[HKFella]

..up!

[BVe]

Hi again BWC,

Glad some of my ramble about furniture may have helped your thought processes!

I've been here for 2 years in DB, husband was here for 3.5 before that. Prior to that I was still mainly based in Australia, visiting here and he was travelling a lot everywhere!

This is a pretty big community, you don't tend to feel isolated out here. Just pleasantly shielded from some of the downside of living right in the middle of a big city (traffic, noise, pollution), imo. There'll be a lot to get used to if you're taking a break from work for the first time, anyhow - many of us have been through that on first arriving here. Be prepared to be a bit stir-crazy no matter where you live!

Downtown Central is a very pleasant 25min ferry ride from DB.

Other than that, really, I'd reckon keep your options open until you get here and insist on being shown everywhere! Only you can get that "feel" about a place, DB vs Mid-Levels vs wherever else people insist you will love.

Keep smiling!

PS. As Paul said, Sydney is only 9 hours, and even better, only a 2 hour time change = no jet lag at all. I lost count of the number of 4 or 5 day trips I did between SYD/BNE/MEL and HKG over the years - and never had a problem getting off an o/night flight and going straight to work for the day!

[kevin]

"PS. As Paul said, Sydney is only 9 hours"

Only 9 hours You make is sound so close.

Reminds me when I went to UK with my wife a few years ago. It was her first time flying longhaul, she was used to the short 1 1/2 hour trips over to the Philippines. When we arrived in Bangkok for a brief stop-over she was asking "are we there yet?" She did not believe me when I said we had not even begun and there was another 12 hours to go.

[BVe]

Originally posted by kevin
Only 9 hours You make is sound so close.

Ah, that's the Australian coming out in me. When you've previously been based in Aus, and doing trips to US or Europe for business/pleasure that are 24+ hours on a good connection, and can be up to 30, then yes, 9 hours does seem like a walk in the park.

Put it this way, it makes me smile when people talk of JFK-LHR as "longhaul"

[JJexpat]

Hey there BWC,

11 months on the ground, so there are others who will offer advice based on more time here. Mine, at least, is recent! And, I offer some alternative views.

I decided not to go the expat route, realizing that this is a chance for me to experience things I would not elsewhere. So, I live in an old building with no services, take out my own garbage and have yet to arrange maid service. As I do not want a live in and will not go illegal, it will be a cleaning service - or I may pay more and have a personal assistant who does it all part time.

North American appliances are useless--but frankly if your housing allowance is "non-accountable" you can easily beat your rental allowance and use the difference to stock up on any needs. If you must use it all for housing, then by all means go for it--if not, pocket the difference and use it for travel, dining out and enjoying what litle time off there is here.

I work in east Kowloon and have an office in the west, too, with business in Central. So, I live smack dab in the middle - Mong Kok and after a month of "what have I done", I now love it. Admittedly, I'm in a quiet part...views over parkland with hills in the distance, high ceilings, relatviely spacious flat with natural light all round. I get energy from the area, it is fascinating and "different" for this westerner. But, I get peace in the evenings and gorgeous sunrises from my balcony--and I pocket nearly a third of my housing allowance.

When I need my western fix..I am no more than twenty minutes from Admiralty and only five by MTR from Kowloon Tong (which I like better than Pacific Place anyway - except for the fab GReat [food store] over there).

Hong Kong is incredibly convenient, remarkably safe and an eciting place to be. If you prefer the familiarity of other westerners and a more easily accessed social network...stick to HK ISland or particularly DB. If you want something different, do as another poster said and take a serviced suite - take cheap taxis ALL over and go for adventure.

Have fun! And read up on the 5 stages of expathood ;-)

Cheers-
J

[bwc]

I find this site so incredibly useful and am amazed at all the reponses. More questions to come, and thanks again everyone!

[gs400]

Originally posted by BVe
Ah, that's the Australian coming out in me. When you've previously been based in Aus, and doing trips to US or Europe for business/pleasure that are 24+ hours on a good connection, and can be up to 30, then yes, 9 hours does seem like a walk in the park.

Put it this way, it makes me smile when people talk of JFK-LHR as "longhaul"

LOL especially back then when they were still flying Concorde on some flights !


9 hours is indeed short.

HKG - LHR is 12 hours
HKG - YVR is 11 hours
HKG - SFO is 13 hours
HKG - LAX is also 13 hours

major sore ass after the flight

[gs400]

Also which American appliances should I leave at home?



- you can bring your computers since they have voltage switches (Desktops have manual voltage switches at the back, Laptop has auto-switch.. even better)

- as for cell phones, make sure that your phone is a Tri-Band GSM phones as the GSM network in HK uses GSM 900 and 1800. While in North America we use GSM 850 and 1900.



Is it worth buying a car? Are they really expensive there?

Thanks. [/b]



indeed they are really expensive
especially after the new tariff scheme.

First $150,000 -> 35%
$150,000 thereafter -> 75%
$300,000 thereafter -> 105%

quick comparison


Mercedes-Benz E500 in HK : 777,400 HKD = 100,180 USD @ 7.76
vs 56270 USD in the US

[shri]

Most people who have common sense don't buy a new car! You spend time looking for expats who have been transfered out and just want to get rid of their cars, quickly.

[DimSum]

This is a really good thread, lot's of great practical info...

I remember looking into Discovery Bay when I was here first time around, and thought "oh my God, this is just like an Australian coastal/country town, I may as well be back in Oz!"; so I did the soft option and lived in Macdonnell Road (Mid Levels).

Must admit, being single at the time made that location very attractive. Now I'm down in Sheung Wan with my girlfriend and enjoying the local feel, although even when I lived in the ML, I preferred hanging out with locals and soaking up the culture as best as a whiteman can - yau mo gau chore a! Too many LKF posers in Central imo , but that's Hong Kong, I guess!

Also agree, living in Aus we get used to long 24 hr flights to Europe, so 9 back home is just like a pyjama party and your school buddy's house...


Cheers and good luck