Mixed Emotions in Uprooting (Vent) Support Thread

[Mat]

MovingIn07 - We're looking at living in the Gold Coast area. So not sure if a car would be beneficial.


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Gold Coast Area is very nice (used to live there) and perfect with kids.
If you happen (most likely) in one of the residential complex, the swimming pool (Aegean Coast, Gold Coast....) are great and people muxh more relax that in some part of HK.

Plenty of foreigners and Tuen Mun nearby (for your wife it might be important if she is really "chinese" and need fresh fruits/meat/veggies from the local market)

Car is not necessary but nice to have (but really not needed in the first few months) - you have 24/24 buses running and the frequency is pretty good.

[Skyhook]

I have to agree with Carang about HK's lack of forward warning of turn off signs.

When we were in France I was so happy to have 3km warning before on coming road turn offs, and the many picnic rest area's dotted along all national autoroutes..... Made driving a joy.

If you have a good memory for reading maps before you embark on where exactly it is you are going to drive in HK, driving is actually very simple, but takes awhile to know your way around. Causeway bay is the worst in my opinion with its myriad of one way streets and HK's weird fear of no right turns ??? I don't think I have ever driven in any other city that refuses to allow you to turn right, at major intersections, as much as this city.

Apart from that, you get used to it and it becomes easier as you develop locational memory and confidence.

We live in the Gold Coast area, ( absolutely love it ) and find that because we have reduced our overheads in many other area's, that the average expat tends to blow their dough on, we can easily afford the luxury of owning/enjoying a car. I'd rather spend some of our expendable income on our car, than wasting it on rent/bars/boozing etc,things that don't particularly interest me.

Having a car, has allowed us a lot more geographic freedom, and makes visiting friends in area's an hour by car away, much easier to get to, than if we were to use public transport which just doubles, or triples the journey time, making it a chore, instead of just jumping in the car and driving to Shek O for the day ( for example ), in a relaxed fashion.

As WTBHOTIA expressed, the car is only as expensive as you make it, you can buy a Toyota Hybrid which can travel 100km's at a cost of $52.45hkd, which is much cheaper than using the bus, if two adults drove...

Just an example, dispelling the myth that cars are expensive, some might be, most smaller engine capacity Japanese cars are not. .....

[wtbhotia]

I have to agree with Carang about HK's lack of forward warning of turn off signs.

Causeway bay is the worst in my opinion with its myriad of one way streets and HK's weird fear of no right turns ??? I don't think I have ever driven in any other city that refuses to allow you to turn right, at major intersections, as much as this city.

I agree with Carang and Skyhook where the signs are posted at the turn off section so u need to change lanes etc but to me that adds to the adventure of driving in a new place, lets me know next time which lane I should be and then trying to find a way back to get to that point again.

I remember once trying to find a parking space in Yau Ma Tei (Dinner), couldnt find any and kept on going on this single road, in the end I ended up in Sheung Wan (Western Tunnel) and then had to do a U turn and go back through the tunnel to find a parking space, Dinner was expensive that night.

Causeway bay and Mong Kok are the worst places to drive in HK in my opinion and I will not drive there unless i really really really need to.

Having a car if you live out in the sticks is great and gives u more freedom as Skyhook put it. If you plan on living in the city eg. Central Admiralty, TST etc then its pointless I reckon unless u have too much money and couldnt care less.

[Skyhook]

I had to laugh about your Yau Ma Tei experience, I had that happen a few times when I first started to drive here, years ago. Round and round, with no idea where the smeg we were going to end up, after missing the turn lol haha.

But it does teach you where to turn off, firmly lodging the experience into the memory bank, for a much better next time.

[carang]

MONGKKOK & SHEUNG WAN are the two that i HATE, HATE, HATE, HATE, HATE, HATE, HATE!

i usually end up parking somewhere i know and taking a taxi! i have even on occasion stopped a taxi and paid him to drive in front of me! LOL!

[fm7]

Another vote for "having a car depends on where you live."

We don't have a car. Only time I really wish we had one is on school holidays, especially in the cooler months. The public transport here is great and makes it easy to explore the city. But, there are places we would have explored more if we had a car.

[hkken569]

This was an enjoyable thread. Reminded me in parts when I move away from home to settle in HK.

I do like the comparisons that Cara/Mi07 made on #23/#24. Of the culture shock when 'back home'. Mates that I have known a long time haven't changed much and only 'move down the street' when married with their own childrens. I am nowhere as wise as those two previous posters but I think it's the memories of what 'had been good friendships' that linger and is the hardest to let go. Simple things like my mate organising a barbie in his backyard that sometimes bring it to the forefront of my daydreaming.

I moved over in those pre-Geoexpat days, and using conventional means of communication. Think 56K modem to download emails.... :Shudders:

At the OP, I think you're in the right frame of mind for your move. If homesick, then arrange a visit back. With your children, arrange summer/xmas holidays back to visit the grandparents.

Don't know if this is an option, can your wife move and settle down first and you and the kids move at a few months later?

If you need guys n beers then welcome to PM me and I'll round up a few partners in crime for a good old drinking session.

Ken

[MovingIn07]

MovingIn07 - We're looking at living in the Gold Coast area. So not sure if a car would be beneficial.

That's funny - that's where I live (without a car) so I think you can say it's not essential! It will depend exactly where in the GC you live though - I do make quite abit of use of the GC Residences residence buses to get to Central in the morning/evening peak and also their hourly airport service, if you live somewhere without access to these buses then you might want to see how you go and then decide.

[scriptmonkey]

fm7 and carang - Thanks that's good to know. Is Sesame street there?

timklip - Thanks for the Timmies coffee access in HK

wtbhotia - Food for thought indeed. Was hoping the GPS would save me many a headache if it does come down to us getting a car. I'm not crazy enough to drive in Mong Kok and Causeway Bay. My wife drives more aggressively then I, though I use to be, er, more exuberant once upon a time.

Mat - That's good to know. I'm looking for a relaxing environment for the kids and us. Living in a resort like area is kind of a dream anyway

Skyhook - I had experiences like that. When I experienced traveling with a GPS I was totally spoiled. Getting to enjoy the view while driving is fun. Thanks for the comment on the hybrid costs.

hkken569 (Ken) - We're seeing if we can do just that, or meet the grandparents elsewhere for a vacation. I remember the 56K modems and those before it. Interesting times back then.


After doing much research, we've decided to aim for Aegean Coast.
We're actively seeking for a place to rent at Aegean Coast (if anyone knows anyone who is renting, do PM me ), and hope we find a place soon. We'll be in Hong Kong Oct 13th, so we're getting the jitters in finding a place.

The purging while packing is really interesting to say the least. Seeing how your life fits in a few cardboard boxes is really something. Emotions continue to flutter as I say good-bye to Toronto. Consciously recording things in my mind that you otherwise wouldn't because of the move. Experiencing things for the first time such as my very first Toronto International Film Festival, which reignited my passion for films. I have a new found appreciation to the place I called home for 35 years. Something that I'll take with me on the adventure that is around the corner.

So first, we'll find a new place to call home.

[carang]

we don't get sesame street itself, but a few of its offshoots, such as elmo's world. they also play little snippits of ernie & bert's dreams (not sure what it's called though).