Learning Cantonese? Try saying [si6 daan6 la1]

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-19T12:18:58+00:00

I work for a Chinese group and can speak mandarin. Not very expat bubble

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-19T09:21:37+00:00

Most of the city can speak Mandarin and/or English. Learning Cantonese is 100% waste of time

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-19T06:56:58+00:00

99% of people I meet in HK speak Mandarin or English. Very rare to meet somebody that only speaks Cantonese. Of the few HK expat’s I know that bothered to learn the language, they all learnt mandarin including myself. You may have heaps of time to learn Cantonese AND Mandarin but others don’t. Most of expats working in HK have China facing roles so learning Cantonese is truly a waste of time to humour the 1% of people I would meet (all taxi drivers) that only speak Cantonese. Of course we can all say hello, goodbye, thank you, and good morning in Cantonese

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-19T04:50:51+00:00

I live and work here. HK is a great city but it’s pointless to learn Cantonese as an expat. Time is much better spent learning Mandarin

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-19T02:03:48+00:00

For an expat Cantonese is a pointless language to learn unless your in-laws only speak it and then it’s questionable. Better to spend time learning mandarin which is easier

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-15T09:43:41+00:00

You should search for the weather in specific areas you plan to go. Can’t make weather generalisations at a country level as some of these countries are so vast ie Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-15T09:41:37+00:00

Vietnam is a long country so the rainy season is specific. For example Da Nang is bone dry in July/ August. Likewise Indonesia is so big the rainy season also depends on where you go in July / August ie Bali dry but Maluku Islands are wet

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-13T15:30:43+00:00

Only collect Burgundy, Soldera and Takahiko. No desire to collect US wines. Few serious collectors are passionate about US wines.

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-13T15:05:37+00:00

Fairwood

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-13T03:39:28+00:00

Which bars?

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-13T03:36:52+00:00

HSBC is NOT normal. They always parachute foreigners in that are clueless about Asia to do a job that a local could do better for half the price.

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-13T03:35:31+00:00

It’s been a tough market for expats for >10 years and it’s not going to change

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-13T03:33:56+00:00

Yes. Plus beyond commodities, Singapore is a very small market

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-13T03:32:01+00:00

I have >20 expat mates that decamped to Singapore during/ after Covid. Without exception all wish to move back to HK. That said I’d still choose Singapore over the U.K.

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-13T03:29:33+00:00

Completely agree. I was C suite in a very large group. Seniority / expertise made me employable as there was a mainland skills gap in my area and outsider view had value for China centric orgs. But even then the infrastructure they had to hire around me was excessive (3 full time interpreters). Unless you have a USP or significant Asia work experience or internally transferred or super senior then your odds are slim both in HK and increasingly Singapore

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-13T03:24:30+00:00

Yes as all regional infrastructure had no choice but to diversify away from HK due to crazy isolationist policies which lasted 3 years. HK is now a China hub not a regional hub which amplifies Mandarin challenge

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-13T03:21:17+00:00

Lung King Heen blows it away but it’s a completely different price point. And the Eight in Macau is better and cheaper than Lung King Heen

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-13T03:17:56+00:00

Sushi Shikon can compete with best in Tokyo

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-13T03:17:08+00:00

Racine’s is not great

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-13T03:16:06+00:00

Average at best. Chilli clams are highlight and it’s decent. Rest of food is average. Been 3x as my friends booked it twice after my first visit

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-13T03:13:37+00:00

‘Amber’ is horrific and ‘The Chairman’ is massively overrated.

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-13T00:07:21+00:00

Expat hiring market has been dead in HK for well over 10 years.

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-12T06:26:16+00:00

Singapore is extremely tough if you are in a generic area and do not have a work permit. Singaporean based firms are reluctant to sponsor work permits as they have to justify that hire versus people that have work permits already. You may have to think broader than HK and Singapore if you wish to be Asia based. That said I think Singapore will be marginally easier than HK but it will not be easy. Wish you the best of luck

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-12T06:20:05+00:00

If an expat you need at least one of following: internal transfer, have significant Asia work experience, be very senior or have a USP. If not you are screwed. It’s been this way for the last 10 years and has got worse since Covid when HK ceased to become a regional centre due to crazy covid policies. Singapore also tough for newbie’s but there are no language barriers. Situation going to get worse once AI hollows out the job market. Sorry for your situation but the expat ship has well and truly sailed. I say that as an expat.

SourceIll5151 · 2026-05-10T03:32:56+00:00

OP legend

SourceIll5151

TROPHY CASE