Let us step outside our Central bubble for a while and find out what other neighbourhoods expats are moving to in this city we call home. We chatted with expat Ash Joshi, who lives in Tung Chung!
Name: Ash Joshi
Originally from: London
Occupation: Personal Trainer/Freelance Consultant
THE SPECIFICS
What street do you live on?
Kin Tung Road.
What’s the name of your neighbourhood?
Tung Chung.
How long have you lived here, and why did you choose the area?
Five weeks. It’s a great location to live with family and children: very clean, with nice views. It’s still within easy travelling distance to Central but far enough away not to feel like you’re living in the city. There’s a big expat community of people from all ethnic backgrounds, which makes it a very multicultural society and a great place to be.
THE SCENE
When you walk out of your place, the first thing you see is:
The walkway that takes you all the way round the estate; the clubhouse is on the way out also.
The closest store to your front door is:
ParknShop, Circle K and a number of other shops are all within walking distance.
Your neighbours are great, but you wouldn’t mind a little less:
Noise from the apartment upstairs!
The vibe of your street is:
Very UK-like: lots of roundabouts, traffic lights and zebra crossings. The roads are all clean and look very new; no potholes or issues at all.
If a celebrity moves in next door, it will most likely be:
Jackie Chan, to get away from the hustle and bustle of central Hong Kong.
When you’re in need of a dose of culture, you:
Take the cable car up to the Big Buddha on Ngong Ping or make a trip over to Discovery Bay.
If you’re missing home, you:
Spend time with friends who have become like my family, or Skype my family back home in London.
A mandatory stop for taking out-of-town guests is:
I would say the Big Buddha for culture, or our favourite place to eat and drink, Kimos.
You’d swap houses in a second with:
My landlord! He has a massive five-bedroom place a few towers away from us.
A common myth about your neighbourhood is:
The high pollution levels from the airport; this is not the case at all; yes, there is pollution because we have the airport next to us but it’s nothing as bad as central Hong Kong.
If you’re ever woken up at night, it’s almost always due to:
The people living above us, or a major thunderstorm.
A massive late-night rager on your street is likely to involve:
Probably all the expats getting together for a drink at Kimos.
THE SUPERLATIVES
Your hands-down favourite neighbourhood joints are:
Kimos (Turkish and Indian cuisine), Resto (pizza, pasta, ribs and grill), Handi (Indian) and Mansarover (Indian).
You won’t find better local food than at:
My Thai Bar & Restaurant.
The strangest thing you’ve ever seen on your street is:
A dog being walked around in a stroller!
The best bargains in your neighbourhood are at:
Japan Home Centre.
The guiltiest pleasure in your area is:
The Häagen-Dazs café.
One thing you’d never change is:
The amazing view and great community.
But one thing you wouldn’t mind seeing go is:
Noisy neighbours!
The city gives you $5 million to soup up your street. You use it to:
Open some new bars and restaurants and some soft play areas for the kids; and if money is left over, soundproof the apartments!
Why should your neighbourhood be featured in a guidebook?
Because we live on one of the best islands in Hong Kong; Lantau is an amazing place to live whether you’re single, a couple or a family. It has everything to offer everyone, from great hiking locations, to the Big Buddha and Disneyland. If you enjoy shopping, we have the only designer outlet mall in HK. It’s also open and airy, with less pollution than other areas; and it’s away from the hustle and bustle of the city but close enough to visit easily. There’s a great community atmosphere too.
This article first appeared in the Oct/Nov 2015 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue!
