Does anyone live in Hong Kong?
Does anyone live in Hong Kong?
....and if so, what's it like?
I know everyone has different tastes etc.. but my husband may have the opportunity to move there from London with work for a couple of years so I'm trying to find out a little bit about it before we make any decisions. The fact that neither of us has ever been there means it's quite difficult to imagine living there!
I'm pretty sure there are a couple of baggers in Hong Kong so I would love to hear anything about it, finding accomodation, going out, shopping (am sure this is good!),nightlife, transport etc...
Any advice/tips or anything would be greatly appreciated!
Many thanks
loulou
Answers:
I don't live in Hong Kong but I've been there many times and most recently in June. If you PM me I'll ask if one of my mates who lives there would mind emailing you.
It's a fantastic city, I'd love to live there. The downside is that accommodation is blimmin expensive and the summers can be torturously hot (and this is from someone who loves heat). In July and August you don't go out in it for any length of time unless you're parking by a pool as it is *so* hot and steamy that you'll melt.
But everywhere is air-conditioned so it's not the end of the world.
And it's such a great city, so much fun. There are still lots of Brits there even though handover was so long ago. I love the way it's a mix of Chinese and western - gleaming skyscrapers being thrown up every five minutes yet you'll see traditional bamboo scaffolding on the buildings as they're being erected. You can go from a shiny marble shopping mall (and there are lots) to a tiny steamy back alley where there are cubbyhole temples decked out in red wafting incense out into the street.
Nightlife is in Lan Kwai Fong, on the Hong Kong side. Loads of restaurants and bars, the hot ones changing all the time.
Transport is superb - there's a really good underground system that's all air-conditioned and the buses and trams are easy to use. And there's the classic Star Ferry for crossing the harbour between Tsim Tsa Tsui and Hong Kong. Plus you're at an aviation crossroads with access to flights all over the region. You could have long weekends in Bali or spend a couple of days off seeing Angkor Wat. Sydney is about nine hours away - certainly doable for week. The Queensland coast is even closer and stunningly beautiful when Hong Kong is at its most unpleasant - ie steamy and sticky.
Do it!! it's a wonderful place.
Answers:
Thanks Blossie!
Thanks so much for posting it's great to hear people's opinions.
Even though I have never been to HK the idea of living there has always been appealing. As you say though, accommodation and heat are the two things everyone moans about!
Would be fab if your friend could email me- just basic stuff like the areas people live in and how much I should expect to pay rent wise (it's just me and hubby so probably a one bedroom flat)- just to give us an idea of whether living there would be feasible or just too darn expensive!!!
I'm actually starting to get excited and I don't even know if we're going to be moving there yet!!!!
Thanks again, I'll pm you.
Answers:
I have been to HK too many times...
weather is a concern to me..too humid in summer, not cold enough in winter, i love my winter fashion. :)
shopping is a problem to me, not that I am HUGE, but i cannot find shoes of my size (men's 43), as ppl are smaller there.
Food is good, often very cheap. However, can be difficult to find authentic European cusine, but i am sure they are hidden somewhere.
bars/music scene is not as big as London of course!! but i suppose depends on your lifestyle too.
you should have no problem getting around without speaking cantonese, as many younger generation understand basic english, and all signs and maps have English.
transport is good, the metro/underground is superb.
accomodation is like London, u just don't get space, but that's like most big cities anyway.
To me, HK is London, but heaps smaller. ;)
Answers:
Thanks Panadol, good to hear what another Londoner thinks of HK, I really love my house in London and would definitely miss all the green open space we have here!
I am tall with v. big feet too so will have probs too!
....and if so, what's it like?
I know everyone has different tastes etc.. but my husband may have the opportunity to move there from London with work for a couple of years so I'm trying to find out a little bit about it before we make any decisions. The fact that neither of us has ever been there means it's quite difficult to imagine living there!
I'm pretty sure there are a couple of baggers in Hong Kong so I would love to hear anything about it, finding accomodation, going out, shopping (am sure this is good!),nightlife, transport etc...
Any advice/tips or anything would be greatly appreciated!
Many thanks
loulou
Answers:
I don't live in Hong Kong but I've been there many times and most recently in June. If you PM me I'll ask if one of my mates who lives there would mind emailing you.
It's a fantastic city, I'd love to live there. The downside is that accommodation is blimmin expensive and the summers can be torturously hot (and this is from someone who loves heat). In July and August you don't go out in it for any length of time unless you're parking by a pool as it is *so* hot and steamy that you'll melt.
But everywhere is air-conditioned so it's not the end of the world.
And it's such a great city, so much fun. There are still lots of Brits there even though handover was so long ago. I love the way it's a mix of Chinese and western - gleaming skyscrapers being thrown up every five minutes yet you'll see traditional bamboo scaffolding on the buildings as they're being erected. You can go from a shiny marble shopping mall (and there are lots) to a tiny steamy back alley where there are cubbyhole temples decked out in red wafting incense out into the street.
Nightlife is in Lan Kwai Fong, on the Hong Kong side. Loads of restaurants and bars, the hot ones changing all the time.
Transport is superb - there's a really good underground system that's all air-conditioned and the buses and trams are easy to use. And there's the classic Star Ferry for crossing the harbour between Tsim Tsa Tsui and Hong Kong. Plus you're at an aviation crossroads with access to flights all over the region. You could have long weekends in Bali or spend a couple of days off seeing Angkor Wat. Sydney is about nine hours away - certainly doable for week. The Queensland coast is even closer and stunningly beautiful when Hong Kong is at its most unpleasant - ie steamy and sticky.
Do it!! it's a wonderful place.
Answers:
Thanks Blossie!
Thanks so much for posting it's great to hear people's opinions.
Even though I have never been to HK the idea of living there has always been appealing. As you say though, accommodation and heat are the two things everyone moans about!
Would be fab if your friend could email me- just basic stuff like the areas people live in and how much I should expect to pay rent wise (it's just me and hubby so probably a one bedroom flat)- just to give us an idea of whether living there would be feasible or just too darn expensive!!!
I'm actually starting to get excited and I don't even know if we're going to be moving there yet!!!!
Thanks again, I'll pm you.
Answers:
I have been to HK too many times...
weather is a concern to me..too humid in summer, not cold enough in winter, i love my winter fashion. :)
shopping is a problem to me, not that I am HUGE, but i cannot find shoes of my size (men's 43), as ppl are smaller there.
Food is good, often very cheap. However, can be difficult to find authentic European cusine, but i am sure they are hidden somewhere.
bars/music scene is not as big as London of course!! but i suppose depends on your lifestyle too.
you should have no problem getting around without speaking cantonese, as many younger generation understand basic english, and all signs and maps have English.
transport is good, the metro/underground is superb.
accomodation is like London, u just don't get space, but that's like most big cities anyway.
To me, HK is London, but heaps smaller. ;)
Answers:
Thanks Panadol, good to hear what another Londoner thinks of HK, I really love my house in London and would definitely miss all the green open space we have here!
I am tall with v. big feet too so will have probs too!