My wife Christie and I had heard some scary stories about Medellín and even watched both series of Narcos on Netflix, leading us to pretty much write off the city as a place to visit, let alone live.
The Malaysian island of Penang has had a colorful history. Settled by the Arabs and the British and later populated by large numbers of Chinese and Indians, all have left their mark. You can see their influences in the diversity of the local food-courts, a popular pick for hungry locals and tourists alike.