"I don't have space for this at home," said Vicky (謝曉汶), a 22-year-old tourist from Hong Kong who had been admiring the model. Her arms fluttering with excitement, she said: "The decorations are very detailed. The painting is good, too."
Unlike the drinking water museum, the majority of the visitors here are tourists. Most come from Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, Chen said.
Just as conservation and lack of space are concerns in Taipei's crowded urban environment, so too are earthquakes and typhoons.
The Fire Safety Museum draws more than 60,000 visitors each year, Kang said, and teaches them how to deal with natural disasters and man-made incidents such as fires and car accidents.
In the earthquake room, children are instructed to don hard hats, turn off a gas meter and open the door before crouching under a table. In the smoke room, they practice ducking below the smoke and crawling towards the exit. There are also phones with computer terminals where kids learn how to dial 119. A test at the end reminds them only to use the service during emergencies.
And it's free. Unfortunately, high school students and adults can't use the earthquake room. Not to worry. For them there are the fire escape and the typhoon chamber, which is rigged with metal rails for visitors to hang on to while they are subjected to strong currents of air and a torrents of water. The museum supplies raincoats and boots. The less adven-turous can watch through a glass wall as those inside get buffeted and splashed.
Conditions in the room are similar to those during a medium-force typhoon. "I don't know how strong the wind is," Kang said, "but it's pretty strong."
MUSEUM NOTES:
Taipei Water Park:
● 1 Siyuan St, Taipei
● Open Tuesdays through Sundays, 9am to 6pm. Ticket booth closes at 5pm; Tel: 02 8369 5145
Miniature Museum of Taiwan:
● B1, 96 Jianguo N Rd, Taipei
● Open Tuesdays through Sundays, 10am to 6pm. Purchase tickets before 5pm; Tel: 02 2515 0583
Fire Safety Museum:
● 37 Chenggong Rd Sec 2, Neihu, Taipei (台北市內湖區成功路二段37號)
● Open Tuesdays through Sundays, from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm. Only groups of 15 or more, which must call in advance, can use facilities such as the typhoon room; Tel: 02 2791 9786
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