A Watch Fair Trip To Taiwan 2024

In June 2024, our friends and Link and Tag invited us down for their watch showcase event in Taiwan over the weekends. When I caught wind of the opportunity for me to go down and help out, the anticipation was built as the dates countdown. This was my first ever overseas business trip, and I found myself oscillating between excitement and nervousness due to the need for Chinese proficiency. I spent days preparing and reading, ensuring I was ready for anything thrown at me.

The flight to Taiwan was smooth as we arrived one day earlier, but there were numerous of cries from babies on board throughout, making it a little tough to catch some shuteye. As we descended, I was greeted by the vibrant skyline of Taipei. With vast clear skies from the lack of obstructions from surrounding buildings, it was a breath of fresh air. We met up with our friends at Link and Tag who hosted us and brought us around. During the drive to our hotel, I caught myself gazing at the view in awe, with tall mountains and serene temples everywhere. As we approached Taipei, the transition to a city landscape brews a different beauty.

The event itself was held Huashan Creative Park in the Zhongzheng district. A bustling event space filled with other creative shops such as poultry, fashion and hand crafts. The Link and Tag watch showcase features many other watch brands such as BA1110D and Horage amongst many others. During so, we worked with many like-minded watch enthusiasts from other brands and shared ideas and perspectives on watches. We got to delve into the watch culture in Taiwan first hand and it was a very warm experience filled with infectious passion and enthusiasm. Many memories were made during and after the events as we worked together to make this event a success.

As for myself, I had a rough time communing in Mandarin despite being Chinese. Communicating with my mother tongue has always been a challenge. Almost like driving a manual car after not touching one in ages. I put in effort to brush up on my Chinese, surrounding myself in Chinese media be it movies or my favourite Jay Chou songs. Almost like listening to an artist’s songs before their concert, but in my case, there was no concert. But to my own surprise, I was quick to pick up on Dennis’s proficiencies and was able to share about our brands: Hitori, Dievas and Evant confidently. Conversations with locals were fun and friendly as they spoke with a very warm demeanour. There were plenty of humorous moments where my attempts at certain phrases led to laughter and joy, breaking the ice and making the interactions ever more so enjoyable.

During the event, there were special showcases for watch photography talk shows which piqued our interest. I took part in the watch photography sessions and learnt about the tools and angles used in their shots. Most of it was familiar to me from my the things I have learnt in Gnomon, but my greatest take away has to be the creative aspect. Seeing different photographers share, you can tell the personal taste and preferences based on the lighting and mood, much like art. I am definitely going to try out some new ideas for photoshoots going forward with Gnomon, so be sure to be on the lookout!

Days after the event finished, were spent uncovering the key highlights and local secrets of Taipei. We visited the ever-iconic Taipei101’s café located at the 88th floor which was just breathe taking. Comparing to my past experience at Tokyo Skytree, the differences were striking. Skytree’s view offered a showcase of the sprawling urban lights of Tokyo, whilst Taipei101 provided a unique panorama that combined the urban landscapes of Taipei with the towering mountains surrounding the city in the distance. It was a captivating sight that perfectly capture the essence of Taipei.

No trip to Taipei will never be complete without experiencing the bustling night market, as we headed to the popular Ningxia night market. The market was a sensory overload in the best way possible, with narrow walkways of barely 2 shoulders width apart, lined with stalls offering mouth-watering street food. The aroma of grilled meats, seafood and sweet treats filled the air, making it impossible to resist sampling a bit of everything/ We indulged in the popular delicacies such as the dumplings, smoked beef and bubble tea.

After filling our stomachs with food, we took to the local bar aptly named “Cozy”. True to it’s name, the bar exuded a cozy and relaxing vibe, perfect for unwinding after a busy day. What made Cozy unique were it’s bespoke drinks, tailored to taste preferences. By letting the bartender know our taste profiles, we were treated to unique cocktails presented in creative ways. One of my drinks arrived in a glowing treasure box filled with gold, creating a mesmerizing presentation that was just as delightful to watch as it was to drink.

The trip was not just a professional milestone but also a personal growth journey. Overcoming my language barrier and stepping out of my comfort zone has given me newfound confidence. It was a pleasant experience and definitely a key highlight in my time here at Gnomon.

As I look forward to future events, I’m filled with gratitude for Gnomon for the experiences and connections made during this trip. A special thanks to our hosts, Link and Tag, for an unforgettable weekend. Till the next one!