Pictures of my new apartment in Taipa, China (SAR). This is the view from my living room windows. Just over the river there you can see mainland China.
Taipa is the island next to Macau. My island of Taipa has a large expat community (lots of Westerners) so it’s very comfortable and not much of a culture shock. I have two large grocery stores within a 30 second walk and plenty of great restaurants - Italian, Mexican, Portuguese, Thai, American, Indian, Chinese and French.
I can get a bowl of noodles and chicken for about two dollars around the corner, or Pizza Hut is on the corner.
Next to my apartment is a public park with fish ponds, gardens and walkways. It’s very beautiful. I’m on a high floor so the view is fantastic. It’s a two bedroom. The second bedroom will be my music studio and also has a wide open view of the city. My favorite part of this apartment is the studio room with the view. Studio also has a flat screen tv on the wall and a wide work counter already built in.
Dining room. My apartment had a professional designer create it. To me it looks a little Moroccan, not quite sure. But I dig it.
The living room during the day. Lots of light through the bay windows.
The main entry way. Tile floors throughout. My maid likes it because it’s easy to clean.
A flat screen HD tv with 5.1 surround system hardwired into the walls. I’ve got my XBox already hooked up and friends have gotten me movies from across the border.
The master bedroom. Each room has at least 6-10 different lighting fixtures that are very well designed for different moods. In the master bedroom there is a sitting area that overlooks Taipa.
The kitchen. Most Chinese apartments have very small kitchens. This is a little more Western in style. Has a window that overlooks the city.
The security guard working hard late at night.
I like this lady better. She always says good morning and tries to teach me Chinese. I’m not doing very well so far. Also, when she’s at the front counter she’s usually actually awake which is a nice bonus.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:24 am
Let me get this straight - you get a view AND a maid???
Heh, big guy, it’s time you started praying for ME.
grumble..mutter…nobody ever tells me anything..and now I’m too old to join the circus
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:47 am
The apartment looks beautiful. What is the name of the apartment? And what would the rental be?
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Prices have gone up a lot in the last year in Taipa because so many Westerners (Venetian casino workers) have come to town. Currently this runs around $1300 a month - a year ago it might have been $600.
May 8th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
That looks like a great apartment, Conrad! Very comfortable, enjoy!
June 20th, 2008 at 3:27 am
What currency are you talking there?
and what building is this? i need to start looking for a place and that part of Taipa is exactly the ‘taipa’ place i would like to rent.
June 20th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Currency is MOP (Patacas). This is in the Flower City area next between Kingsville and the stores Park ‘n Shop and Fortress. Now is a good time to rent - there’s a little slump. When I got here there was a large group of us all looking for apartments at the same time so prices jumped a little. A local real estate agent just told me a couple days ago that the market has “stabilized”.
Next year there are many more waves of groups coming in…
It’s very easy to get taxi’s in Macau - so don’t rule out living on Macau island. My friends that live on Coloane were able to get driver’s licenses easily and all bought cars (you can get a used car for 10,000 MOP Patacas - about 1300 dollars US).
There are several new buildings also almost finished with construction.
July 20th, 2008 at 1:49 am
Amazing flat. I know that building and that view, I have a friend who used to live there. Near Park and shop and now the new supermarket, right? Near kingsville, I guess. But did you say you pay 1300 rental? I suppose you’re talking dollars, right, so around 13000 MOP. Rentals are getting crazy! I have to start looking for a new flat in Jan and I’m getting depressed just to think about it. My sallary is not much higher than that figure.
July 20th, 2008 at 8:00 am
To be clear, it’s $10,500 MOP per month, which is around $1350 US - this is as of April 2008. Mine is a little higher than others, many of my friends have places that are $7,000 or so. I’ve been to locals places as low as $1500 MOP per month, but not a place I would want to live in. I need space for computers and music work.
July 20th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Hi Mr.Askland,
I am curious to know how it is to work at Cirque? What are the hours you work as a musician? How long do you have to prepare for an audition after they choose you to be part of the show?
Please let me know.
Best regards
Daniel
July 21st, 2008 at 1:19 am
Hi Daniel,
Here’s an answer for you, probably a longer one than you requested!
http://www.conradaskland.com/b.....at-cirque/
August 5th, 2008 at 12:01 am
I have read your blog and it looks as though my husband and I will be moving to Macau in the not too distant future. Could you please let me know the name of the apartment in which you live and the approximate cost of it. It looks absolutely fabulous and it is exactly what we are looking for. Is the apartment block called the Saville?
August 5th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Hi Carolyn,
I sent you info via email - happy to answer questions you have.
August 29th, 2008 at 7:39 am
i want rent apartment/lodge/flat/condo, for 16 oct 2008 -20 oct 2008; thank you
September 21st, 2008 at 7:37 am
I’m looking for a place to stay for about 3 people, 3 weeks to a month. 8 oct onwards.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:46 am
hello im cooming ovee there in macau this oct 9 do you have a night ? or short term list like 2 weeks stay?let me know i need to get a place when i get there
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:53 am
There are inexpensive hotels around the area of Red Market and also several blocks from the Grand Lisboa.
November 4th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Hi Conrad,
Just came from Macau last night. I passed by your apartment a couple of times when I take the no 33 bus to Macau. Liked the long ride since I get to see the whole place real cheap just MOP3.3.
The taipa village is nice. My sister and I got there by mistake when we got off the bus too early. A lot of nice resto. It has a restaurant named Cozinha Pinnochio. Just thought it was kinda different to name your resto after a Disney character. It sure got my attention.
You should try to check out the place where the locals eat. That would be really experiencing the culture of the place. There’s this bakery place in Taipa where we got lost. The bread it sells is really quire good. And had nai cha or milk tea - the real thing not the flavored one. One thing for sure - people in Macao like bread a lot because there is so much bakeries; which is great because I just love bread.
I was there for 3 days. It was my first time to go to Macau. Reminds me a lot of the chinatown we have here in the Philippines. Its just more glamourous.
My sister and I wanted to see Cirque de Soleil but didnt go through with it. She got to see a preview of it when she was in Las Vegas last year.
I enjoyed your website.
Enjoy!