Waitrose in Park N Shop

There are 1,383 white people in South Lantau, according to the 2011 census. It doesn't say how many of those (or non-whites) are from the UK but I'd guess quite a big proportion seeing how Park N Shop is now stocking up on Waitrose brands. Previously, if we wanted them, we had to hop over to Taste in Discovery Bay. 

That's just the promotion shelf, though, so I'd suggest you stock up now just in case.

Cheesed off!

A hunk of cheddar cheese we bought from Wellcome turned out to be mouldy when we cut into it so Buffalo Wilbur took it back to complain.

They didn't apologise but they said he could have another one in exchange.

The thing was, the only one left was HK$39. The one we'd bought was HK$38.10.

They wanted the 90 cents difference. Believe it or not!

Wellcome Mui Wo certainly sucks when it comes to customer relations. It's going to be Park N Shop from now on... or shouldn't we expect too much from service in Hong Kong after all?

Bag this!

My home is filled with lots of shopping bags bought in the mistaken belief that it will save me plenty of 50-cent plastic bag levies. But that didn't stop me from getting this traditional woven bag from Wellcome.

It's only HK$29 and makes a good souvenir. I'd like to think it was handwoven by old women wearing traditional fishing hats but I strongly suspect it was machine-made somewhere in Shenzhen.

Cool acts

The staff at the China Bear are always so friendly and fun. We got a special ice sculpture with our drink today.

Meanwhile, some daytrippers create some cool art at Park N Shop. I managed to catch it before it melted away. Sometimes, art is ephemeral.

Irrational radiation fears

I went to get salt just now and this is what I saw. All the salt was gone; the only ones available were non-iodised table salt.

Panic buying and totally irrational.

Think about it: firstly, it is highly unlikely that any radiation from Japan is going to hit Hong Kong and secondly, taking iodine cannot ward off really harmful stuff like caesium anyway.

Besides, one teaspoon of iodized salt contains at best 400 micrograms of iodine so you're going to have to eat a whole kilogram of salt to make the exercise worthwhile.

Which means you may survive radiation but die of high blood pressure instead.

The panic buying feels even more petty when you consider the real fears of Aoso from Renge House.

She comes from northern Japan and has not been sleeping well since the quake and tsunami struck her country last week.

Her immediate family are all safe but she is sure she has lost quite a few of her friends from her hometown.

Sure puts things in perspective, doesn't it?

Mui Wo FAQ – Amenities

A picture paints a thousand words, so take a peek at this short video, which will tell you in images more than I can in words. Below are some of the FAQs people have asked me since I started the blog:

How are the property prices in the area?

Mui Wo is getting quite popular so the days of HK$2,000 to HK$3,000 rents are over. But it is still lots cheaper than the rest of Hong Kong. In the town, you can get a studio/one-bedroom for slightly above HK$5k a month and a two-bedroom for HK$6-8k.

If you are willing to live farther from the pier (a bike is a good idea), you can probably get a 700 sq ft place for about HK$6k or less. But don't quote me on that.

The property agent websites to look at are Findley Leung, Lantau Home Solutions, Proper Trip and Easy Reach. But they're not all updated frequently so, if you want a more realistic picture, contact the agents direct. I'd recommend Alice from Findley Leung. She's always out of office but answers her email pretty quick: alice@findleyleung. No, I don't get a commission for recommending her cos no one knows who I am!

Do people speak English?

Definitely. The place has a big expat community and all the shopkeepers speak English. The general manager at Wellcome, Mr Lam, speaks English. The people at Wah Kee seafood centre speak English. Most taxi drivers don't speak English but you don't have to say anything to them. Just remember the right intonation for Mui Wo, Tung Chung and Airport ( 機場gēichèuhng) and you'll be fine. They have an English booking line. I will put it up if I remember to take it down when I walk past the taxi rank next time. Check out the Wikitravel website for basic Cantonese.

Transport?

The ferry is the fastest and most convenient way to get to Central. There is a road from Tung Chung to Mui Wo (South Lantau Road). If you drive, it will take only 15 mins but the buses take about 40 minutes. Usually people take the ferry as that cuts down travelling time.

Seasickness is a problem but you'll probably build up resistance, as I have (fingers crossed). And don't forget that, during Typhoon Signal 8, ferries stop working and buses are intermittent so it is an expensive trip back by taxi from Tung Chung.

Shops?

There are two supermarkets, a 7-11, lots of restaurants and a seafood centre, some frozen meat shops, a laundry, a vet's, a hardware shop, a decent coffee joint, a bookshop... all essential for townies like us. We haven't used the three bike shops, the workshop nor the petrol station yet but they are there if you need them. In Chung Hau village, there's also a library, a wet market, a furniture shop, a plank shop (pictured above), a couple of DIY shops and those selling home stuff.

There's no shopping centre. The nearest are Citygate mall in Tung Chung or DB Plaza in Discovery Bay. If you want children's clothes and toys, there's Bizzie Lizzie.

Deliveries?

Ikea delivers to the ferry pier and, if you ask them nicely, they would even deliver all the way to your doorstep. And so does Fortress in Tung Chung. You might have to pay extra because the trucks have to buy a one-day permit to drive on South Lantau Road.

There are no food deliveries that I know of but, after you've been living here a while, you learn to do what most people do: pack something back from Central or pop over to McDonald's or Bombay Cafe for a takeaway.

Any gyms?

Yes, above the library in the municipal building. You have to take a short equipment course before you qualify for a gym card. There are plenty of hiking and mountain bike trails, some starting from the town itself. The most trodden/cycled is the trail to Pui O and the Olympic Trail. Or you can just don jogging shoes and run along the waterfront as most people do. There's also a clean (shark-free) beach and a public swimming pool.

Cash is king

Restaurants and shops in town usually don't take credit cards, so everyone here pays in cash. Despite that, there are only two ATMs in town: BEA and an overused HSBC one. You can get cashback at the supermarkets if you pay by EPS.

Biggest drawback?

I've said it once and I'll say it until I am blue in the face: There are no private doctors here (ok, there's one but he opens his clinic at 5pm). The nearest private clinics are in DB or Tung Chung. And there are no pharmacies... maybe the Mui Wo authorities think the sea breeze has enough medicinal value?

More info?

There is a great website for Lantau dwellers, which has all the useful phone numbers, upcoming events and a chatroom for residents looking for homes or other services. It's Lantau Link.