Simply Star Stuck

I was on my way down to Taichung today for the Love & Money 50 years of creative Briton. In a nut shell the British Arts Council get various UK creatives to give presentation about them or there company and to promote Britons creativity.

The talk I was going to had Dick Powell talking about Design and Innovation and various others UK creatives. I knew I had to go too see the Dick Powell speech, maybe I would get the chance to talk to him plus he is one of my favorite designers in fact I think if I could turn out to be like any type of designer it would be him. I really do believed in what he talks about and what his company Seymour Powell stands for.













Entrance to the TDC Taichung, and miniature windmills it is!













Taiwan's new design mark, The Gold Pin.

In order to make the talk I pulled a few night shifts to get my work done and by Wednesday evening things were looking good. Come Thursday morning I was off down to Taichung to represent the design arm of AmTran. When I arrived at the Taichung Design Centre I realised they had a large exhibition on which was a surprise and I didn't really have much time to go around it as it was about 12 when I arrived and the talks started at 1.20pm.














LED lights by Process Design far right.














Slightly more of a student approach in layout I felt.

Feeling peckish I went off to find a restaurant, as I was walking around I saw a slightly colonial looking coffee house so I though I would check it out. As I entered low and be hold, there is Dick Powell, Deyan Sudjic and a few others waiting to have lunch. I though I am on my own so I might as well ask if I can join them for lunch I mean this is one of the cool things about been a foreigner in Taiwan, because you all have one thing in common you're in Taiwan!


I got introduced to everyone and I have to say everybody was really friendly, considering the heavy weights in the design world sitting at the table. They asked me what I was doing out here etc and instead of talking too much about TV design I told them about this company called Inscentinel I use to work for who train honey bees to find explosives though smell so I manage to hold my conversation fairly well.

The creative talks were all interesting in there own way, I also got the chance to talk to Dick and I have to say I was a bit star struck and did not really know what to ask!














The something about the fast train.














On the move.

Train to Fulong

Today I though I would finally visit the beach at Fulong, it's one of the nicest beaches north of Taipei and really easy to get too. I took the train from Taipei Main Station, I think my ticket was about 100NT. The journey is about one and half hours and it's pretty interesting to look out the train window and see how the landscape changes as you leave Taipei. But if you're short on conversation a book or an iPod are recommended. I think the is the option of taking a faster train which gets you there in about an hour.







Fulong in perspective.

It's very easy to know when you have arrived at Fulong practically everybody gets off at that spot. Once you're there it's about a five minuets walk to the beach and you just have to buy a ticket for about 90NT and then you're in.














Slightly overcast but still nice and warm.

The beach was pretty nice and not very crowded when I went, the sand is pretty white and the sea was warm, the is a shallow reef so you can actually walkout quite far. You can surf at Fulong but I think the waves are better for body boarding.

All in all it was a great trip and I well try and visit there again when it starts to get warmer.















Entrance to the beach.














Leaving after watching the sunset.

Pontiac & The Dollar

I have a new rental car called a Pontiac G6, at first my co-workers were joking about me having a Pontiac as it's a home brand and not a great one I don't think, but I'm not sure. I think there a bit like Skoda stared of bad and got better.

















The back of my car outside the Rainbow sandals HQ. Rainbow make the strongest most eco-friendly sandal's in the world. If you can get a pair you won't be disappointed!

Anyway when it pitched up it was totally fine as it's a 2008 model, the interior is more exciting to look at than the exterior which is a bit boring and plain, for a sport coup.

















No I wasn't going that fast but it's quite a cool effect when you turn on the engine all the dials shoot too the right.

I think the previous owner must have ragged it as I can feel the engine is misfiring on a cylinders, when I start of from the traffic lights, or maybe it's just built badly.

I've also found using my $100 bills, which I was kindly given is rather tricky as restaurants or shops are normally very reluctant to take them, so much for power of the dollar!

America Cobra

For me this is tottaly wicked, I love in America how you can actually own something this ridiculous big and ego busting and it's just seen as normal.
















Is it any good at, offroading? I think so!

I have also started to realise how important the motor car is to Americans culturally and especially the Ford & GMC brands there are just so many trucks out here and I kind of see it as an extension of your patriotisme if you own one, it your second flag and supporting the American dream.

Cribs

I am staying at the company flat near Culver Drive in my little gated community which is a bit odd for me, but the place is perfectly comfortable and much nicer than the hotel I was at in the beginning.

Front of the house.

This is my new ride, it’s a Honda and it’s huge, which does make it a big tricky to drive, In fact I parked next to a Range Rover the other day and my car is longer and taller. I think if I ever got lost I could sleep in the boot without having to put down the back seats.

My ride.

It also has some cool accessories like electric sliding doors and LCD screen which, show a camera image of the back when you’re reversing which is pretty useful.

My street.

I am very great full to have satellite navigation too as it’s quite easy to get lost as you need to drive everywhere to do the most basic of things, like getting milk from you local petrol station as it’s so far away from where you home is.

二百 Vs Wang Hao

The 200 NT on food per day challenge is going well, I haven't broken my budget yet and I am normally left with about 20-15 NT not much but it all adds up, so I hope I can keep it up. Today I only had dumping for lunch which was 30NT and yes my co-workers were quite impressed but I think I should of order more than 10 as I now have tummy rubbles developing.

I actually read about a guy called Wang Hao, in China who is spending about, 100 Yuan which about 10 pounds and half of what I am spending to live on a week. He wanted "high-earning, big-spending people" to embrace a simpler life.

But I am living in Taiwan, Taipei which is more exspensive than China and my change is only Monday-Friday I don't count the weekends and transport to work is not counted either but I am only taking the bus which is 12NT. I also don't count my self as a high earner!

Taiwan Transport Back Bone

I don't know what it is about Taiwan and two wheeled transport but everybody out here has motorbikes or scooters.

I sometimes think these little vehicles are the back bone of Taiwan’s economy, a bit like the Ford Transit van back home.

They are pollutive and congest the roads, but I still think the is something rather nice about old knackered bikes.

My High Rider!

Finally after two weeks of pondering around, deciding whether I should spend limited funds on getting a bike to ride to Shi-Da in the mornings I have bought myself a traditional Chinese bicycle, complete with bell and front trash can!

A little bit to small!

I got the whole thing new with a helmet for 2000 NT that's just over 30 pounds, which is a pretty good price for a new ride. I have been assured by my Taiwanese friends that if I leave it outside it well get stolen or is this just the Taiwanese been paranoid about security again?

Getting the bike in the taxi was a bit of a challenge!

I did'nt think I could apply the urban camo effect after peeling all the stickers of the frame I felt the silver shape looked to nice too ruin. But I am going to get two locks and see what happens.

Finaly

We also got the fast train back from Chiayi County to Taipei which was great fun, and this time I finally able to photograph the front of the train.

I like how the lights impose a little face.

I also took this photo on the way down to the Shrimp farm of two local boys cleaning out there farther truck.

End of the day.

Super Effective High Speed Rail

Taiwan’s fast train is the best, in fact I really enjoy public transport out here because it works and is 115% better than the UK.

If we had this bad boy going to Scotland nobody would ever drive or fly it so quick at just over 200 PMH and always on time and never delayed at all! Check out the pictures below.

Getting ready to leave Taipei Main Station.

Interior, image should in large if you click on it.

Arived in one and half hours as are desistaion.

Station view at Chiayi County.

Preparing to leave after a nice relaxing weekend. All the images should in large if you click on them.

Open Platforms

I think it great how some of the MRT stations are built above ground and normally 3-4 stories high so you can get a really good view of some parts of the city!

City view from Beitou station.

My Fast Train

The fast train, which I took back from Kaohsiung to Taipei, takes about one and half hours and travels at 250mph and was a simply great way to get back. Before you step on board it’s a bit like looking at a rocket, which should be heading into space.

The terminal.

Last minuet pose.

Taipei Busses

Even though this is my third trip to Taiwan, It's my first time to take a bus on my own without a guide.

In Taiwan the buses pronounce the stop they have arrived at in Chinese and Sui assured me that the bus would also say the stops in English so I would know when to get off. Unfortunately this wonderful feature was out of service so I had to guess where to get off at. I did roughly end up in the right district but I had a good 10 minuet walk to my destination.