Touring HK for 5 days before deciding to move

[dctoki]

Hi, my husband is contemplating taking a job with his company for a position in HK. His company will be flying us out for five days so we can tour the schools (we have two kids - 5 and 2.5) and check out the apartments and get a general feel for the city before deciding to work there or not. His job is located in Quarry Bay and we are looking at a specific international school located within the same area. I have a few questions:
Would you recommend living in Quarry Bay? Is it an inexpensive area? We will be provided a housing allowance but currently do not have any idea what that amount is. We are American and would like to live near other Expats (though not necessarily Americans).
Is there anything specific you would recommend we check out while down there?
Also, I know this is a silly question but was wondering what the hair salons there are like. Do they do the Yuko hair straightening there? I know in the states, only select salons do them and it is extremely expensive and was hoping it is less expensive there. I know when I lived in Korea, it was very inexpensive to do.

Thanks in advance for any helpful feedback!

[luxelush]

Hi there,
Quarry Bay is on Hong Kong island... anything on Hong Kong island is approximately within half an hour/forty mins away.

The island is small and taxis are cheap ($16 starting) so most people use them, or the huge array of public transport which includes double decker buses, minibuses, the MTR (underground train)

I believe most schools have buses that can collect children from most places on the island, so choosing a school is more about the caliber/price/acceptance of the school than getting there.

Is the Yuko straightening the Japanese Ion Straightening treatment? Like a straight perm? If so, it's very popular and common here and can be found in local salons for under $400HKD. If you want to go see someone pricier but fantastic ask for Timothy at Headquarters Hair Salon 1-2/F, Pacific House 20-20B, Queen's Road Central.

On a personal note, Hong Kong is a beautiful mad city... but it's not for everyone. Having said that, if you love it here chances are that you'll be here for a while! It's wonderfully addictive and so SO convenient! It's definitely a place to experience if you have the short-term chance. For kids, the contacts that can make here in school can be helpful in terms of later careers, as it's so ambitious that most people schooled here arrive at rather lofty adult destinations.

So... that's all from me my friend. I'd be happy to offer more opinions if you need. Best of luck to you and your family

Here's a link from the American Chamber of Commerce that you may find helpful.
Good luck!
American Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong) - Living in Hong Kong

[dctoki]

Thank you so much for your feedback. We are looking at the Korean International School for my daughter. She is currently in Kindergarten. I am half Korean and would like to expose my children to their Korean heritage. That is why KIS is the perfect school for us. I checked out the website for KIS and they appear to have openings - which is good as I heard most schools in HK have long wait lists. The caliber of a school isn't as important to me - I strongly believe that a child's education should be supplemented at home. As for the costs - my husband's work will be paying for the tuition.

Is Quarry Bay a decent place to live? Are there a lot of shops and restaurants in the area? I really would like to live near both my husbands work and my kids school. Of course, if it isn't a good place to live, we are open to live elsewhere. I am excited that we are able to actually visit HK before deciding on moving there. We will be there in October and if all goes well, we will make the move in January.


Yes, the Yuko hair straightening is the Japanese method. Wow, $400HKD is cheap! Definitely cheaper than the U.S. and very similar to the price in Korea, yay!

Thanks again for you feedback!

[DavidHK]

IMO Quarry Bay area is a nice place to live. There are lots of bars and restaurants, but this is true of most areas on the north side of HK Island. It depends on whether you want city living in an apartment or more 'open space' in a house or lowrise. This is obviously very dependant on budget as well!

While in Quarry Bay I would say look at apartments in Taikoo and Sai Wan Ho (1 and 2 stops down the mtr respectively). Grand Promenade and Les Saisons (both multi tower developments) in Sai Wan Ho would be worth looking at. Both developments have a good mix of locals and expats.