[Scrooge]

Why is it such a hassle for people to take the ferry to DB? It's clean with "airplane seats” and quick.

If you've lived outside HK where commuting time of 1.5 hours and more is "quite normal" than the trip to DB is nothing!!

It’s all relative.

[Summit]

Well, about the commute, when I was in HK two weeks ago for biz trip, I tried to come down from Mid-level to my office in Central, all walking takes about 20+ minutes, using the escalator.....I guess from the postings, getting down from other sections of mid-level, by taxi, takes also around 15-20 mins, ....while I take the ferry to DB, almost the same 25 mins......judging the commute time, it does not seem to be a big difference, either by walking/taxi from Mid-Level, or ferry from DB, to Central???

Oh, someone's post did mention that if the weather is bad, say hurricane season, then from DB, you have to use bus to the nearest MTR station then ride to Central?

Another note:
What about the Hong Kong movie scene?

When I was there, they were showing Charlie's Chocolate Facortory, about 1 month lag, compared with LA.....but not sure if they show as many different types of movies as here, say foreign, indie, etc.......the other comment, I hate the big subtitles they have on screen, it's annoying and distractive, is there any theater that they just show the original movie without any subtitle???

[discobay]

Originally Posted by Summit

......judging the commute time, it does not seem to be a big difference, either by walking/taxi from Mid-Level, or ferry from DB, to Central???

You seem to be set on DB over Mid-Levels.

Originally Posted by Summit

.....but not sure if they show as many different types of movies as here, say foreign, indie, etc.......the other comment, I hate the big subtitles they have on screen, it's annoying and distractive, is there any theater that they just show the original movie without any subtitle???

HK has a very good selection of Hollywood movies. Those that don't make it here are dropped after two or three weeks. You can't avoid subtitles though there is a specialist theater/cinema at Tai Koo SHing called Director's Club where you can make movie requests if you can buy all tickets (about 16).

[cream]

i have lived in HK for 9 years, and in 4 locations. Central, Kowloon, New Territory, Lamma and now in DB for 2 years.
I was single before, and loved living in convenient Central. I think you should always start with Central area to get to know what busy HK city has to offer - maybe when you got enough of it, you can consider moving out here in DB. You can always find a nice quiet place in DB, and chill out over the weekend. I love going hiking to MuiWo, reading papers in Plaza with coffee from uncle russ or solid rock cafe. A lot of friends who used to live out in DB moved to HK side, and Many friends who used to live in HK moved to DB. I think you gotta experience both side of HK.

DB Ferry pier locates right in front of IFC - where I do most of activities (movies - PALACE IFC is a super great theater for English speakers, gym - Pure fit has everything you dream about the gym, and grocery shopping- if you want anything you cannot find in normal supermarket, you can get them in CitySuper inside IFC mall, and of course dining out occasionally in HK side is a real treat) which is very convenient.
I also love ferry rides fro/to DB - I can read books, sleep, and do whatever you like coz it doesn't feel at all like you are on the ferry (until it gets closer to HK harbour, it gets rocky).

but, I wonder if you chose to live in DB first, you will miss out social events alot. When you come to a new city, I think you will be invited to lots of going out and you shouldn't be saying " oh but I gotta catch this ferry...otherwise..." and rush out, coz that's what I do now!! This doesn't happen often coz I am married, but it still sucks when it does.

anyways, enough from me.
Good Luck finding a cozy place in HK!

[saltwater]

Originally Posted by cream

i have lived in HK for 9 years, and in 4 locations. Central, Kowloon, New Territory, Lamma and now in DB for 2 years.
I was single before, and loved living in convenient Central. I think you should always start with Central area to get to know what busy HK city has to offer - maybe when you got enough of it, you can consider moving out here in DB.

Yep the best advice I had when I got here was to live as close to Central as possible - ie Mid Levels. That way its really easy to be out & about at bars and meet and hang out with friends. When you've been here a while and have some established a good circle of people to hang out with, then its a good time to move out to Happy Valley / DB etc because you can start hanging out at peoples houses instead of bars which is a much much cheaper way of doing things.

[angiebaby80]

i agree with discobay...i think that summit has made up his mind on db as he's still going on about this...mate, if you are single, hk island is better...mark my words otherwise you'll regret it when you move to db...db is nice but for families..

[zukerman]

Discovery Bay is amazing place, no doubt about it at,
As you said - it's an outdoor place, as well it's green nice and friendly with good people.
It's a great place for weekends, myself and a group of another 3 guys are going to DB 2 to 3 times a week for mountain biking if weather is acceptable, as well it's a great place for Beach Volleyball, the only thigs to consider are :
1) All prices in DB jumped up because of the Disneyland.
2) There is a special option for people that works in Central and that's something you can't do much in other places in the world and that's the option to WALK to the office, I'm working in Central and I live in MidLevels for 3 years now, smiling every morning and walking to the office within 15min - that's something special that DB cannot compete with.

[pea]

DB is so boring, there are only a few shops there, but the beach and the atmosphere is really nice. I like Midlevels better because of how close it is to the city and still feels like home atmosphere. I guess it depends on the price you are looking for, and how early you want to wake up every morning etc. Also to help you out I have seem a new serviced apartment (not old like the buildings you have seen) on hospital road in midlevels, as well as new low rise flats in db (kinda like a compound of new 2 story houses, really nice and secluded) so no problem to find a place i guess.

[angiebaby80]

*na na na na na*

cannot compete !!

[Summit]

Hey, Angiebaby80, is that a bouncing frog:-0, it makes me lol, cool!

First of all, I really appreciate ALL the input, I want to thank you all for getting back to me .......now to take the discussion further, I just got the call from my Headhunter today and learnt that the Company is preparing the Offer Pkg and will send to me in the next couple of days, and the Housing Allowance the headhunter got, for now, is around HK$30,000 - HK$35,000 per month, will be paid by cash, so I can spend whatever I want, maybe some room to save $$?.......

So, where should I go by this number? Mid-level or DB?

On the other hand, looks like if I got the Housing Allowance all in cash, I have to pay tax on all the money?........so I may not be able to use some tricks/tax plannings that I read from the Forum?