Often, a reality check comes from the most unexpected of avenues. A few days back, during a round of channel surfing, the subject matter of a particular documentary on BBC caught the eye. The show was about Taiwan’s emergence as a global music destination.

Through the eyes of a Taiwanese Rastafarian indie musician, dreadlocks and all, we were taken on a road trip of the thriving music scene — from EDM, and new age to traditional and indigenous bands. But what really got us thinking was the explosion of music venues in the tiny island country. We were stumped. The voiceover was telling us of how music had become a way of life, and how musicians from the West were now ensuring that their global gigs did a pit stop in Taiwan. The local itinerary on this 36,193 km country was chock-a-bloc, with concerts, festivals and shows that celebrated local and world talent, around the year.