Whenever anyone mentions Hong Kong, images of towering skyscrapers and reed thin apartment buildings come to mind. I have been in these buildings and this is not a place for the claustrophobic. Due to the scarcity of land here in Hong Kong, real estate developers have taken to developing small and tall. The units in these places are tiny, while at the same time the buildings go up to 40 or more storeys high. Which is why coming to the town of Shek O in Hong Kong is like going to a different country altogether.
The town of Shek O is one of a few places in Hong Kong where you see houses two or three storeys high. It has that small town feel and it is really quite a relaxing place to be. It seems like you were transported back in time where tall buildings were not common yet. I think there is an ordinance in place to make sure that builders do not build skyscrapers here and I am thankful for that. However, this would also mean that this is not a cheap place to live in. In fact, a lot of expats live here, especially at some of the nicer houses. They probably like the place since it is very tranquil away from the rat race that Hong Kong is known for.
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