[newkidonblock]

Hi everyone,

We all have doubts and fears when moving to another country to live. I have travelled for months at a time, but never actually lived abroad!!

So, how does everyone out there now enjoy it? Have you had any problems or issues?

Just wondered what everyone thinks? especially the fresh meat arrivals!

Ps Think I have already made my mind up, just need the final push!
Jan 06 the date. . .

[DuroN]

hi

It is your mindset. If you have list out the pros and cons of what you want in life, and found out that the pros are better then go ahead...

As long you find it comfortable here in HOng Kong.

[GOODMAN]

There are a few things to know which most people living in the US, Canada or Australia will find very different in HK once the plane has landed.
Air quality:
The Causeway District, Monk Kok / Yau Ma Tei Dist. Shum Sui Po Dist in particular
typically have the worse in air quality; especially during the summer. Air is so thick that normal breathing may seems difficult at times. One years I went back to HK in August
I almost passed out while standing on the tram stop in the middle of Causeway Bay Rd. Diesel bus exhaust mixed with the air-conditioning exhaust made the stagnant air trapped between the high-rises impossible to breath. I seriously thought my brain was deprived of oxygen at that moment and because my body wasn’t used to it, I actually felt dizzy.

Noise: It’s everywhere ! it’s very hard to find tranquility and quiet in the City limit.
Living comfort: Flats are extremely small by western standard. 500 sf flats are common in HK for a family. People who are used to 1500 sf living space in their own countries will feel cramped and uncomfortable in HK; unless you have special living arrangement with your employer or with whom you work for.

Driving: I find it ridiculous to have a car in HK if you living in the city ,imit. Parking and traffic congestions make driving a nightmare; let alone having to pay close to $US a gallon equivalent in gasoline. Public transit of HK is the best I have seen. Metro Transit Rail (MRT) is extremely efficient and clean. I would say, you can get to 90% of locations in HK with public transit in one form or another.

Once overcome these hurdles and used to the life style, I think most people from the western hemisphere will enjoy this City; especially gentlemen with a desire for an oriental lady. They will find themselves in heavens.

Oh, for the ladies of the Western world, well you are on your own.

[GOODMAN]

Driving: I find it ridiculous to have a car in HK if you living in the city limit. Parking and traffic congestions make driving a nightmare; let alone having to pay close to 5$US a gallon equivalent in gasoline.

[Expatriate]

We all have doubts and fears when moving to another country to live.

I know how you feel. I came here straight from behind the iron curtain just after the wall came down. I was 27 then, I'm now over 40 and didn't regret it yet.

As was said above, driving a car or even riding a bicycle is not recommended. Public transport is convenient and cheap. You can live far away from downtown and still have 24/7 bus service.

The rainy season is something you need to get used to, same goes for the Typhoons (Hurricanes), but they are getting less in this area and are replaced by bad air coming from China (as the warm ocean water creeps gradually north, Typhoons go now mostly over Taiwan, Shanghai and blow the bad air of Guangdong to us).

And for the singles - there is something for every taste.

Living space is expensive, due mostly to expats (or their companies) who paid anything in the past years. In '94 the mainlanders came over and exchanged their bribes for real estate and the prices shot through the roof.
It relaxed somewhat after 97.

Very important for me are the friends and family I left behind. I'm always welcome back.

[Bogs]

For a single, western guy....Hong Kong is the business. Let's not beat around the bush here....it's simply great if you like going out...bars....chicks from all over. there is NO excuse to be bored here if you're a single guy here and like to live a little.
It's different gravy mate, just come here.

[Bogs]

On a more general note, HK is real easy to live in....things work effiiciently, lots going on........
But I can't stress enough how good HK is if you're a guy in your 20's and single and like to socialise and are not totally strapped for $$$$$$$$. There are very fit women all over the place and you very very rarely get meatheads causing trouble on a night out here, unlike back home.
Make the move man, and i'll show you a few bars.

[newkidonblock]

Hi Everyone. . Thanks for your views and all is well and truly noted! Just waiting on my HKD figure and I will be there in Jan 2006!

Can't wait!!!!!!!!

[DavidHK]

just to galvanise that decision, I'll totally concur with Bogs, HK is a fabulous city for the late 20's single man (its great for everyone, but as a late 20s single man myself I am only qualified to give that perspective).

The girls, the climate, the beaches, the watersports, the easy access to the rest of Asia, the work (for what I do at least), the partying, the absence of crime and the shopping are all top notch. Book that flight!

[punk]

Originally Posted by GOODMAN

There are a few things to know which most people living in the US, Canada or Australia will find very different in HK once the plane has landed.
Air quality:
The Causeway District, Monk Kok / Yau Ma Tei Dist. Shum Sui Po Dist in particular
typically have the worse in air quality; especially during the summer. Air is so thick that normal breathing may seems difficult at times. One years I went back to HK in August
I almost passed out while standing on the tram stop in the middle of Causeway Bay Rd. Diesel bus exhaust mixed with the air-conditioning exhaust made the stagnant air trapped between the high-rises impossible to breath. I seriously thought my brain was deprived of oxygen at that moment and because my body wasn’t used to it, I actually felt dizzy.

Noise: It’s everywhere ! it’s very hard to find tranquility and quiet in the City limit.
Living comfort: Flats are extremely small by western standard. 500 sf flats are common in HK for a family. People who are used to 1500 sf living space in their own countries will feel cramped and uncomfortable in HK; unless you have special living arrangement with your employer or with whom you work for.

Driving: I find it ridiculous to have a car in HK if you living in the city ,imit. Parking and traffic congestions make driving a nightmare; let alone having to pay close to $US a gallon equivalent in gasoline. Public transit of HK is the best I have seen. Metro Transit Rail (MRT) is extremely efficient and clean. I would say, you can get to 90% of locations in HK with public transit in one form or another.

Once overcome these hurdles and used to the life style, I think most people from the western hemisphere will enjoy this City; especially gentlemen with a desire for an oriental lady. They will find themselves in heavens.

Oh, for the ladies of the Western world, well you are on your own.

I swear a lot of westerners must come to HK from the suburbs. Dude, I live in Mong Kok and, um, almost passed out? No, never. Air quality is definitely bad but it ain't clean in London or Paris either. Air quality significantly worse in the aforementioned neighborhoods. No. Pollution is everywhere, except maybe the New Territories, and even there the views are obscured by haze.

Hmm. A quiet city. Same thing applies. Drive a car in Manhattan. Or any real city. Stupid, bad idea. That's what subways and buses are for and why we live in the city. OK, outside of Manhattan, Chicago, and SF (has buses that are ok) in the states, the subway usually sucks. I'm sure people use public transport in Sydney and (of course) Canada. Welcome to city life. Cars are a bad idea to begin with.

Apartments are definitely very small which sucks, but it means you go out more.

As for being whatever in Hong Kong, there's a lot here; build it yourself and make what you want happen.