Jonathan Biddle – Made in Taiwan

Tag: Taipei

  • Stairway to Heaven

    I had one of the best rides of the last few months on Saturday. Several sections have been intimidating me for some time, especially because some of the rest of the crew are a bit more daring than me when doing bigger stuff.

    However, I was feeling strong and confident (all important) and the conditions were excellent. For the record, the weather in Taipei in November is truly wonderful – a light English summer day with clear skies and none of the usual horrendous humidity. A perfect set-up for mountain biking heroics!

    My primary nemsis in the past few months has been a very demanding set of steps to climb up. A series of steps, placed about 2 metres apart get progressivly higher until the final step with is over a foot tall. Several of the more experienced riders demonstrate a technique of gently lifting the front wheel up the step and then bunny-hopping the rear up, without losing balance for the next one. I have attempted it in more times than I care to remember, usually ending up in swearing at the hill, which does not help, but certainly it feels good!

    This, however, was my day. The technique, finally was correct, the speed slow but confident and I smoothly lifted the bike up step by step until I collapsed in a heap of glee, a wave of intense joy hitting me. Finally!

    Jonny 1 – Hill 15

    This return to confidence continued in two further sections of hard, technical downhilling that I had previously walked down. So, all in all, a wonderful giant-killing day. Perfect for a balls out night on the town!

    Bishan Camping Ground…

    Information signs at the stairway

    Taiwanese people are a bit neurotic about their little fluffy dogs!

    George of the jungle

    First attempt at the dreaded step drops ended in success (and a sore bum)

    Team 7117 in effect!
    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Lane 33

    Rather dramatic lighting for a lane near Jhongxiao and Dunhua meant I could not resist taking a quick photo.

    Lane 33 – Alley of the stars
    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • The Office Dogs

    Max is sadly so hilarious to look at in the office today after his fight with Gi-Li that I had to take photos. He is more or less addicted to licking things – especially my trousers, for some reason – so this has rather deprived him of his primary past-time. Gi-Li, looks on looking rather guilty. I’ll capture some pictures of the rather well-endowed Poky this week. You will not believe your eyes.


    Max, looking a bit sorry for himself

    “Who? – Me?!”

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • The Daily Commute


    My daily commute

    I wanted to put some effort into logging some of my (now) more mundane activites, which upon reflection may not be so standard for you folks back home. For those that do not know, I scooter to work each day on my trusty ‘Duke’ and this is one of the places where the lights catch me each day for a couple of minutes. It is in these minutes that I sometimes get a bolt from the blue reminding me that I am in the South China Sea – particularly when I pause below the Grand Hotel near to my office. Still an arresting site, even after so much time here.

    One thing that I have realised is that my life back home is as exotic for the locals as it is the other way around. So many assumptions and stereotypes have been squashed by by time here … and an equal number reinforced! And it is of course funny to talk to them to hear what their views on what our lives are like back in Europe.

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Classic

    National Theatre at the Chang Kai Shek Memorial Hall – my Boss’ great grand dad.

    Paul, a Taiwanese musician friend, invited me out today with a group of friends for his birthday. Rather stylishly, we saw the Russian Philharmonia Symphony Orchestra of Moscow perform some numbers from Shostakovic (spelling I am sure is wrong) and some other dead guys. Rather special. Especially as we had front row seats – sweat off the musicians included in the price. But no bar at half time!


    Front row seats!

    NTCH Link

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Maywa Denki


    Maywa Denki – Utter Insanity

    After a dangerously quiet weekend of staying in, eating well, avoiding alcohol (mostly) and mountain biking I got a tip from Michael to check out Japanese art rockers Maywa Denki at Luxy. Quite seriously, I have never had my mouth open for more at a concert – either in disbelief, awe or laughter. However, I am not quite sure which was stranger – the Japanese band, or the reaction by the Taiwanese, who predictably spent the concert sitting on the floor, as if at school.

    School Assembly

    Summing up the band is quite difficult. Indeed, the pictures fail to capture the charisma of the lead singer, or the stern, steely gaze of the ’employees.’ Stopping in the middle of the performance to explain that their musical instruments shed some light – “MANY MANY SWITCHIE, 100 VOLTIES, KA PAAANG!”


    The employees, with products behind… note my favourite star-shaped xylophones

    Maywa Denki used to be the lead singer’s Father’s company. Passed onto him, he deemed that art and rock were more important, but maintained a tight focus on product. As such, the musical instruments are controlled by the aformentioned switches and replicate guitars, percussion or exploding dolls. Goods can be ordered from theire web site here. Hard to sum up, perhaps these photos do a better job!

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Blogging a Bit

    Michael sent me some great photos from my time at Asus which are worth putting up – I am waiting for my new camera, so have to make do with others’ images for now.

    The new job is going well, and I am learning to work in a smaller, faster team again. It is not without its problems, but the opportunities are exciting. And there are some great people there to enjoy lunch with. More on that some time!

    … I’ll finish this post some time. I now have my camera and need to add some photos!

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Zuo Fan

    Writing is rather sporadic at the moment – no internet connection at home at the moment, which is a bit of a pain.

    However, last night was the momentous event of being able to cook for the first time in a whole year! I now have a kitchen and want to get back into the habit of cooking for myself. Slightly rusty in the supermarket as a result of being catered for for a year now, I seem incapable of buying things for cooking. I still managed to escape from the place with a pack of spaghetti, some garlic and olive oil, plus the closest thing I could get to a courgette.

    Unfortunately, I ended up frying a cucumber, but still it tasted good and I appreciated it alongside a nice glass of red wine in the new apartment, which is slowly getting better.

    I’ll post some other events soon. My digital camera is off for repair and I am weighing up buying a new one instead. The humidity of Taiwan destroys electronics, and in my case the menu buttons have stopped functioning, which is handy.

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • DEM – The New Office

    Life is changing quickly for me. A new apartment and a new job are two significant differences in my life, that should both bring some good benefits. The new office certainly stimulating and I am really looking forward to my job developing over the coming weeks. For now, I should introduce to Prada – the office bitch.

    Prada assists

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Mattieu’s Barbecue # 2

    Jonny & Marta! (my favourite Polish person)

    Mattieu staged his second barbecue party, hosting much of the French population on his expansive rooftop overlooking the city to one side and the mountains to the other. My new apartment will feature a similar set-up, with even a little garden!

    Last time, Mattieu managed to attract a very large number of attractive girls. This time, the guys clearly got wind of this and turned out in force. If Mattieu were to host another, I am guessing the local girls will learn of the quantity of elligible, single, professional European males and thus the cycle would continue. Sadly, his landlord had other ideas and has banned him from further parties due to the noise – on such a noisy little island this is rather ironic.

    One interesting thing I have realised is that the French seem to stick together. And the Germans too, come to that. And then there seems to be in the middle – the lone plucky Brit. I am not sure if this is me, or the fact that I am British, but it is interesting none the less. You can also see that Europeans (including the Brits) tend to stick to other Europeans rather than hang out with Americans and Canadians. It seems I have more in common with people who do not share my mother tongue than those on the other side of the pond.

    Why won’t anyone listen to me?!” – Gerd and Marta discuss, while Lars screams for attention

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…