Home Sweet Home

Our home base in Hong Kong for now is at #2 Macdonnell Road, in an area referred to here as "the east mid-levels."  The island of Hong Kong is very hilly, and the Central district is situated right on the water, across from the Kowloon Peninsula (which is also part of Hong Kong).  The mid-levels is a residential area that sits on the side of the mountain above Central and below Victoria Peak (altitude = 1,811 feet), the top of the mountain. 

Since space is so limited in Hong Kong, most housing is in high-rise apartment buildings.  Our flat is on the 27th floor and overlooks Central.  We are in a "serviced" apartment, a pretty common form of housing here.  Serviced apartments are a hybrid between a furnished apartment and a hotel suite.  Ours is about 650 square feet, has one bedroom, one bath, a sitting/dining area and a wall containing tiny  appliances that Jeff refers to as the "Barbie kitchen." 

Despite the significant downsizing from our house in Minnesota, we are very comfortable here and love the great view from our perch.  We have already started looking for a larger, more permanent place, but aren't in a big hurry.  The building is in a great location - I have gladly traded a nasty Twin Cities commute for a one-mile walk down the hill in the morning (and yes, I have to hike back up in the evening, but I need the exercise).  A real bonus is that my daily walk to and from the office traverses the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens.

Our view of the Central district and Victoria Harbour from the 27th floor of 2 Macdonnell Road