discovery bay
The Auberge Hotel is home for the moment, located in North Plaza of Discovery Bay. Its right on the water with stunning views across to the city (when its clear!), there's about 7 restaurants, 2 coffee shops and a supermarket at your door, and at the moment pretty much everyone we know in Hong Kong lives there too which is nice.
Discovery Bay (DB) itself is a mainly ex-pat community on Lantau Island (along with the International Airport), you can get direct to the city in 30mins by Ferry. DB is a funny wee place, it's like a fake suburbia from the movies, and is nothing like what you probably think of when you think of Hong Kong. There are no cars allowed so those who can afford them drive golf carts around (the rest of us take the buses that drive in loops around the area). The golf carts go for around 2 million HK dollars ($360,000 NZD), mainly as the licences to own one has been limited to around 500 so they are in hot demand, means you end up paying more for a golf cart than what a Tesla or a Porsche costs here! You notice quickly the large numbers of dogs and babies, people say that's what DB really stands for. The supermarkets sell all the things needed to make expats feel at home: Milo, Tim Tams, BBQ shapes, Marmite, Mainland Cheese, Marlborough Sav… all the essentials. There are no local street food type places to eat, it's all sit-down restaurants, or chain coffee shops and fast food. Lots of people hang out in the two big plaza areas at each end of the town, with outdoor seating and space for kids and dogs to run around.
Tak Pak Beach is right by the Ferry pier, its a man made beach with dubious swimming conditions but it does have weekly beach volleyball! There are a bunch of passionate beach volleyballers who meet every Saturday afternoon and play game after game before washing off the sand and heading for a beer and dinner together. We were lucky enough to be invited to join in by friends from Switzerland and although we struggled a bit with the heat and humidity, it was fun to get back on the sand again and we will be back for sure.
DB also apparently has lots of nice hikes in the area and there are some nearby smaller villages and beaches that have been recommended to us so I think there is more to ‘discover’ yet.
