they’re working on. Automatic only though for Taiwan, if you want the manual you’ll have to buy the Subaru.
Some Buddy club Honda race cars.
Massive money spent on this FD.
One in you can’t get out. Nuts!
Race cars lying around everywhere you looked.
Even this now neglected EG up high on the mezzanine.
And this fantastic EK.
AII HQ even has it’s own bar.
Staff bike. Ti frame with old school Campy friction gear on it.
Their $20 simulator was crazy and makes our Forza simulator at Zen look piss weak.
Joe then took us out for some traditional Hakka food.
So so good. Hearty and earthy.
All traffic lights have hook turns for scooters (which dominate traffic) and a countdown to green too (wish we had that!).
Day #2 I got up feeling wasted and vomit sick. I skipped the hotel breakfast (a first for me as there’s nothing I love more than hotel buffet breakfasts!) but I still managed to get up and get on with the day. I was feeling much better by the time we got around to lunch time (where we smashed so much Din Tai Fung it was ridiculous), and visiting AAI was great (Zi, David, Charlie and I used to work for AAI/Buddy club Australia), but I didn’t have enough energy to do it all over and hit the clubs once more come night time (OLD MAN!) so I crashed, lame.