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Moving to HK with young kiddies
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| posted by ouioui 1070 days ago |
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Hi there
we currently live in Bangkok and look likely to move th HK early next year.
We have 2 children ages 4 and 2 who currently go to kindergarten.
My main question revolves around where to live which is interesting and easy for Mon-Fri life : ie. easy school run , walking, clean parks etc but still fun very much part of HK. Many people recommend Discovery Bay but my husband is worried about not feeling a part of HK.
He will work in Central and also travels a lot so proximity to airport from DB makes sense!. What are the Mid Levels like? What are schools and after school life like???
Oh and as for apartment - need light bright white modern - anyone know any good new devepmts and what's the budget?
Think will stick to either HK Island or Lantau!
All advice greatly appreciated
ta ta
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| posted by Patrick Bateman 1070 days ago |
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What your budget?
mid-levels are crowded but very close to central. DB is OK if you dont mind catching a boat every day. Dont worry about being close to the airport because it is 45 mins from anywhere in HK.
Sabrina, don't just stare at it. Eat it.
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| posted by tinybear 1070 days ago |
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Get into any one of these apartments on Borrett Road, Mid-Levels: Borrett Mansion, Bowen Place, Bowen Lookout and Grand Bowen.
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| Fundy |
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| posted by adfundum 1070 days ago |
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Your budget will have an overriding effect on any other concerns/options you may have. Nice, airy, roomy apartments don't come cheap in HK.
For young kids, DB is an excellent choice...!
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Even sick puppies need love...
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| posted by ouioui 1070 days ago |
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thanks for replies.
Other thing is : when is best time to come for best school and apartment availability and choice?
I'm thinking January as I don't want to come easter mid-term time as harder to settle in.
Do those Borrett Rd apartments have pools and playgrounds?
Are they near a park?
can you walk to Central?
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| posted by God de Vader 1070 days ago |
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all appartments have pool, and are in the middle of a nice park, the park is called HK and its concrete :)
lol.....sorry bad joke i know, but this is how you have to see HK a bit. But i agree Mid Levels is nice and convenient, however DB is IT if you have kids! i would if i were you come her for a one week holiday and search the area first :) your only a short hop away
I'm not under the alkafluence of inkahol that some thinkle peep I am. It's just the drunker I sit here the longer I get."
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| The Designer |
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| posted by HKBloke 1070 days ago |
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Few things to think about:
i) Schools are v.v.busy especially for the age you are looking at. More and more companies are bringing in single people or familes with young kids instead of older families. Ideally you need to a) Select an area to live and then, b) Make a trip to visit the kindergartens and book your places before you arive. On that basis xmas is a good time to aim for as it's the 2nd most popular transition time (after summer hols).
ii) There are very few parks & playgrounds in HK. There is countryside in abundance but NOT in mid-levels. For trees and walks you need to look at DB or south side island or New Territories.
iii) You can walk in central - as long as you like walking on pavements and dodging cars.
As a few people have said above - budget is the driver.
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| posted by ouioui 1070 days ago |
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Ok so DB is becoming popular choice...
So here's the next question. If Christmas is good transiition time, when do the apartments become available for viewing? Is it generally 2 months notice?
November for look-see to find apartment is good?
Or is December better?
Do they show apartments which are still occupied?
questions questions.
Also I know someone who lived in Hk until 2003 and said pollution is really bad (can't be worse than Bkk surely?). Is it better now or worse?
oh and any advice on which estate agents to use or what pitfalls to look out for?
pls carry on posting - all greatly appreciated
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| posted by God de Vader 1070 days ago |
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can only comment on pollution.....HK is almost same bad as BKK now. more and more days that you have to cut the air before breathing it
I'm not under the alkafluence of inkahol that some thinkle peep I am. It's just the drunker I sit here the longer I get."
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| posted by tinybear 1070 days ago |
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quote:
Originally posted by ouioui
Ok so DB is becoming popular choice...
So here's the next question. If Christmas is good transiition time, when do the apartments become available for viewing? Is it generally 2 months notice?
November for look-see to find apartment is good?
Or is December better?
Do they show apartments which are still occupied?
questions questions.
Also I know someone who lived in Hk until 2003 and said pollution is really bad (can't be worse than Bkk surely?). Is it better now or worse?
oh and any advice on which estate agents to use or what pitfalls to look out for?
pls carry on posting - all greatly appreciated
Don't go to DB. It's too inconvenient.
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| Senior Member |
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| posted by God de Vader 1070 days ago |
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whats inconvenient? wer not all people who need to have everything within 5 minutes reach!
I'm not under the alkafluence of inkahol that some thinkle peep I am. It's just the drunker I sit here the longer I get."
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| posted by tinybear 1070 days ago |
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But it would be nice and preferable, wouldn't it?
Besides, that ferry ride's a pain especially if the weather takes a bad turn.
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| posted by God de Vader 1070 days ago |
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i disagrtee....i think its great that things are a bit away....quiet and peacefull
I'm not under the alkafluence of inkahol that some thinkle peep I am. It's just the drunker I sit here the longer I get."
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| posted by chris 1069 days ago |
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I would recommend DB to anyone new to the 'expat experience' - but as you are in BKK, I recommend midlevels. We moved to DB when we first came here, then moved to midlevels after a year or so...
That damn ferry!
Midlevels is fine - and really convenient if you catch the airport express - much less hassle than going from DB to be honest.
DB has plenty of parks and things like that, but you cant walk on any of the grass - so not much use.
But, light bright and modern is going to cost you, I'm afraid. But dont forget to haggle with the agent and landlord, you can usually get quite a bit off (maybe 10-15% if you are lucky).
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| posted by ouioui 1069 days ago |
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have any of you guys (I think you're all guys) got kids?
I'm really concerned about getting my Mon- Fri fine as I don't want to be stuck doing the school run and then having only concrete jungle in the afternoons. I'd love to live in the city if it works with the kids!
Hear pollution on DB is getting worse too...
Schools are all packed - any tips?
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| posted by Waterslang 1069 days ago |
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All of HK and the surrounding regio is getting worse re pollution.
Ouioui, a full no-no if that's a major criterium. Sad and true.
For kids DB is a good place. Discovery Bay: aka Disco Bay: aka Delivery Bay. And the speed-ferry is no problem. There are plenty and don't run into traffic jams like on the Island and Kowloon... 25 minute sail, 24/7.
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| posted by Mini Mao 1069 days ago |
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DB is not for everyone. I recenty saw one of the residents on another forum describe it as an xpat ghetto, which IMHO isn't far from the truth. You culdn't pay me to live there. Nothing to do with ferries, just the synthetic feeling of the place itself.
It's common for many (most?) expats to have a full-time, live-in, domestic helper or maid to help with things like the school run.
As others have said, a lot of your choices in this city are budget dependant - if you're confident enough you don't need to worry about this constraint, then come for a quick visit and decide what you like.
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| Regular Member |
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| posted by Waterslang 1069 days ago |
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I agree with Mini Mao that DB ain't for everyone. Personal taste matters a lot.
But an xpat ghetto????
Much more Chinese (HK) living in DB than xpats. Fact.
Midlevels maybe has even more expats than DB. Not a fact from me, only assuming, wondering if?
Anyway a visit before making final decisions is the best: agreed.
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| posted by sunwaterandsky 1069 days ago |
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Have visited. It is a quiet and calm place. You can walk without running into other people. Just don't litter there......
I kinda got the feeling that, if I littered, people would come streaming from the empty looking buildings and beat me to death for my impertenence.
Just kidding waterslang - promise I will be a good little girl next time I visit discovery bay.
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| posted by n/a 1069 days ago |
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South Lantau is lovely (but I have only been there a little while.). adore living there...good public secondary school at Tung Chung actively caters for expat kids YMCA Christian College also a primary school there,have to check the name,25 min busride.Check out Butterfly Crest (upper price range)but cheaper ones at Leyburn Villas,etc and in Mui Wo...Depends whether you like rural peace ,beaches,local village with a few al fresco restaurants ,2 large supermarkets, ferry to Central...but...cars can only cross mountain to Tung Chung 6pm-8am.
Miss P
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| posted by n/a 1069 days ago |
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ps buses every 20-40 mins ,direct to airport and Tung Chung MTR.and bus stations with connections on from there.
Miss P
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