My Airbnb year in Hong Kong: 'Big fat American' discovers hidden sides to the city
As Airbnb spurs similar ventures in Asia, one expat has used the room-booking site to discover Hong Kong
To say that Kevin Lynch knows more about Hong Kong than many local residents may be something of an understatement. For the past 14 months, the advertising executive has lived out of a suitcase, bunking down in different homes across the city every week.
His stays have ranged from a luxury flat in Pok Fu Lam to far less salubrious rooms where he shared space with cockroaches. He has slept on a yacht in the Discovery Bay marina, in a teepee in Cheung Sha and in a converted cowshed in Mui Wo. He has also found himself reminded of the post-apocalyptic film I Am Legend during a stay at Sea Ranch, a semi-abandoned development on Lantau.
All were part of Lynch's experiment living with Airbnb, the web service that links travellers to people wishing to rent out bed spaces, rooms and homes for short stays.
Previously based in Shanghai, Lynch came to Hong Kong last year after taking on a new role as executive creative director of BBDO South China. But he flies back most weekends because his family has remained in Shanghai, so instead of renting long-term digs he decided to spend a year living with local hosts listed with Airbnb. His experiences are documented in the "YearBnB project" on an Instagram account and Tumblr webpage.
"This approach allows me to get out of the expat bubble. It's actually a lot cheaper than [regular] housing, especially because I want to explore all these different places that are often far away and cheaper. The price wasn't so much the reason as the desire to get to know Hong Kong and to meet people," Lynch says.