Causeway Bay

Today I ventured to Causeway Bay for the first time. It is another area of shopping with an enormous mall (Times Sqaure). All high end designer brands and at least 13 floors.

This is inside Times Square and cannot even do it justice.  It's humungous!

There were just crowds of people no matter which way I turned. And these are not closed streets.. There are actually cars that drive down these streets around all these people.

This is Central MTR (subway) station on my way home. The public transportation is excellent here. Trains, Buses, Mini Buses, Trams (aka Ding Dings) and Ferries make it so easy to get around. The MTR also has underground walkways which make it easier so you do have to worry about crossing streets. Trains are also super clean and air conditioned!

Here is the view of Central area shopping outside of the MTR station.

Apartment Viewings Day 2

So Friday was another day of apartment hunting. Another 8 or so apartments were on the schedule including going back to see my top 3 choices. Jared and Lisa joined me late in the day to see my top 3 and offer their insights since they've been here for 2 years.

I found the most uncomfortable couch in the world. Yep that would be an orange hard as a rock "couch" that is worse than a stadium bench. Oh yes, and that is a curtain separating the bedroom... this apartment did have 3 TVs though!

I saw a brand new amazing apartment with terrific views, two balconies and a fancy marble bathroom. However, the apartment was postage stamp size and there was only 1 small closet for all storage. A girl needs more storage that that!

Where are all my shoes going to go??

But this wall would be a conversation piece.

 
Another apartment we saw was in a traditional Chinese building. This was one of the apartment doors. Much luck in this family!

 
This apartment was not close to the location I want to be in but it had an amazing outdoor space. Apartment was 400 square feet, old and run-down but it had 1000 square foot outdoor terrace with grill, table, lounge chairs, etc.

 

We returned to my top 3 favorite:
- Honor Villa  (great location, 2 bedroom, modern, full furnished and view from 2nd bedroom)
- Bella Vista (older apartment lacking furniture, but amazing view from master bedroom and decent location but a little hike to apartment)
-  Foo Kee Court (good location, older building but brand new renovated inside. bedroom was right over a major intersection. and found the illusive western oven)



So today I made my decision and hopefully my agent will be able to secure my new apartment!! Wish me luck!

Hong Kong Lessons

#HKlessons

Lesson #1... your room may have it's own gas powered water heater. I suggest learning to turn it on before you want to take a shower to ensure you aren't standing in a waterfall of ice cold water. Yes, it was as simple as pushing "ON"and setting a temperature (yes, the challenge was choosing a temperature in Celsius and not Fahrenheit - don't mix those up!)

Lesson #2... You better just look both ways....

Temporary Living in Sheung Wan

So for a few weeks I am in temporary housing. Other than one of the elevators being out of service so I have to walk up or down a flight of stairs, the place is growing on me. I couldn't stay here long-term but it's good for now. This apartment is 550 square feet of luxury! It is a serviced apartment which is like an extended stay hotel so I have maid service and actually a continental breakfast and tea time each day.

The apartment is in the Sheung Wan area on Hong Kong Island. Sheung Wan is just outside of the Central district and has it's own MTR (subway) station which makes getting around really easy.

A bed that has 3 walls surrounding it! Sign me up!

 

A kitchenette with a mini fridge, hot plate and microwave. Sure!

A bathroom with sink out in the open and the glass shower in the middle of the apartment... I'm not shy! Who needs doors?!

Decent living room with tv across from couch. And some killer wallpaper.

And here is the food in the "Welcome Basket." Really glad they included the can of beans.

Apartment Viewings Day 1

Hong Kong is a fascinating place to view apartments. And I will admit that I only looked in apartments in a very narrow radius of Central, Soho, Sheung Wan and Mid-levels.


It was like the United Nations of  apartment hunting. I had 3 agents with me 3 ladies (2 from Germany and 1 from Singapore) all fluent in Cantonese by the way.




I saw furnished, unfurnished and semi-furnished. I saw glass walls to bedrooms and bathrooms. I saw sliding walls, pocket doors, and no doors.

I saw bathroom sinks located in bedrooms.

I saw rooftop decks with an unstable ladder to get to "better view".

I saw a 5th floor walk up (which really means 6 floors due to the way they count levels). We counted it was 99 stairs from the street level...


I saw one amazing harbor view... but countered with the old interior and ugliest furniture and challenging landlord...

And a red kitchen with built in wine rack that's like it was made for me! And look at those chandeliers!

Moving Day

Well my official moving has come and gone at the blink of an eye.

All packed up and ready to fly! Thanks to Meghann for driving me to the airport super early in the morning.

#OneWayTicket

A little tired and hair a little disheveled but I made it to Hong Kong only 2 hours past my expected arrival time. Customs was a breeze, luggage arrived quickly, and "Johnny" was waiting for me with a van! "Here's Johnny!!!"

When I got to my temporary apartment I was too tired for pictures so those will come later!