Living in Penang
 

Anybody out here have any experiencewith living ( at least part time - especially now when the pollution is bad ) in Penang and commuting to work??

Property seems relatively affordable, ownership less hassle than Thailand or Bali, CX flies there daily etc etc.

How does it stack up against Thailand or Bali?

Any comments or thoughts would be appreciated.

If you are thinking of buying property in Malaysia, then this may be an easier and better option. It's called Malaysia My Second Home Programme. Malaysia My Second Home

Stack against Thailand or Bali, language wise,English is widely spoken and understood.May not have the resort living feel of Bali but's it's relatively modern and easy going. Traffic is getting from bad to worse if you are going to the mainland and beaches are dirty. You can always head up north to Langkawi for that.

I'd give a lot of serious thought to moving to any majority islamic country. The tensions in Malaysian society are only going to get worse, and eventually will explode, putting any westerners living there in a difficult and threatening situation. The recent spat where Islamic Malay's were burning Christian churches simply because of the the use of the word 'allah' shows that the violence is simmering just below the surface. Be careful in what you decide.

The bombers in Bali and Jakata received money from Malaysian sources :eek:

There are always issues with living anywhere, including all of the popular expat haunts of KUL, PEN, DPS, CGK, BKK, HKT, MNL, CEB and SIN. Numerous people have tried them all, with varying success at different stages in their expat career. It is definitely a case of buyer beware, and be prepared to accept the frustrations of living in any of these places.

You should first consider carefully all the reasons why you feel the need to leave HKG. It is probably one of the easiest cities in the world to live-in, with good schools/Universities, hospitals, transport, rule of law, and weather seasons (not just hot/dry and hot/rainy).

My wife is from one of these places and we have seriously considered a move several times over the years, but we will probably leave it until late in my career as a half-way step toward retirement in the region.

If you are seriously interested in Penang, then talk to our Malaysian cabin crew. There are numerous PEN ISM's and SP's who would be happy to discuss the issues with long term regional commuting, property, schools and the typical expat frustrations. Just check-out the language skills described on your crew list and seek out the crew with the "MS" code.

There are quite a few retired Cx people who are in Malaysia, both KUL and PEN. In addition there are at least 3 F/O's who semi-commute to Malaysia. Just ask around on the airbus and 777 and you will find them. Good luck! :ok: