Van life in HK - possible?

Elegiaque · 08-10-2020, 06:04 PM

Campgrounds are free. Some near public showers.

We sometimes fantasize about giving up a flat and just living in the country parks. (Key word: fantasize...) We do wonder if it's possible, though. May be more realistic -- if you can use that word -- than a van.

Coolboy · 08-10-2020, 06:17 PM

One other thing, personal hygiene and sanitation. Where is the van dweller going to take a leak or a dump? He might not always have time to go to the gym to do it. And I presume the van would be too small to install a private toilet? Yes, there are public toilets near parking lots, but not every HK car park has an easily accessible toilet nearby. And speaking of public toilets in HK, well...not all of them are shall we say...all that clean? OP might have second thoughts about using some of them.

And if it is a residential parking lot, would the owners and tenants there want a long-term van "resident" who gives off bad body odour all the time? I mean even if the van dweller takes a dump in a bag, he will need to dispose of that bag in the residential apartment trash can, would the residents appreciate the trash can smelling frequently of the dweller's dump? I would think not. Not to mention the heightened alert to sanitation after Covid. I don't think residents are going to tolerate that.

Elegiaque · 08-10-2020, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by Coolboy:

One other thing, personal hygiene and sanitation. Where is the van dweller going to take a leak or a dump? He might not always have time to go to the gym to do it. And I presume the van would be too small to install a private toilet? Yes, there are public toilets near parking lots, but not every HK car park has an easily accessible toilet nearby. And speaking of public toilets in HK, well...not all of them are shall we say...all that clean? OP might have second thoughts about using some of them.

And if it is a residential parking lot, would the owners and tenants there want a long-term van "resident" who gives off bad body odour all the time? I mean even if the van dweller takes a dump in a bag, he will need to dispose of that bag in the residential apartment trash can, would the residents appreciate the trash can smelling frequently of the dweller's dump? I would think not. Not to mention the heightened alert to sanitation after Covid. I don't think residents are going to tolerate that.

Usually campers would have a tank and that could be cleared in country park systems, but no such thing in HK.

I just find the idea of living in a van in the damp, heavy rain months awful.

Aramis · 08-10-2020, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by jgl:

I'm aware that it exists, but not in any major capital.

It is particularly popular in Vancouver and in California cities like LA San Francisco etc... A 5 minutes search can find you example of people living and working in van and cars. Here's one of many examples, I picked an asian lady for the fun of it. If you want to be pedantic,sure it's not a capital.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy4erT5I6dQ

https://www.sacbee.com/news/californ...238667488.html

RMDNC · 08-10-2020, 07:25 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy4erT5I6dQ

Where would you use the toilet, shower, etc? IMO, the concept won't go over well in HK due to limitations on where you can park.

This woman is probably tolerated in Chancouver neighborhoods due to her looks. No offense, but I doubt the same would be granted to you in HK (man and gweilo).

Pauljoecoe · 08-10-2020, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by jgl:

Come to think of it, do people do this in major Western cities? I had thought that it would be more of a countryside/travelling thing.

Well there is the 'Traveller' community but that would be opening a whole can of worms to discuss that. I have seen the odd person 'live' on the street in a 'Mobile Home' (RV or recreational vehicle in US terms) but it isn't common and I'm not sure it is acceptable or legal. You would certainly end up upsetting someone if you were near a residential area.

civil_servant · 08-10-2020, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by Elegiaque:

Campgrounds are free.

Some near public showers.

We sometimes fantasize about giving up a flat and just living in the country parks. (Key word: fantasize...) We do wonder if it's possible, though. May be more realistic -- if you can use that word -- than a van.

Try Ko Adang in Thailand which is part of the Ko Tarutao National Park. USD 1 per day. It is completely shady right next to a white sand beach, and has a reef that starts immediately when you get in the water. It has a restaurant with an a la carte menu so you can survive there for months.