Hong Kong Jobs. Expat Jobs in Hong Kong.

I am living in Hong Kong for three years now and feel myself in a position to recommend a website that had helped me to change jobs three times.
The good thing about it - it is created specifically for expats looking for jobs.
Employers advertising on it are actually looking for English speakers, foreign experiences etc.
Now - the main obstacle between you and your Hong Kong job is the the visa situation. I've got my dependant visa based on my husband's employment - allowing me to work in Hong Kong. Majority of employers will look for you to have something like this - to save them a hustle providing a new visa. Although I do have examples of employers doing it as well - so just keep trying.
The thing to be said - there are plenty of positions in Hong Kong. You will definitely end up with something, never give up.

The website I want to recommend is https://jobs.geoexpat.com

Hong Kong Bike Rental. Hong Kong cycling. Hong Kong cycling paths.

The main activity of Hong Kong is concentrated on the actual Hong Kong Island. Though it is so busy with people and traffic, that apart from some decent hiking, there is very little space for natural environment and for the day out on a bike. 

There are New Territories - slightly scary Terra Incognita lying beyond the Kowloon. Not every ex-pat based in Hong Kong Island is courageous enough to visit New Territories. But is you love cycling I would strongly recommend to take MTR (or taxi) to Tai Wai (or Sha Tin). You will find plenty of bike rental shops with huge choice. There are about 60 miles of cycling paths lying from Tai Wai up to Plover Cove and back on the both sides of the picturesque canal. Paths are safe and pleasant, there are plenty of places for the pit stops, with the Science Park on its way with its restaurants and coffee places.   Some shops do have a handy option of two locations - you hire a bike in Sha Tin (or Tai Wai) and you can hand it back in Plover Cove (or Tai Po).

I would suggest chose mornings for your time out. It is getting extremely busy towards the afternoon. Pretty empty during the week though, if you can do that.

In terms of timing it will take about 30-40 min on MTR from Central to Sha Tin or Tai Wai and about 1,5 hours of cycling from Sha Tin (or Tai Wai) to Plover Cove. 

In terms of money average bike rental price is HKD50 for the day

Enjoy your day out!

Hong Kong German Beer and German Food

We love German food and beer. And, thank God, there is some here in Hong Kong.
Well, to begin with, you can find any world's cuisine in this city. Really, there is every single option.
Once we had something to celebrate last year, we were looking to have a dinner in German place. If I remember it right, there are about 5 options in Hong Kong. Two of witch are the same company - bar and restaurant located beside each other in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Since the first visit we are a return customer and there is no end for our visits here :)

Bier Garten Hong Kong

Food is excellent. And we loved cask decoration of tables.

We had potato salad and pork knuckle - giant and could do for two people.
Another time we had sausages and salad - yumms!
If you are looking for beer, visit the bar upstaris - there are good options of German excellent beer + my favourite fruity shnaps (plum is the best here). We had big platter of sausages, cheese and pickle with our beer - delicious!
Avarage bill for the dinner for 1 person - around 200HKD
Drinks are about 60-70HKD, shnaps - 30HKD
There is happy hour before 8pm

Here is their webpage with the menu online both for food and for drinks

Enjoy your German night out!

Hong Kong Ocean Park

My last birthday I had a suggestion from Hongkonger - Ocean Park here gives you a free admission on your birthday - just bring your ID along with you. So that's how I had visited it, as the ticket is not that cheap - around HKD350 (45USD). Though once I had been there for free I am planning to go again and to pay the full price - it is definitely worth it!

Here is their website. It is handy to check the current program - there are different shows for different seasons. Though there is plenty of constant things I would love to see again.

It is located on Hong Kong island, you can get there by taxi from central area for around HKD100, otherwise there is good option of direct bus from Admiralty station. Check the map. Right at the station there is a special ticket box you can get actual Ocean Park entry to avoid queuing in the Park. Bus takes around 20min ride. I suggest you go there about 10-11 am to spend all day in the Park. We've got there about 2pm and felt like we wanted to do more things when it was closing.

At the entrance you can get the Park's map. Think it through - there are kind of two layers of the park - Aquarium and walking areas to see Panda, gold fish pavilion and Jangle zone on the lower one, and Roller Coasters + penguin/sea creatures pavilion on the upper one. There are two ways to move in between layers - cable car (bloody scary above the ocean!) and safe nice train decorated as a submarine - can be fun for kids and those adults terrified with heights. 

We had started with the lower level. Aquarium is the best I had ever seen, plenty of rooms, nice fish, huge scats, no rush at all - take your time and enjoy. I loved colourfull tubes with the jellyfish - almost meditative thing to see. There is a restaurant as well right inside with the cool view towards the largest glass.

I am not fun of roller coasters, however I had found my type of ride there as well - rafting sort of thing - I loved it! As the roller coaster layer of the park is located up on the hill there are amazing views towards the sea.. 

There are plenty of options to eat both cheap and expensive, lockers for your belonging once you are enjoying rides and cool shops with amazing merch about the park and sea things.

The obvious suggestion is to try and get there on a weekday rather than weekend..

There is an option of the Annual Ticket (two options - weekdays only, or all week long one), price is very good - three single entries pay for the whole year. Kids' option is available - costs cheaper.

So the conclusion is - Ocean Park is a great option for a day out! Try it and you will defo love it!

Find a Custom Tailor in Hong Kong

If you live here or travel for leisure or business it might be a good idea to consider custom made suit made for you.

It is very special experience once you find a good shop.

I can tell you a true story of our experience with Sam's Tailor 

We were looking for a while through all the available reviews and this shop customers' impressions had indeed been the best.

I believe the price in Hong Kong for a suit can very depending on a shop reputation, on the fabric you choose, the time scale etc. Custom made clothes from Hong Kong is a world known thing to get here - if the shop is right you will get excellent quality for the price you pay for the ready suit back home.

You can have very certain idea of the dream suit, but if you don't - no worries - experienced tailors have a good question list to make sure all details are confirmed with you. First visit will take around 20 minutes (if you don;t take too long choosing fabrics.. though it is wisely divided into price ranges, makes it much easier to make a pick). They will ask you about your budget, tell them slightly less than you are prepared to pay, that's how you get bargain shoulder.

Once they take your measurements, questions will be asked - what kind of collar, how many pockets, what type of button, what colour of lining ets - quickly and efficient.

I was really impressed to see how many celebrities and politicians pictures are there on the wall.. crazy!

Normally there are three visits - order and measurements, fitting and picking up (can be replaced with delivery to your country). If you have just two days in city, tailors are ready to make things quickly.

If you are on a lay back schedule - the whole thing will take around a week.

Quality is more than good, feels like the second skin indeed.

To addition - they make a custom made tag with your name on it, attaching it to the lining.

They do both male and female models and they are really good!
Our price was around HKD4000 (around 500USD)

iPhone 6 and Typhoon 8

This morning all the working population of Hong Kong (is it about 99%, right?) had got pleasant surprise - Typhoon 8 signal is in force. This means - no work today! (at least before the signal will go down, than you are supposed to come back within two hours...).

It is like fourth or fifth typhoon for me. It had never gone any higher than 8 and it is pleasant fresh wind (comparing to an average Hong Kong weather - variety of hot and super hot). So, ok. Staying in for now - dealing with some homework and getting extra sleep. Good.

But this day has some other meaning in it. It is today the pre-order of iPhone 6 is started! No more than 4 telephones per customer, you can book it online and pick up from Hong Kong store, if you are lucky, within this week. I don't know who are those lucky people who had dot through and how did they manage it? I am trying for almost an hour and it is constantly 'not available at the moment'.

I believe Typhoon situation did not help.. Instead of working entire Hong Kong sitting pre-ordering iPhones! 

It might be Apple company who paid for this Typhoon to happen!

What do you think about it at all? Do you like new design? My opinion is Apple is trying to get into Asian market, as people here mostly use huge Samsungs.

Hong Kong is Slow!

One of the most annoying things in Hong Kong is a slow pace.

Yes, you've got it right.

Though Hong Kong is one of the most efficient cities in this world this feature is not covering all the things happening here.

Infrastructure and Banking System are indeed super fast and efficient.

But I mean actual people's speed - it is unbelievably slow.

While walking somewhere through a busy street I find it super annoying - everyone is just like on a promenade - walking slowly and carelessly in a quite disorganized manner. And it is fair not only for some tourist or overpopulated areas. People walk slowly even during peak times while getting to/from work. It is when apart from being annoying it starts to affect your time schedules. 

People of Hong Kong, please WALK FASTER!

And those who are not familiar with Hong Kong speed - in terms to get in time for your meetings - mind some extra time for the walking process. If you are not in a hurry for any appointment - just relax and meditate while floating in Hong Kong crowd...

:)