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Why Yaumatei is not considered a good area to live

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  1. #1

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    Why Yaumatei is not considered a good area to live

    I live in Jordan and I'm moving in a couple of weeks in Yaumatei in a new building.
    Real estate agents (local HKnese), some expat friends, they all told me that Yaumatei is not safe and it's not a nice place to live.
    Ok, maybe I lived too long in China, but I love this area. It's so Chinese, like the old times. Even in Shanghai it's not like this anymore. There is prostitution, but I saw prostitution in Milan in all places, nice and bad, so I can't see any big difference.
    Yaumatei, Temple Street, Jordan are lively 24h a day. Cheap and good Chinese restaurants, many things to see and buy, an huge fruit market, but also Nathan Road and the nice shops and 10 mins walking distance to Kowloon park and Tsim Sha Tsui.
    I consider HK side much more boring than Yaumatei, not so typical and warm.
    And I met a lot of friendly and nice people here.

    Anyone who lived in Yaumatei that can share his/her experience?

    Last edited by Bobbybo; 03-03-2006 at 03:37 AM.

  2. #2

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    Never lived there but often go there for the buzz it gives off. Temple Street still has an attraction after all my years here. My favourite fast-food 'curry' is at Ah Lung's on Woosung Street. Go for it.


  3. #3

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    If you like it and it fits with your lifestyle, go for it.


  4. #4

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    Talking I too am an expat living in YMT/Jordan

    Hi -
    I too enjoy YMT and now I live in Jordan just off of Ferry Street. I have been in HK for almost 6 years... in the same area. Although, lLast year I lived in in the Mid-levels for 5 months as a friend convinced me to try it and didn't care for it at all.

    The neighborhoods in YMT ? Jordan are great - my neighbors know me and the shopkeepers too! There is a large elderly community too and sometimes on my morning run I will opt to join them in the park to do taiqi. Reclaimation Street is where I get all my fresh veg and fruits. There is 3 times more space for for the money and its is good condition with tons of local cultural. Plus, I have learnt not to judge the outside of the buidling for what is the interior... I have been in some homes that are like a two story house inside an apartment building ... the families have bought the flat above and/or below and have a 2 or 3 story house inside the apartment complex! Wow! are they nice apartments - so basically don't judge a book by its cover but I also realize that what is one person's treasure is another's trinket.


  5. #5

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    Thumbs up discobay

    OMG, I have always loved the Pakistanian Curry from Ah Lung's in YMT.

    I don't remember life living in YMT as I was like 2 then. And haven't learnt about the curry place till wat... 9 years old?
    Well I've moved around, not only HK, but overseas, but my love for the Curry shop hasn't decreased. Took some friends there and they all fell in love, even though one of them found pieces of hair in the the beef.

    Oh btw, from what I've learnt. The owner was in jail years back and that's how he learnt his special recipes - from the prisoners?

    Correct me if my info's wrong

    Claud


  6. #6

    I went for a government interview last week and suddenly the interviewer started talking about how I was able to live / survive in Yau Ma Tei.

    He started going on about how it is full of triads, prostitutes and drug addicts. If you are observant and hang around for a while you know it is true but the same would apply for areas such as TST, Jordan, Mongkok, Prince Edward, Wanchai and many other parts of HK.

    There are many families living in YMT and there are certain areas which are more family orientated and some which are off limits but I have no trouble living here and it's so convenient with both the Tsuen Wan and Tui Keng Leng MTR lines.

    I just hope that my selection for the job had nothing to do with where I live in HK because it is so irrelevant.

    mt_cj likes this.

  7. #7

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    According to a Chinese friend, Yau Ma Tai is not considered a good area to live, because of the huge amount of drug addicts, homeless people, and prostitution in that area. She works in Yau Ma Tai and has to go to her office quite early in the morning (5 something). She has been frequently harrassed by people asking for money, has to walk around guys who sleep or pee in the middle the street and so on. Some people in her office quit their jobs just because they could not stand to work in that area any more.


  8. #8

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    haha I live in Ferry Point, right by Ferry St. also


    Quote Originally Posted by Alby:
    Hi -
    I too enjoy YMT and now I live in Jordan just off of Ferry Street. I have been in HK for almost 6 years... in the same area. Although, lLast year I lived in in the Mid-levels for 5 months as a friend convinced me to try it and didn't care for it at all.

    The neighborhoods in YMT ? Jordan are great - my neighbors know me and the shopkeepers too! There is a large elderly community too and sometimes on my morning run I will opt to join them in the park to do taiqi. Reclaimation Street is where I get all my fresh veg and fruits. There is 3 times more space for for the money and its is good condition with tons of local cultural. Plus, I have learnt not to judge the outside of the buidling for what is the interior... I have been in some homes that are like a two story house inside an apartment building ... the families have bought the flat above and/or below and have a 2 or 3 story house inside the apartment complex! Wow! are they nice apartments - so basically don't judge a book by its cover but I also realize that what is one person's treasure is another's trinket.

  9. #9

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    Lightbulb

    Quote Originally Posted by geo-seb:
    According to a Chinese friend, Yau Ma Tai is not considered a good area to live, because of the huge amount of drug addicts, homeless people, and prostitution in that area. She works in Yau Ma Tai and has to go to her office quite early in the morning (5 something). She has been frequently harrassed by people asking for money, has to walk around guys who sleep or pee in the middle the street and so on. Some people in her office quit their jobs just because they could not stand to work in that area any more.
    Possibly, because there are at least two homeless shelters that I know of for the elderly in the area which often are full but the "drug addicts, homeless people and prostitutes" can at least show up twice a day and receive a hot meal and maybe a shower if they are lucky.

    I have never seen anyone peeing in the "middle of the street" but have seen all ages pee on the side of buildings and sidewalks both in Causeway Bay, Shueng Wan, Shatin and Tsuen Wan as well as YMT and TST. In China I have seen people pee in the middle of the freeway on the grass median but never in Hong Kong.

    Now, often people can only judge the social ills of the world but are not willing to address them. Also, the fact people pass judgement on others before understanding the root cause of the situation.

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by Alby:
    Now, often people can only judge the social ills of the world but are not willing to address them. Also, the fact people pass judgement on others before understanding the root cause of the situation.
    You got a point there. But I think it is quite common that people, if they have a choice, prefer live somewhere where they don't witness such problems on a daily basis.

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