CityU vs CUHK

[CalBear4Life]

MK and Prince Edward are very busy. Where are you from? Easier if you live on the east rail line.

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I'm from California in the US. I'm looking for an area with good food and a fun nightlife (see my other post).

[MandM!]

Nightlife is usually in TST, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and Central.

Personally I hate Mongkok, too busy.

Causeway Bay is nice and you can take a quick cross harbour bus to Hung Hom and east rail to university. If in TST east you could go to Hung Hom and again east rail.

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[CalBear4Life]

Thanks for the advice. I'm thinking my best-bet is to stay away from Hong Kong Island, because of the distance to the university and because it's more expensive. I have to be reasonable with what I can afford because I'm taking out loans for my living expenses. Is there anywhere in Kowloon that is considered a "cool" area to live?

[MandM!]

Honestly, you can find similar prices anywhere if you know how to look. Don't think causeway bay is more expensive than TST, etc.

TST is nice but huge indian population that always want to sell you a fake rolex and cheap suits.

Jordan, Olympic and Austin are nice in my opinion.

There is an area in between MK and Olympic that used to be popular for prostitutes so is cheap. Tai Kok maybe I dont remember.

Will you go to class 5 days a week? Consider living in Tai Wai, Shatin or Tai Po. Shatin is a little more expensive and smaller flats. Tai Po has good value. These places do not have drinking venues. I did see a bar in Tai Wai but very local. Local such as sit on lounge chairs and play dice games, heavy smoking, expensive. Expect to drop 150us minimum for a night out.

When I first came, I lived at Urban Cube in causeway bay. Month to month, small but clean and furnished. You could try it for one month while you discover what you like. Google them for more info, easy to find.

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[delaynomore]

I used to live in Shatin and go to CUHK. It takes only 15 minutes (perhaps 25 minutes including the school bus service in the campus). Shatin is a nice place to be because it is not too busy. There is a huge shopping mall called New Town Plaza, where you can find almost everything, from Coach to local market. Don't worry too much about going out at night because even if you spend your time until 0500 in Lai Kwai Fong (bar area on the Island), there are loads of overnight minibuses that go from the island to Shatin!

[MandM!]

I used to live in Shatin and go to CUHK. It takes only 15 minutes (perhaps 25 minutes including the school bus service in the campus). Shatin is a nice place to be because it is not too busy. There is a huge shopping mall called New Town Plaza, where you can find almost everything, from Coach to local market. Don't worry too much about going out at night because even if you spend your time until 0500 in Lai Kwai Fong (bar area on the Island), there are loads of overnight minibuses that go from the island to Shatin!

What minibus goes from the island to Shatin?

The only option I know is to take the minibus from Central to Mongkok and transfer to another minibus to Shatin. The minibus to Shatin does not go to New Town Plaza after midnight too, only to Shatin Wai on the other side of the river.

Shatin mall is always a zoo too. Very busy. One of the busiest places in HK I think.

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[CalBear4Life]

I really think it would be better for me to live closer to the action and commute to CUHK. I am re-evaluating the areas that would work out for me. I am thinking I would rather stay on the peninsula because of the proximity to CUHK and the better nightlife areas. Any further advice is appreciated. Here is the link to my other post: http://hongkong.geoexpat.com/forum/61/thread226614.html

[MandM!]

I really think it would be better for me to live closer to the action and commute to CUHK. I am re-evaluating the areas that would work out for me. I am thinking I would rather stay on the peninsula because of the proximity to CUHK and the better nightlife areas. Any further advice is appreciated. Here is the link to my other post: http://hongkong.geoexpat.com/forum/61/thread226614.html

I think your expectations are not realistic. You mentioned a 4-8k budget and want new with no problems. Welcome to the land of slumlord where mold and bugs are your new friends. If you eat out all of the time, you will get fat and a small flat won't have a kitchen most likely. The first few months will be great until reality kicks in. You cannot compare Cali to HK. And you wanna be close to the action? Do you have cash saved for drinking? It isn't cheap.

After you have a hangover and need to rush to class, you will deal with loads of mainlanders pushing you and running you over with their metal carts, coughing on you and clipping their toe nails next to you. It is so packed you can smell all the people who don't wear deodorante and feel the person behind you breathing on you and staring at you and whatever you are doing on your mobile phone. Then you probably cannot get a seat, and if you do, an old lady will come and no one will give up their seat so you are the sucker left sitting feeling bad.

Good luck. How long you plan to come for?

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