Pros and cons of DB?
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carang
Registered User
i think THAT was the point. that DB IS diverse and NOT the "expat ghetto" many make it out to be. yes, there are a lot of expats, but not much different than say, southside or sai kung... it's just that db is more community oriented. people spend A LOT of time outside, socialising etc so you actually get to meet your neighbours and you see them around. not just the occasional head nod in the lift.
i won't repeat what i wrote in the asiaxpat forum, as jane01 has basically just re-iterated everything i said... i agree with her whole-heartedly.
(not directed at anyone in particular but:
one of the things I HATE about DB is how so many non-dber's have such a negative view of the place, many of them having only every visited... these people put it down as "fake", "truman show-esque", inconvenient, expat ghetto, no "culture" etc. these are people who, generally speaking, live in mid-levels, work in central, go out to LKF or SOHO and like to boast that they know the 'REAL' HK!... i don't think so!)
i won't repeat what i wrote in the asiaxpat forum, as jane01 has basically just re-iterated everything i said... i agree with her whole-heartedly.
(not directed at anyone in particular but:
one of the things I HATE about DB is how so many non-dber's have such a negative view of the place, many of them having only every visited... these people put it down as "fake", "truman show-esque", inconvenient, expat ghetto, no "culture" etc. these are people who, generally speaking, live in mid-levels, work in central, go out to LKF or SOHO and like to boast that they know the 'REAL' HK!... i don't think so!)
Shenzhennifer
Registered User
I`m just wondering, is there a fresh market, or local shops in DB?
I`m one of the people Cara mentioned, who have only ever visited DB. I have to say, I was so excited to go because it sounded like a cool place to me, but when I was there, I felt pretty disappointed. Perhaps I didn`t get the see the `real` DB. It just felt a bit less like Hong Kong to me, which would be perfect if one hated HK. I don`t - I quite like the ecelectic mix of chinese/western/local/upscale that I see in many areas here (I almost never go into central, midlevels, LKF). I just thought I might get bored of the same few stores, restaurants and supermarket catering mainly to expats(with expat prices).
But the apartments look really nice, I know they`re mostly more spacious than elsewhere and many have balconeys(what a luxury!). And what might be a deciding factor if I were in Starbucks2`s shoes is the amount of grass. in that there was some! I was just gawking.
But you have to admit, the golf cart thing is pretty lame.
I`m one of the people Cara mentioned, who have only ever visited DB. I have to say, I was so excited to go because it sounded like a cool place to me, but when I was there, I felt pretty disappointed. Perhaps I didn`t get the see the `real` DB. It just felt a bit less like Hong Kong to me, which would be perfect if one hated HK. I don`t - I quite like the ecelectic mix of chinese/western/local/upscale that I see in many areas here (I almost never go into central, midlevels, LKF). I just thought I might get bored of the same few stores, restaurants and supermarket catering mainly to expats(with expat prices).
But the apartments look really nice, I know they`re mostly more spacious than elsewhere and many have balconeys(what a luxury!). And what might be a deciding factor if I were in Starbucks2`s shoes is the amount of grass. in that there was some! I was just gawking.
But you have to admit, the golf cart thing is pretty lame.
southside852
Registered User
I heard that DB can be quite isolating a little bit like Pleasantville. the ferry for me just seems not ideal as what if there is an emergency and I need to get off the island quickly. I don't like the feeling of being stuck somewhere and bound to just a ferry schedule and no other means of transportation. I think you'll find many of the larger bldings around HK Island/Kowloon means more families live there. Most of those bldings are very child-friendly and will have common spots where everyone plays or meets up after school lets out. DB seems a bit restrictive.
Cara - thanks, you get it.
suv - you're saying DB is less diverse. I'm saying it is at least as diverse as any other area of HK.
Shenzeniffer - if you're a shopper, DB is not the place for you. I hate shopping, perfect. There is a PnS and an upmarket version of Welcome is opening soon. There are no wet markets. I don't think DB is any 'less HK' than the big houses at Shouson Hill are 'less HK' than the public housing flats in the New Territory. It is just different.
Southside - there is a tunnel open 24 hours. Ambulance and other emergency vehicles can access DB at anytime. The ferry and buses to the airport, Tung Chung and Sunny Bay all operate 24 hours. Actually, possibly not Sunny Bay, as it only meets the MTR which is not open 24 hours. There are plenty of transportation options. The DB-airport service operates 24 hours, in contrast to the airport express !
suv - you're saying DB is less diverse. I'm saying it is at least as diverse as any other area of HK.
Shenzeniffer - if you're a shopper, DB is not the place for you. I hate shopping, perfect. There is a PnS and an upmarket version of Welcome is opening soon. There are no wet markets. I don't think DB is any 'less HK' than the big houses at Shouson Hill are 'less HK' than the public housing flats in the New Territory. It is just different.
Southside - there is a tunnel open 24 hours. Ambulance and other emergency vehicles can access DB at anytime. The ferry and buses to the airport, Tung Chung and Sunny Bay all operate 24 hours. Actually, possibly not Sunny Bay, as it only meets the MTR which is not open 24 hours. There are plenty of transportation options. The DB-airport service operates 24 hours, in contrast to the airport express !
carang
Registered User
jane01... i lived in db for over 6 years, much of that time without kids! i miss it terribly! we were there last sunday, and now, i miss it even more!
there are downsides to it: ummmmm.....let me think... i'm sure i can come up with one......ah, yes! you have to travel to tung chung for a cinema!
no wet market, but there is a wet market in tung chung if that is what you are after. when we first moved to db, there WAS chinese-y type market that had fresh fish, veg etc. kind of like a small wet market, but it closed shortly after we moved to db.
also, regarding transportation. we never had an emergency where we had to be "off the island" immediately. that includes two terrible pregnancies with lots of hospitalisations.
just wanted to say for the record, i LOVED having the ferry ride when i was working! after commuting to work via mtr, taxi or bus for 6 years prior to db, both hubby and i LOOKED FORWARD to the ferry! it is comfortable (although a little cold at times), convenient, generally quiet in the morning (people reading their paper, sleeping, eating breakfast, working on their laptop) and in the evening there is almost always someone you know that you can have a chat with, enjoy a beer etc on your way home. it was "wind down" time built right into your day!
the ONLY time it was ever inconvenient, was very late at night/early in the morning (12-5am).
there are downsides to it: ummmmm.....let me think... i'm sure i can come up with one......ah, yes! you have to travel to tung chung for a cinema!
no wet market, but there is a wet market in tung chung if that is what you are after. when we first moved to db, there WAS chinese-y type market that had fresh fish, veg etc. kind of like a small wet market, but it closed shortly after we moved to db.
also, regarding transportation. we never had an emergency where we had to be "off the island" immediately. that includes two terrible pregnancies with lots of hospitalisations.
just wanted to say for the record, i LOVED having the ferry ride when i was working! after commuting to work via mtr, taxi or bus for 6 years prior to db, both hubby and i LOOKED FORWARD to the ferry! it is comfortable (although a little cold at times), convenient, generally quiet in the morning (people reading their paper, sleeping, eating breakfast, working on their laptop) and in the evening there is almost always someone you know that you can have a chat with, enjoy a beer etc on your way home. it was "wind down" time built right into your day!
the ONLY time it was ever inconvenient, was very late at night/early in the morning (12-5am).
SB2 - possibly the main inconvenience is the transportation. So if you don't work irregular hours and don't mind watching the ferry schedule, it would probably work fine.
I, personally, prefer places with better accessibility (not that DB is not easily accessible). Some places are more convenient than others. Taxis are generally easy to catch in HK, and with MTR, buses etc, it's easy to get home. One good thing about Central is that, should all things fail (which has happened to me before), you can walk home, and I always enjoy walking, especially on cool days like these
I, personally, prefer places with better accessibility (not that DB is not easily accessible). Some places are more convenient than others. Taxis are generally easy to catch in HK, and with MTR, buses etc, it's easy to get home. One good thing about Central is that, should all things fail (which has happened to me before), you can walk home, and I always enjoy walking, especially on cool days like these
starbucks2
Registered User
Thanks all.
Obiwan - I was thinking about what happens in a Typhoon 8?! I assume ferries run for a while or else its MTR to TC and then bus.
On the whole, I think it is probably one of the better places for small children (yes, grass, playrooms, kiddies pools, large paved areas to run around without the same fear of traffic, bigger/low rise apartments) but am still getting my head around the idea so the pros and cons are all very useful.
Obiwan - I was thinking about what happens in a Typhoon 8?! I assume ferries run for a while or else its MTR to TC and then bus.
On the whole, I think it is probably one of the better places for small children (yes, grass, playrooms, kiddies pools, large paved areas to run around without the same fear of traffic, bigger/low rise apartments) but am still getting my head around the idea so the pros and cons are all very useful.