The Asian Adventure – Spring / Summer Development trip
Asia can be kind of crazy
sometimes but it will change your life. After a 16 hour flight we arrived in
a 7 degree Seoul, South Korea. We drove through the vibrant streets and checked
into the Ramada Seoul Hotel, which radiates the pure essence of Korea. We set
off on our first adventure in the markets of Meyong Dong, where we explored new
trends and key jewellery silhouettes. The smell of fresh food filled the air,
while the fully packed stalls exhibited amazing products ranging from colorful scarves to unusual bangles. Not all the foods on sale are recommendable in
these markets, as some Korean delicacies appear somewhat suspicious to our
South African taste buds…
After a hectic yet inspiring
2 days in Seoul, we left on the most terrifying taxi drive to the airport. A
trip that should have taken 45 minutes took a mere 15 minutes at an alarming
speed. We were relieved to have survived the near-death experience, and we
popped onto our next flight to Guangzhou, China. We met up with our Chinese
colleges and then ventured out to the jewellery, hardware, fabric and belts
markets. Our successful day was ended with a beautiful sunset. We were then,
however, alarmed to find that taxis do not operate between 7 and 8pm. This
resulted in a restless wait along the road, amongst the crazy cars, pedestrians
and scooters, with our handbags in tight grip. Thankful and relieved, we
arrived at our hotel in one piece, and were bid goodnight by the incredible
views from our hotel.
Before you head out on a
product development day at the factories, there are a few things to remember - firstly, take as many snacks as you can; Biltong if you love your meat, nuts to
keep you going, and loads of chocolate. Secondly, lots of wet wipes. Lastly, enjoy every second of it because this
is where beautiful products are born!
After a week of late hours,
dedication to finding fabrics, designing hardware and selecting silhouettes, we
had a successful development trip to ensure we have the latest products for our
customers. It was time to say goodbye to our Chinese colleagues, and our
last day was rewarded with a much-needed Thai massage.
An early rise and on our way
to Hong Kong. In 20 hours we did store visits, sightseeing at the peak and most
definitely SHOPPING. It was an incredible trip with lots of laughter, sweat and
memories that we will never forget. So like I said, Asia will change your
life…it is something everyone should experience.
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