On an ascent to the top of the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower or Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, it’s the outside vista that is the payoff. Of course, the views are spectacular, too, from Taipei 101, Taiwan’s tallest building, the world’s first skyscraper to break the half-kilometer mark in height and briefly the tallest building on Earth. But once you’re whisked up 89 floors at 37 mph in one of the world’s fastest elevators, it’s not only the cityscape stretching below toward the distant mountains that is magnificent. The sights from the observation deck are stunning, but the building’s inner core is what will take your breath away.
Entering a smaller interior viewing space, visitors can see a secret of the building’s stability. Made of 41 staggered layers of gold-painted steel plates, a colossal 660-ton sphere, 18 feet in diameter, hangs from the 92nd to the 87th floors. Imperceptibly moving like a giant pendulum, the mammoth damper counterbalances gusts of wind sweeping the exterior, reducing sway by up to 40 percent. Combined with the structure’s strong and flexible foundation, this amazing orb, an engineering marvel, helps make Taipei 101 one of the most stable buildings ever constructed.
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FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
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Feb 25, 2025Booking Platform Launches Collection of French Châteaux, Villas
Sawday’s, a travel brand helping guests find their perfect hotel, inn or villa, recently debuted Slow France, an instantly bookable collection of châteaux, villas and gîtes in rural France. Each property was carefully inspected by Sawday’s to ensure guests have a luxurious and immersive experience.
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The practice of sauna is deeply embedded in the culture of Finland, and can be traced back thousands of years. Today, even business meetings are held within these toasty spaces. This tradition is so imbued with importance, it was inscribed in 2020 onto UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
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Feb 24, 2025Indulge in a Nordic Sanctuary of Wellness Aboard a Viking Ocean Cruise
After a day exploring Tallinn’s Gothic charm during a crisp autumn cruise in the Baltic with Viking, my tired legs and chilled cheeks are ready for a recharge. Enter The Spa, including Viking’s longstanding nod to the increasingly popular Nordic bathing tradition. This isn’t just a spa tacked onto a luxury liner for the sake of appearances; it’s a thoughtfully designed sanctuary inspired by Nordic traditions, and the Thermal Suite is free for all passengers.
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Feb 21, 2025February 2025
Feb 20, 2025Sip Your Way Through a Tulum Resort Where the Jungle Meets the Sea
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Feb 20, 2025St. Lucia Resort Unveils New Villa
Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort recently announced the debut of Spice of Life, an ultra-lavish, nine-bedroom villa offering the ultimate luxurious getaway in the Caribbean. Located at the base of the Piton Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the new villa features a stunning design and one of St. Lucia’s finest art collections, which includes pieces by multiple world-renowned artists.
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