Having moved from the Caribbean to Hong Kong just over a year ago, OLGA MCCARROLL and husband John are keeping the beach vibes going, setting up home in Pui O in South Lantau Island.
Tell us a bit about yourself, your background and your path to Hong Kong.
I’m a Soviet Union-born American Brit, and a former neuroscientist and litigator. Hong Kong is my ninth home; I grew up in Moscow, was educated in Vienna, London and New England, worked as a lawyer in London, Paris, Geneva, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands, and finally arrived in HK with my (new) husband to start my own executive life coaching practice.
John is a barrister and partner at an international law firm, Appleby Global. He hails from Northern Ireland.
We met in the British Virgin Islands on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Irma – 6 September 2018. We got married last year, and Hong Kong is the first country we moved to together.
What do you do here?
I am an executive life coach. I blend my knowledge of neuroscience and psychology with over a decade worth of experience as an international commercial litigator to support and advise professionals through personal and professional challenges such as lack of fulfilment, burnout, promotions and career changes.
It is an absolute joy after two decades of searching to finally do something I deeply care about! Everyone deserves support from someone who straight talks with kindness during difficult transition periods in one’s life and I offer wisdom, perspective, encouragement, support and real-world insightful practical advice. My clients hail from all over the world (Singapore, Bermuda, London, the Cayman Islands, the US and, of course, Hong Kong).
Who lives in this home, how long have you lived in Pui O, and what attracted you to it?
I live with my husband and our five-year-old shitzpoo Wolsey. We moved into this house in the middle of June 2024, though Wolsey could only join us at the end of August 2024, having been occupied advising the Biden administration in Washington DC before arriving. In all seriousness, he unfortunately had to live with my parents for six months to ensure an easier passage to HK.
Over the past seven years living in the idyllic tropical environment of the Caribbean (bar Hurricane Irma), we got used to having a good sized property with nature on our doorstep. We thought upon arrival that we once again craved the city life, but when we saw what we could get living out here versus Hong Kong Island, it was a no-brainer: to be surrounded by lush jungle environment, and next to the beach with a dog, presented a perfect balance between tranquillity and the excitement of a world metropolis just 40 minutes away. We really have to pinch ourselves when we see the views from the beach on our doorstep.
Is it the first place you’ve lived in Hong Kong?
Before moving to Pui O, we lived in Happy Valley for about two months. The area has its own quaint vibe which we enjoyed but we’re far happier where we are now.
What do you like about South Lantau? Anything that might surprise city-dwelling expats about your part of the island?
It’s a lovely area to live! We have a lively community here which is a blend of locals who have been here since they were children and expats from all over the world.
I think it attracts a certain kind of person – a lot of professionals who value a slower, more laid-back pace of life on their weekends. It’s also a paradise for children who really get to be children here. Running around barefoot on the beach with their dog digging for clams – what could be better?! There are also lots of water spots to partake in – LCS and Treasure Island on Pui O beach offer kayak and other gear rental.
I enjoy the wildlife here tremendously. A tokay gecko has set up shop in the vent from our stove – he’s absolutely hilarious. We’ve named him Benji.
The buffalo are awe-inspiring and very determined and stubborn creatures. They know how quickly our car gate closes and know that it will open if they stick their horns in the way. Then they get to camp out on our grounds enjoying a vast array of tasty grass. We love Buffalo Jean who is the buffalo ambassador in the local community and feeds and takes care of them every single day.
Mui Wo is a stone’s throw away offering a number of lovely restaurants, shops and cafés. When you’re here, you feel like you’re on holiday.
Favourite nearby place to eat and why?
Bella Ciao is an excellent Italian restaurant within walking distance from our house in Lo Wai village. It’s got inside and outside seating and a lovely buzz about it. The owner, Matteo, treats everyone like family – and his cacio e pepe and tiramisu are to die for.
Treasure Island on Pui O beach is a relaxed beachside holiday destination where you can sip water straight from a fresh coconut and enjoy some beach bar classics like burgers, chicken wings and quesadillas. Bring your kids and pets, and settle in for the afternoon.
We also love the Thai restaurant Sa Ne in Mui Wo, along with Village Kitchen that serves up the most humongous thin crust pizzas on ridiculously bent-out-of-shape metal trays. The Village Bakery bakes fantastic fresh sourdough and rye breads together with a wide variety of buns, tarts and other lip-smacking delicacies, and our favourite Caffé Paradiso makes a great decaffeinated coffee (we get too jittery and unwell from the full-strength stuff).
What are some of the key features or quirks of the home?
We love that the house has gigantic floor-to-ceiling windows that let in a lot of light. The downside is that because we’re right next to a hiking trail, we have a lot of interest from passersby who don’t hesitate to stop and peer into our house (sometimes taking photos) as if they’re watching a panda enclosure.
A quirky feature of the house is that the master shower has a balcony attached to it. Other houses in the development have put up bamboo partitions to create some privacy but our preference was to create a mini jungle up there, which reminds us of our outdoor shower in the Caribbean.
Is there a spot in the home that you enjoy the most?
I love our bedroom, which is small but very tranquil and bright. The seat on the couch underneath our fiddle-leaf fig is excellent too, but my favourite is the garden (provided we can keep the mozzies and midges at bay).
What are some items in the home with an interesting backstory?
When I moved from London to the British Virgin Islands I sold everything I wasn’t in love with and only shipped my favourite things with me. Then, four months later, the islands were hit by the most powerful hurricane to make landfall in Atlantic Ocean history – Hurricane Irma. Most of my things got destroyed, but not all!
There is no rhyme or reason as to why, while all the doors and windows in my house blew in with enormous force, bending metal bannisters and pulling cabinet doors off their hinges, a tray with my grandmother’s jewellery remained intact and unmoved on my bedside table.
So most things that remain are small with the exception of two items: my Ligne Roset ottoman, which, being made of foam, simply floated on top of all the rain water that flooded my house; and how the gigantic living room lamp survived is beyond me.
Having reflected upon this further, the truth is that I’ve been a global nomad for most of my life. So, I’ve always travelled with a smallish array of things that have been meaningful to me and picked up additional things from all my travels – kitchen towels from Dijon, jewellery from Bali, balsamic vinegar from Italy, you name it. Hong Kong, in many ways, is a new beginning for us.
What are a few things you like to do in Hong Kong when you’re not working?
Despite having lived here for over a year now, we still feel like we haven’t even seen even one percent of the city. Not only did we move to the other side of the world in 2024, John started as a partner at a new firm, I started my coaching practice, we had to find a home, furnish it, buy a car, get a driver’s licence and local (Lantau) permit, import our dog, and get married… thrice (legally in Washington DC and meaningfully in Montreux and Wengen in Switzerland). It’s been an absolute whirlwind!
Now that things are calming down a little and we’re settling in, we love to come into the city for a walk around different neighbourhoods and obviously eat our way through the myriad of amazing restaurants.
Two things in particular stand out: I’ve picked up my long-lost obsession with growing things (when I was little, I used to grow peppers and radishes on the balcony of my 15th-floor apartment in Moscow). For this, I love Garden Plus, our local garden centre in Lo Wai, but I also love heading out to the Mong Kok flower market for its huge variety of plants and good value. The other thing is that we bought a turntable and it’s been brilliant to find a number of quirky little shops filled with LPs from floor to ceiling. Our favourites are Stone Cold Records in Central and Vinyl Hero in Mong Kok.
Other than that, we just love spending time together! We’re obviously huge travellers and Asia is a new playground for us that we can’t wait to explore!
Olga’s Recommendations
- Le Garçon Saigon is our favourite Vietnamese restaurant, with a cosy stylish atmosphere and absolutely delicious food.
- 298 Nikuya Room is our go-to for Japanese/Korean barbecue.
- Shiro in Pacific Place is an excellent spot for high-quality sushi.
- Ikea has been a godsend as a temporary solution to an empty house. It’s quite difficult to get things delivered to Lantau because it requires a special permit and Ikea is one of the few good value options that does.
- JG Casa and Vela Casa have been brilliant for high-quality furniture from China and Italy (our couches and armchairs hail from there).
This article on a home in Pui O on South Lantau Island first appeared in the June 2025 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
