Jonathan Biddle – Made in Taiwan

Blog

  • Same Same … But Different

    A rather nice view from my bungalow overlooking the bay – so pleasant I fell asleep in my chair.

    Here I am on Koh Pangan – home of the Full Moon beach party. Well, it would be but it is not the time of the month so the place is a bit more chill. Though that is relative – techno music pours out of the beachside clubs til dawn and fire spinners and pyrotechnicians provide the special FX.

    Sadly, my time on the island is all too short, but I feel I have a good impresson of the place. The weather has been a bit crappy – resulting in choppy seas and a need to were a decent jumper in the wind, but I don’t really care because it is more pleasant than the stifling heat and humidity I left behind in Taiwan.

    My original plan had been to make it to the diving Mecca of Koh Tao, but that plan was scuppered by the fact that the plane on Koh Samui landed too late for the last boat out. All was well, however, as I got two dives in todayby taking the cat out to the island to join a dive boat for the day. The diving was okay – but buouancy problems as a result of the BCD slowly inflating constantly and a dive master that was less than fully attentive added to problems lowish vis and building confidence. It was okay, but overall a bit mediocre.

    Tomorrow, I have most of the day on the beach, and then I catch the plane back to Bangkok for a last night in the city. It has definitely been worth staying out here. The beach hut clinging to the cliff overlooking the palm tree sandy bay, the fantastic fresh food and fruit drinks and joining a different stream of people with their minds a thousand miles away from work.

    For now, though, I join the fire dancers and full bottles of beer on the beach!

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Mods ‘n’ Rockers

    What started out as a quiet night yesterday turned into an alcohol / petroleum fueled jaunt through Bangkok…

    I had a final walk along Koasan Street and got a wee bite to eat at the food stall at the end of the street. Quite surprised how early all the bars and clubs shut, I was pleased to get chatting to some local guys sprawled over some of the most beautifully preserved original Vespas I have seen. My enthusiasm clearly rubbed off on them and they quickly took me under their wing feeding me beer and banana pancakes before taking me on the most kinetic of Bangkok tours … on the back of a fire breathing, screaming mustard yellow Vespa scooter.

    Somewhat different from Taipei, these machines can wheely and smoke tyres at will. Screaming through the streets, stopping at secret night markets selling ‘borrowed’ items, and whistling at girls, boys and whatever in between gave me quite simply the widest grin that my face could handle. Adrenaline and alcohol stoked an overwhelming feeling of being very fortunate to be living in Asia.

    The guys hang out waiting for the action

    Beautiful machines looked even better at night time

    Today, I did the tourist thing and visited the obligatory Grand Palace (shiny), Temples (glittery), and food markets (tasty). I stay one more night here in Bangkok before jetting off to Koh Samui and then Koh Tao for some diving and hot beach action. I’ll land back in Bangkok on Wednesday ready for my flight back to Taipei on Thursday lunch time. But for now, I think it is time to go and join the music rattling by the window and crack open a beer. Enjoy!

    The Grand Palace in Bangkok

    Guards mark the entrance of the inner Palace

    While others seem more pensive…

    A ‘Wat’ (temple) on the south of the river

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Thai Green Curry

    So now i am in Bangkok! I guess. Well, I know.

    It still totally amazes me when I land in another Asian country not so far away from Taiwan. Taiwan is strange, but I have got used to it by now, so coming to a place like Thailand is totally like falling off a log! But then I am like,”whoa, i am in Thailand” because I am in Thailand.
    The same thing happened to me in Hong Kong. I was like “whoa, I’m in Hong Kong”. Similarly, the root cause of that was because I was in Hong Kong.

    But it is funny to regress. I walk down the main strip (pun intended) in Bangkok (pun intended) and it is cool. But there are so many Beckham haircuts and guys with hair styled to within an inch of its life! And sweat bands. Lots of them. And plenty of skinny red bull t -shirts. And drunk people. As a result, there is a part of me that feels like I am back home in, like, Leeds or somewhere. Maybe it’s because there are not so so many bars in Taipei and certainly less foreigners.

    I think I like Thailand. Reading up on it (okay, opening the wrapper of the Footprint guide on the airplane) gave the impression it was some archietctural nightmare. Well, frankly, I feel that things being relative Bangkok feels just fine. Taipei is, after all, one of the most ugly cities I have ever been to. But it does have its many many charms of course.

    And the kids! The kids here rock. Maybe because the place was never colonised (remind me to find out why) there seems to be a certain confidence in the air. Like in europe. Something that does not exist in the same way in Taiwan. There, the hip hop / goth / rocker / prep kids seem to get their styles from a magazine. Here it seems a bit more flowy. Natural. And the motorbikes are way cooler. No need to display wealth and status – just coolth. I just walked by a bunch of guys with immaculate restored beemers. You would not find that in Taipei. Just the newest / most expensive / rarest.

    The only thing I feel uncomfortable with is the very visible sex industry. I have friends who are clearly into this, but I do not get the link. But it is amazing to see girls who look like boys who look like girls. Enough to make you drop your falaffal. The perhaps positive side of this (stretching a point) is that the girls not involved are very self-aware and switched on. I have only walked up and down one street and had two beers, but there is not this cutesy cutesy hello kitty tendency I see in Taiwan. More strut yo funky stuff and give boys the eye.

    And it is funny too – I think that when I get to a closer, warmer atmosphere I will meet some more people, but for now I have basically leaned against walls watching the world go by. Amazing and slightly abstract that I am here after such a bizarre week (moved house, got a new job, organised holiday – normally three things that I would count as stressful individually). Amazing that I actually made it and managed to squeeze so many abstract messages through my tiny brain. But I did it and next month will have some severe life upgrades. Looking forward to it.

    Well well. I am in Thailand. One hundered bobs and I am here! Yes. Just looked outside and it is the same. Related to Malaysia. Different totally. Interesting.

    For reference, I am staying at the Chart Guest House and will probably have another night there before heading out for some island action.

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Grandad we love you

    I just received am e-mail from my father inviting me out for my Grandpa’s 91st birthday.

    Upon being reminded that he can expect a telegram from the Queen in 9 years time he replied “If she’s still alive” – there is life in the old dog yet!

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Asus – Game Over

    Last week, I submitted my notice to my boss Debbie and I will be leaving Asus, and one incredible year behind me.

    Various frustrations, plus the prospect of a new job made the decision logical, if not entirely easy. I will, of course, be leaving behind my dearest friends in Taiwan and a group that has warmly welcomed me to Taiwan. But the time is right to move on.

    I’ll be starting at DEM, working as an Industrial Designer under Michael Young. I’ll be working with Lorenzo again and I think I should be learning an enormous amount in the coming months. Check the links below for some more information:

    DEM
    Michael Young

    I’ll post some more information soon, but for now that is enough … I am also moving apartmant this week, so some real life upgrades here in Taiwan!

    My last ever Gon Bao Ji Ding (Kung Po Chicken)

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Scooter License

    After a year of rocketing around on an International Driving License, the time finally came to sign up for a real, bona fide Taiwanese scooter license. After the devastating failure the previous week of failing the computerised ‘written’ element, we tried again (completing the test on the government web-site would have helped, seeing as it is an exact copy of the final exam… over confidence!).

    The total test format is as follows:

    1. Height and weight test (where everyone in the room can see)

    2. Eye test – basically involves saying which way an arrow is pointing…

    The examination room rigorously tests the potential drivers … total chaos

    3. ‘Physical Exam’ – squat once and grip your hands … all overseen by a doctor!

    4. The dreaded computerised exam … split into multiple choice and true/false sections. Easy if you practice – I got 98%!

    The test room – you have about 20 minutes for the test. 4 minutes is more reasonable

    Scooter Test

    As an example, I got both of these questions incorrect in the previous attempt…

    5. The real driving test! The test course (if you can call it that) could probably fit into a school gymnasium. The first section you pass by driving very slowly (unnatural on this island) along a perfectly straight line, and you fail if you take less than 7 seconds or if you touch the sensitive strip along the sides – this is actually surprisingly difficult!

    Then, you meet a series of tests. First, is a red traffic light. If you successfully stop at this, go when it is green, and repeat the same thing for a pedestrian and then railway crossing you pass! That’s it!

    The test course…

    Some ‘tricks’ for passing the Sailfish test – whatever that means.

    The main ‘straight’ – you can see the test strips and counter. If you fail all manner of buzzers and sirens go off… it is taiwan after all.

    Will he pass!? As soon as you reach the end of the speed test you have pretty much nailed the test. Only a fool would fail at a traffic light (michael 😉 )

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • Typhoon Holiday!

    This was the typhoon’s position yesterday – it is hard to appreciate from this picture, but it sharply veers from its course as it hits the Taiwanese coast.

    The position today – you can see how the ‘pond ripple’ potential future position of the typhoon have become less broad.


    Relaxing here in my local coffee shop, it is hard to imagine that one of the most violent typhoons in recent years has just hit the island. Yesterday, on its collision course with Taipei, Typhoon Haitung veered off course down the coast and hit land in Hualian. As a result, although we all got the day off work today (yay!) the weather is very pleasant. Indeed, Anke, Lars, Tanja and Michael have just arrived to enjoy some coffee and shelter from the warm sunshine outside.

    Update:

    Found a decent photo of the Typhoon’s indecisive path now… the first ‘loop’ in 35 years. Okay, I made that up – but it is the first time a Typhoon’s path has changed like that in ages and ages and ages.


    For some previous Typhoon coverage, check these posts out:

    August 2004
    September 2004
    October 2004

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…

  • World Cup Mountain Biking

    Right at the end of the ride on Sunday we encountered a large group of walkers – an increasingly common sight in Taiwan. Unlike the UK, where you are greeted with at best a nod and at worst a dirty look, the walkers in Taipei are astonished to see anything on two wheels attempting their walking trails, no matter if it is flat earth or a hair-raising descent. Climbing is met with a loud “Jia Yo” which means “Add Fuel”, technical sections get a “Li Hai” (“great!”) and they will invariably greet you with a fumbled “Hallo!” and then stand in front of you smiling as you try to ride around them.

    The group on this day, however, were at the bottom of the final section of downhill for ‘Helens’ – named after the coffee bar at the top. 25 birst into sustained applause at the sight of us, and we were not even sure if it was safe to attempt it! On previous weeks it was really touch and go. In my experience, walkers or spectators of any kind mean default crashing but we all got through to cheers and applause! A very nice end to a ride where I could not get a good rhythm going (indeed, I got in a childish bad mood half way through and kicked my wheel, buckling it … frustrations of Taiwan find their way out one way or another!).

    Peter (Ireland), George (Germany), Mark (USA), Moi (UK) – the morning crew!

    I’ll be adding some video and more pics as soon as I get my new server arranged.

    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…

  • Ximen Operatics Society

    A voice like sandpaper singing songs of painful death (I think)

    I met this fella singing his heart out on his portable bike-mounted Karaoke system. Karaoke gets everywhere in Taiwan, people are surprisingly good and it is a massively popular way to spend a Friday night. For this guy, though, he is unlikely to find fame in the near future.

    The story of a British Industrial Designer in Taiwan…