How about living in Park Island (Ma Wan)?

[Claire ex-ax]

the expats are really pretty cool over there from what I've seen. Not at all like the boring type on DB who are mainly Americans, the Park Island xpats are more mixed.

But why be around a bunch of expats?

Had a taxi driver the other week who said that, in 5 years of driving, I was the first expat she'd driven to where we live. Plenty of gems when you don't put "must be an expat area" on the list of requirements.

[Big Rocky]

But why be around a bunch of expats?

Had a taxi driver the other week who said that, in 5 years of driving, I was the first expat she'd driven to where we live. Plenty of gems when you don't put "must be an expat area" on the list of requirements.

Not saying that living around xpats is better or worse. Everyone is different, but for me, is nice to be around some, whilst still also locals. Park Island seems around 25% expats and although I understand that is rising DB seems to me like 60%+ expats with even the Chinese there seeming more like overseas Chinese.

Would some like to live in the middle of nowhere just around locals? Maybe. But I think most prefer the benefits that come with living around at least some, in terms of language, socializing, and also some of the eating establishments etc that tend to be in expat areas.

[vmlinuz]

Not saying that living around xpats is better or worse. Everyone is different, but for me, is nice to be around some, whilst still also locals. Park Island seems around 25% expats and although I understand that is rising DB seems to me like 60%+ expats with even the Chinese there seeming more like overseas Chinese.

From the 2011 Census:

• Discovery Bay is exactly 50% 'Chinese' vs. 50% 'Other' in terms of ethnicity, but only 46% or so speak Chinese at their 'usual language' - so you're about right...
• Park Island, on the other hand, has around 90% Chinese ethnicity, and around 90% Chinese-speaking population, so you overestimated the foreign/expat population there...

[Big Rocky]

Ha ha thanks vimlinu, I was just taking a guess - so pretty accurate huh? What I would say is that probably since 2011 the dynamics for PI have changed quite a lot with more expats moving there and displacing locals, so if you take the 2011 census I think its probably out of date and I am likely right with my 25% expat guestimate.

is there not a more recent Census? I am actually curuious to see the data for a range of locations. I expect SheungWan is also showing an expat increase. Perhaps also SaiKung?

[Mr Me]

Here is quite a lot of good info about Park Island Park Island, Ma Wan, Hong Kong in case anyone is interested. I'd still prefer HK island for fun and drinking etc, but there is something very relaxing about park island if you are in that kind of mindset where you want a relaxed place to live.

PS I am on the Gold Coast right now, the Australia Gold Coast not the HK one ha ha Now that is a place I would like to live full time. Beautiful beaches that put HK beaches to shame by comparison.

[fullofst8]

Have a friend living there.
Not for me, too incovenient.

[njaeger]

"Too inconvenient" is the typical answer…and I don't really understand it.
People see it as an Island, but really since it's connected to a bridge it's as much of an Island than HK Island, Tsing Yi or Lantau Island.
Also, what other places in HK allow you to be 30 minutes away from the Airport, and 20 min away from pretty much anywhere (Central, TST, New Territories, Kowloon with direct shuttle bus to Kwai Fong, Tsing Yi, Tsuen Wan)
It's 16 minutes away from Central by taxi. I do it sometimes from the HSBC Building or even Pacific Place. It does set you back about $220 but it takes you less than 18 min each time! Also it has the convenience of very regular and scheduled buses or ferries. I used to live in Kennedy Town and it took me anywhere between 8 minutes to 45 mins to get to work in Central depending on the weather and how crowded the buses are. From Park Island it takes me 35 min door to door. No more, no less. can't be more consistent.
So I think 'inconvenience' is quite inaccurate in fact.

[100LL]

I've taken the bus to Ma Wan / Park Island a couple of times, and it took me about 20 mins if not longer (certainly longer than your 16 mins from central) from Tsing Yi to Ma Wan first bus station.

And this was always at non-peak hours. I would not want to know how long it takes during peak hours or when a Typhoon is about to hit Hong Kong.

Bus start rolling to stop open door maybe shorter of course. Unless I am so spoiled that it feels like an eternity to me. But 20 mins to/from anywhere (Central, TST, New Territories, Kowloon with direct shuttle bus to Kwai Fong, Tsing Yi, Tsuen Wan) I'd like to see some solid evidence...

[HK_Katherine]

I've taken the bus to Ma Wan / Park Island a couple of times, and it took me about 20 mins if not longer (certainly longer than your 16 mins from central) from Tsing Yi to Ma Wan first bus station.

And this was always at non-peak hours. I would not want to know how long it takes during peak hours or when a Typhoon is about to hit Hong Kong.

Bus start rolling to stop open door maybe shorter of course. Unless I am so spoiled that it feels like an eternity to me. But 20 mins to/from anywhere (Central, TST, New Territories, Kowloon with direct shuttle bus to Kwai Fong, Tsing Yi, Tsuen Wan) I'd like to see some solid evidence...

He said it was 18 minutes in a TAXI not a bus. That would be about right because I can get from Central to my office is about that time and it's about the same distance away (Kwai Fong, just the other side of the freeway - we can see Park Island from the office).

I agree with him - if the place is connected by a bridge it's irrelevant that it's technically an island.

[jmbf]

Convenient it might be by taxi but it certainly isn't cheap at $220 a trip. How many times a month can you make that trip before it starts to negate the lower cost of living there?


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