88 Square Home
The apartment was small, but a good location and low price made it perfect for me.
Housing in Hong Kong is expensive. It is stupidly expensive, especially for someone who doesn’t like staying home. My rent is 13,000 HKD ($1,600 US) with a huge chance of it going up soon. The problem is rarely being at home, stuck between work and studying. With all this money going to rent, it made sense to downsize and find something cheaper.
Tai Po is still one of the best places to live in Hong Kong. It is only an hour into the city and less into Mainland China. There are parks, hiking trails, and the construction of a huge bike path circling the top of the city, including here. There is no point in moving areas.
88 Square is near the old Tai Po Market – an open-air market where fresh food was once sold in the streets. It has all moved to the new Market with shops taking in the remains of the rest. There are several buses along Kwun Fuk Road, the main artery in Tai Po, that serve destinations across Hong Kong. A few minutes away is the MTR mass transit system.
The apartment is small. The bed fits the bedroom, but nothing else fits with the door barely closing. The spare bedroom is a walk-in closet. The washroom and kitchens are basically closets. The living room can fit a fold-out bed and a TV. The place keeps my stuff dry as I move from one part of the city to the next.
Taxi's liked to park below (L). I am always worried about drying my clothing outside for fear of it falling.
The rent is almost half the price, which makes it perfect for me.