Jonathan Biddle - Made in Taiwan

Local Cars for Local People

Jonathan Biddle — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:46:28 +0000

One of the pleasures of walking around the neighbourhood is checking out the exotic (and not so exotic) machinery on display. Everything from immaculately-prepared hotrods, through to European rust-buckets.

Gorgeous slices of Detroit iron are all over the place. I find it funny that although I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about cars, I could not name most of them at a glance.

'Patina' is what I think it is called.

Except for the questionable alloys, there are quite a few older European classics as well. Inexplicably, there are Alfa Romeos everywhere; how they have not rusted into a pile of oxides by now I will never know.

Whether it is the authentic colour or not matters not a jot (if that colour is bright orange, at least).

There is a line of modified mid-90s luxe-barges over here, but that does not explain why you would want a graffiti mural on your Caddy.

... and every so often you come across something utterly cute.

Cooking with Abe

Jonathan Biddle — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:55:37 +0000

It’s been great to have Abe back in town for a couple of weeks. A great opportunity to hang out, get introduced to some awesome people, and get some kitchen time with Abe … great to have the place up and running for his arrival.

Abe on cauliflower duty

Cheers! And cheer up!

Crab cakes from the local butchers ... I am slowly falling in love with that place.

Prepping.

Crab cakes, seared brussel sprouts, cauliflower leche ... plus broccoli and spinach soup, and a wicked cheesecake that are not on view.

Yay! - a marvellous holiday period with the clan Sitzer.

Some Recent Rides

Jonathan Biddle — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:12:30 +0000

I am pleased to say I am making use of the bikes I brought from Taiwan.

Highlights this month are without doubt my pilgrimage to Mt. Tam – spiritual home of mountain biking – and getting a ride in before work. Not just a standard pootle-along … a proper ride. Needless to say, I was a little tired in the office that day.

Mt. Tam

Prepping the bikes. I am pretty lucky to have a couple of others in the office that enjoy riding bikes (and skiing, and general outdoorsy things).

Huffing and puffing on the up-hill ... I think I pushed a little too hard early on, and struggled to keep up on the upper sections.

Fantastic views from the top over to the Bay Area.

... and classic down-hilling (though still lacking the seat-of-your-pants thrills of Taipei)

Belt Drive City Attack

Stepping out early (my rental car and parking space in the background, incidentally)

Climbing the not insubstantial hill behind my house.

Ready to ride across the Golden Gate for the first time (!)

An absurdly beautiful sunset over the Golden Gate ... you can see how it got its name.

Gulp.

The Transamerica looking even more cryptic than usual.

Pre-Work Ride

Proper sub-zero conditions, and I had definitely not brought enough clothes - this is California!

View from the top, looking down into Cupertino and San Jose

I mean really ... this is before work?!

Lovely descending through single-track woodlands back to the car, shower, coffee (and a meeting).

Pacifica – San Pedro Old Road

Jonathan Biddle — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:53:17 +0000

First ride for my Santa Cruz Blur LT in California today! We took the opportunity of a day off work (Thanksgiving) to head out into the hills. This ride is a solid lung-buster climb, followed by amazing views (sadly not for us though) and a swift descent down sandy fire road. A perfect blast and work out for an overcast morning.

Start of the climb on pretty pleasant roads, following the ocean (amazing waves below us today).

Checking the route

Fabulous views from the top!

Descending back down, and naturally the views start opening up - sadly not quite enough to really enjoy them though. On a good day I think it would be like Mt. Taimoshan in HK. Since it is a quick 20 minute drive from the city, there will be a next time!

Thanksgiving on Stinson Beach

Jonathan Biddle — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:30:50 +0000

Given how diligently commercialised the rest of the holidays in America have become, it comes as a pleasant surprise just how innocent and positive Thanksgiving is. Gather with friends and family, eat a little too much, drink until tipsy, and in the case of about thirty other Californians, head to the beach to throw a ball around and enjoy the Autumn sunset.

In that spirit (forgive me if I am getting a little too Californian here), I could not be where I am right now without the love and support of some great family and friends. I am an extremely lucky guy!

Thankyou.

Little Miss Sunshine

Reminds me of a summer with the Scottish guys in Lacaneux

Watercolours

Running home in time for dinner

Checking Out the Neighbourhood

Jonathan Biddle — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 06:50:16 +0000

The rental market in San Francisco is notoriously challenging. Estate agent advertising is virtually non-existent, and people rely on what should be a relic; Craigslist. It came as a bit of a shock, then, to be presented with a place almost perfectly matching our needs after a mere day and half of searching. It’s a modestly-sized, renovated Victorian apartment in the south of Noe Valley – the location balances access to the freeway, public transport downtown and while it is not quite as close to the beating heart of some of the areas like Potrero and Mission, that is probably not such a bad thing; we are but a walk away to Mexican food and more cosmopolitan entertainment. Noe Valley could be compared to Notting Hill … but with more Labradors and baby strollers.

A short walk to the more exciting areas of Mission - here you will find the fixie bikes, hipsters and yoga, but also Mexican murals and awesome food from down south

I am really excited by the food options - local, independent butchers, fruit and veg on the corner, any number of delicatessens ... oh and online delivery for Safeway. No excuses not to cook now!

Superb cafes within a stone's throw

Super access to public transport ... downtown only 15 minutes away on the new J-Line that runs by at the bottom of our street

Our street - soon to be called home!

And our home ... not perhaps the most beautiful example of Victorian style, but it still means we have a little slice of San Francisco living.

First Mountain Bike Ride in San Francisco

Jonathan Biddle — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 06:34:17 +0000

Within about 72 hours of landing, I already had my first riding date arranged with Marc Walliser from the office … I have yet to receive my own bike, so he was kind enough to lend me a very nice Rocky Mountain for the task. Awesome!

Ewok Forest

Nice riding - though lacking the killer technical sections of Taiwan so far!

Looking happy with myself.

California Dreaming

Jonathan Biddle — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:36:00 +0000

Today I landed in America. Months of theory are suddenly turned into practice, and amidst a haze of jet lag and general exhaustion from having gift-wrapped a previous chapter of my life, I am suddenly presented with such a wall of potential experience lying in wait that I can do little more at this point than shake my head and wonder how the hell it all happened to fast.

Relaxed rushing around in Taipei taking care of paperwork like ending cell phone contracts and ensuring bank accounts can be accessed, was matched with quite the most surreal experience of the year; watching a team of impossibly polite strangers pack your life into boxes and crates, with nothing but a ‘sorry sir’ and ‘excuse me sir’ to engage with. Luckily, a rather wonderful group of friends was there to scoop me up and treat me to my last bites of Taiwan, ending the culinary experience as it began; with a plate of Gongbiao Chicken in a loud and roudy restaurant, naturally washed down with some jars of Taiwan pijiu.

Hugs and rushed goodbyes complete, Yuyin and I made our way through the rain to the airport, ironically tracing the steps I made out to Hongshulin all those years ago (ie: along back roads, full of betelnut girls and dodgy furniture stores). A hop, skip (Tokyo Narita) and a jump, and before we knew it we had cleared customs and were blazing through the city on our way to our temporary accommodation. The day was full of ironies, but top amongst them is surely that our apartment friend Erick of Facebook fame can virtually see into our living room. Well, almost.

What a day to land. A photogenic city in the worst of light, today it was bathed in a clear, warm blanket of autumnal sunshine. Kicking off proceedings at Hog Island Oyster Company at the base of Market Street in the Ferry Building, crisp Napa white wine washed down oysters where zesty flavours whipped, cracked and fizzed in my mouth, the flavour experience extending beyond the tongue, into the roof of my mouth and somehow down into my belly. Suggested serving: under blue Californian autumnal skies.

A Blue Bottle coffee (the best cappuccino i have ever had?) and a banana tartlet later, and it was time to take in the Embarcadero, slowly approaching the sea. Yuyin and I were shaking our heads in disbelief all the way, but it was all we could do to stop ourselves turning back when we saw the silhouette of the Golden Gate Bridge set against a perfect graduation of oranges and reds, sliding into the Pacific Ocean. Stop this now. Leave some for later! It must be downhill from here. But keep me believing – you can see why people wrote songs about this place.

Tomorrow, the gluey bits start to come together; social security, initial apartment hunting, and meeting colleagues for the first time. But for now, I am happy to relive perfect autumnal oysters, set on the most perfectly fabulous plate I could imagine.

California Dreaming

What's up dog?

Too much, too soon!

881 TW

Jonathan Biddle — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:45:26 +0000

Seven and a half years ago, almost to the day, I arrived in Taiwan with a rucksack, a pack of CDs, a job with a little-known computer company and not a clue about what the future might hold.

I came for a year of experience in Asia, to see if I could cut it as a proper designer, and with a vague notion of getting paid for an extended period of backpacking.

I could not have predicted the depth and breadth of the experience, the amount I learnt about both the world and myself, the formation of such lasting, granite-strong friendships, and that I would form such a strong bond with this little island in the Pacific Ocean.

It is all of this and more that has given me the opportunity to be where I am right now; somewhere above Okinawa, a beautiful girl by my side, a job offer from one of the most exciting organisations in the world, and the goal to make a new home in a place that I thought only existed in the movies. Every time I think about all of this, I shake my head in disbelief and let out a little English-sounding murmur. Beautiful madness.

I’ll miss you, Taiwan. The worn-in familiarity of an old pair of jeans, the warmth and openness of the people, the love for food that is woven into the culture, scenery to make you weep, and enough crazy little details to make me laugh every single day. My secret little gem; a speck in the Pacific Ocean I came to call ‘home’.

881 y'all!

How to Pack Your Life into Boxes

Jonathan Biddle — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 07:29:52 +0000

How to pack your life into boxes, in 12 easy steps:

1. Identify the most important things in your life and loosely throw them into the living room

2. Invite a team of highly-trained strangers into your life, with inappropriately large amounts of packing material.

3. Stand there helpless as they start work. Nod and say yes to whatever questions they pose to you.

4. Marvel at the amazing lengths they go to, to pack every single thing you own (since you have a huge 20ft container it doesn't what you take anyway)

5. Go outside to get away from the insanity. Consider taking up smoking.

6. Stare lovingly at your prized possessions, before the inevitable happens.

7. Marvel (and shake your head repeatedly) at the volume of stuff you seem to have accumulated.

8. Wander around as you pathetically fail help them do their job.

9. Choose around now in the process to look for very important visa documentation, that has accidentally packed away.

10. Stand outside looking at the truck, as would a small child watching a construction site.

NOTE: The final things that should be packed, and the first to be shipped, should be your computing equipment. Stop your iTunes sync halfway through completion to make sure you have no complete albums for the trip ahead.

11. Wave goodbye to your stuff, as it might be the last time you see it.

12. Inform your friends it is now too late to return borrowed items.

Voila!