Buildings and Architecture in Asia

From a distance, the Bird's Nest national stadium looks like, well, a bird's nest. It was built for the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the inspiration for the stadium was actually not a bird's nest, but Chinese-style crazed pottery. It was designed not by Chinese, but by a Swiss architect firm and cost US$423 million to build. When first finished, there was room for 91,000 spectators, but the seat number has since been cut down to 80,000. It is an impressive steel construction, even up close where you really can see the details in the complex grid formation, which was originally added to camouflage the supporting steel frame. Bird's nest soup in China is considered a delicacy, so the nickname Bird's Nest is quite honourable. Though a beautiful stadium, it is rarely used today - besides acting as backdrop for tourist snapshots.

13 kilometers from Jaipur in Rajasthan you find Amber Fort, built in 1592. The palace is situated on a hill with sweeping views over the area and it is a classic example of Rajput architecture. If you do not have the energy to walk up to the fort, from the foot of the hill, you can ride up there on elephant back for a fee. There are lots of tourists who do this, so you should expect to queue for a while. The palace covers a fairly large area, and there are fine columns / arches, painted ceilings, mirror mosaics, courtyards and women in bright blue saris who walk around sweeping.

Once the highest building in the world, it is now downgraded to the tallest twin towers. Built in 1998, the builindg rises almost a half kilometre (451.9 m) towards the sky. There are 88 floors, but the tallest observation deck for the public is disappointingly only on the bottom level of the double decked skybridge on the 41st and 42nd floors. The rest of the building is boring office spaces and off limits for tourists. The towers' design is based on Islamic architecture and Chinese numerology (8 is a lucky number... the 88 floors, octagonal plan, etc.) and is a fairly impressive sight, especially at night when the glass and steel structure is lit up.

Taipei 101 is sticking more than half a kilometre into the sky (509.2 m) and has 101 floors above ground and 5 under. It was once the tallest building in the world, but is today overtaken by Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It's an impressive construction shaped like bamboo with a size that is hard to grasp no matter where you stand in Taipei. It's possible to visit the observatory decks on the 89th (inside) and 91st (outside) floors for a fee. The lower levels are, of course, shopping malls and office spaces.

There are few places on Earth that are so absolutely spectacular, yet somehow seemingly unknown. The Registan in Samarkand, Uzbekistan is one of those places. A UNESCO world heritage site, the central square surrounded by magnificently ornate medressas (dating back as much as 500 years) is a true sight to behold. A pillar of Islamic learning throughout the centuries, Samarkand is a thing of legend in the Muslim world. Towering doors and vaulting ceilings lead the visitors eyes to heaven, while the masterfully tiled walls and floors help to keep your feet on the ground. Samarkand is a truly spiritual place.

The Central Post Office in Ho Chi Minh City is a fine example of French colonial architecture. It was designed by the ever-so-famous Gustave Eiffel (yes, the Eiffel Tower dude) and completed in 1891. It still functions as a post office today and it is a great place to send some of those rare postcards. Previously the Vietnamese stamps didn't have any clue on the back, you had to spread glue there yourself. Since the provided glue at the post office was very watery you had to make sure that the postcards were stamped before sending them off, or else you risked the stamps being removed and resold. Oh boy, the good old days.

The Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi is another of Gustave Eiffel's creations. Its 1682 m length spans over the Red River and was completed in 1903. During the Vietnam War it was repeatedly bombed but was rebuilt every time, leaving it in an alternated design than original. Today it is still used by pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and trains heading to Haiphong. For reasons unknown to us, the traffic on the bridge travels on the left hand side.

The striking French cathedral is of those lovely surprises that Hanoi has so many of. Build in 1887 in a neo-gothic style resembling Notre Dame in Paris, it is an imposing structure compared to the otherwise humble neighbourhood that surrounds it. It was closed down in 1975 upon Vietnam's reunified and it didn't open again until 1985. Today St Joseph's Cathedral stands dirty and naked, but it kind of fits very well with Hanoi's old-and-used edge. If you are a catholic you can attend service here (in Vietnamese of course), otherwise just enjoy the colourful stained glass windows from the inside.