ILA Magazine: Discover the Best Retirement Haven + 14 More
Penang is a small tropical island off the west coast of peninsular Malaysia. It is a former British colony, so English is widely spoken. Its population is just over 700,000 with a majority of the people living in its capital, George Town. Penang is a multicultural island with about 60% of its inhabitants being Chinese, 32% Malays and 7% Indian. Culturally it’s a mind-blowing place to live.With a mix of these cultures, the food is often declared the best in all of Southeast Asia. In 2014, Lonely Planet deemed Penang the top foodie destination to visit in the world. The most incredible food in Malaysia is not found in high-end restaurants, but at thousands of food stalls that serve one signature dish—often a family’s secret recipe passed down through generations.
Penang has been one of the top expat destinations in Malaysia for years. It’s not a bustling city like Kuala Lumpur, yet it still has all the comforts of home…beaches…shops…great food…and a vibrant culture. You can go shopping at Gurney Plaza or Queensbay Mall and find the same high-end stores you would in Australia. You can walk through the jungle, laze about on a secluded beach, take a food tour and a cooking class, or even drive a few hours to visit an Orangutan shelter.
George Town is a bustling, colourful UNESCO World Heritage City, which is fascinating to walk through. The well preserved, colonial buildings and Chinese clan houses are living testaments to what life was like centuries ago. You can still feel its multi-cultural heritage as you wander through Chinese and Indian temples and smell incense burning throughout the streets. Getting lost in the maze of narrow streets and alleyways makes you feel like you are in another world…
For a small island, there is no shortage of arts and culture to take part in; from the month long George Town festival that celebrates the arts in every form imaginable, the Jazz and World Music festivals and the International Film festival. Add to that the many cultural and religious festivals, dozens of galleries with ever-changing exhibits, and the thriving street art scene, and you’ll never be at a loss for something to do in Penang.
It’s 4 p.m. and the sky is cloudless and a deep, rich blue. A happily regular sight here in Penang. The car park is filling up as tennis players are starting to roll in to the Penang Sports Club. This happens at precisely the same time every day, seven days a week. It’s just part of the fabric of life for members of the tennis section at this 120-year-old club...
Penang might be a small island, but it is jammed with things to see. Many people come to the island to eat; the street food is some of the best in Asia and no visit to Penang is complete without overeating. However, in between stuffing yourself on plates of noodles and rich mutton curries, you’ve got to do something, right? Walk off some of your calories with this list of things to see and places to visit…
Penang is known for its street food and UNESCO heritage architecture and shophouses. But most people don’t realise that there is more to this little island than tasty noodles and rich history; it’s for nature lovers as well. So, when you’ve had enough of temple hopping and garlic fumes wafting out of woks, when you feel like reconnecting with nature, here is where to go...
Living on an island conjures up images of white sandy beaches, sparkling blue water and no rush hour traffic.We all dream of one day retiring to a tropical paradise, buying a second home in a quaint beach town where it’s summer all year round, or relocating our lives to an island in the sun. But it can be more than just a dream…your tropical island or beach life can be a reality....
Drive north along the coast of Penang Island, approximately one hour from the Penang International Airport, and you’ll arrive in the beach resort of Batu Ferringhi. Its popularity with tourists means a high concentration of likely bars and restaurants. It’s also where you can ride a horse along the beach, go parasailing at sunset or sit back with a bucket of beers and watch the world go by...
The island of Penang off the coast of Malaysia has been the somewhat of a secret of savvy expat retirees for decades. Now the secret is out. This island of 1.6 million people packs in everything you could want. The low costs give you financial freedom, exploring the region from Penang is easy thanks to the international airport, and the...
Penang is a healthcare haven. For years many now people from neighbouring countries, like Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, have travelled there for affordable, world-class care. It is already considered an up and coming area for medical tourism. In fact, more than 700,000 foreigners came to Malaysia last year for medical treatment—and 60% of...
When looking for a place to retire, cost of living is the first concern for most. Many are on a fixed budget and want to live in a place that has all the comforts of home, without the same high costs. Penang, Malaysia is that place. On $3,300 a month, a couple can live in luxury. Rent in a modern highrise with a pool, a gym and security guards will cost around $1,000. While that may seem...
The smell that greets me as I stroll past the grocery shops is a mixture of fresh vegetables and spices; cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, wild garlic, ginger and onions. It’s particular to Asia and exotic. The church bell is chiming behind me—one of the oldest in Malaysia—and the azure blue sky is cloudless. It’s just another beautiful day in Penang, the island that I refer to as “my island”...
Malaysia is exotic; there is no question about it. But because you live in a place, immerse yourself in that place and breathe and live it daily, you sometimes forget. I’ve met Parisians who have never been to the Eiffel Tower.New Yorkers who have never seen the Empire State Building and Londoners who have never...