Oct. 30, 2009
Georgetown, Malaysia
PLUS:
- An Idyllic Fall Day Barging In The Midi...
- "Could You Suggest A Country That You Think Won't Have A Significant Number Of Americans Living There In The Future?”...
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Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,
"Steeped in history and tradition, Malaysia's old city of
Georgetown has enough character for any retiree,” writes Correspondent from that part of the world Wendy Justice, "while still offering all the modern comforts and conveniences available in Kuala Lumpur. It's also more affordable than K.L., making it a top alternative if capital-city living isn't for you.
"Located just a short distance from Thailand and about four hours by car north of the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, Georgetown is peninsular Malaysia's oldest colonial city and second-largest city in Malaysia. Populated mainly by ethnic Chinese, the town is full of both delightfully crumbling and exquisitely restored Chinese shop houses and 19th- and early 20th-century churches and temples, as well as some of the best cuisine in all Southeast Asia.
"Georgetown is situated on the island of Pulau Penang, a short distance from the mainland, and accessible by both road and ferry. Thousands of people each year make their way to visit this UNESCO World Heritage city founded in 1786 that was originally a trading base for the British East India Company. Goods were shipped in from Europe, India, the Middle East, Africa, and China to the warehouses and
godowns of what became a bustling port town. By the turn of the century, more than 12,000 people had settled here, and Georgetown was established as both a trading and a financial center.
"With a population today of 220,000, Georgetown is small enough to feel laid-back and big enough to offer big-city conveniences. It is recognized as one of the 10 top locations in Asia for foreigners living and working in the region. Foreigners make up around 6% of the population, and you find expat clubs in both Georgetown and the beach community Batu Ferringhi, a few miles northwest of the city.
"Georgetown is world-famous for its street food (hawkers serve up a delicious array of Chinese, Indian, Malay and Thai dishes), but this isn't the only good reason to consider this city. The colonial neighborhoods are charming with their 19th- and 20th-century buildings and tiny shops packed to the ceilings with clothes, Chinese herbal remedies, and imported silks. Fort Cornwallis, the site of the original British settlement, remains standing and is open to visitors.
"In Chinatown, ornate Buddhist and Daoist temples are tucked away in alleys or behind old Chinese shop houses. The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, built in the 1880s by a wealthy Straits Chinese merchant-trader, is a good example of blending Eastern and Western designs. In these parts of the city, it's easy to forget what century this is. In the courtyards of these old shop houses, you find tiny gardens, caged songbirds, and 200-year-old tiled sidewalks.
"Little India is an easy walk from Chinatown, and it's a lively part of the city. The sounds of sitars and popular Indian music blares from the tiny shops. Competing for attention are the video shops where crowds gather to watch the latest Bollywood productions. Little restaurants on the corners offer sweet confections and curry puffs, the smells adding to the sensory cornucopia of this part of the city. Spice stores sell vast assortments of herbs and flavorings from all over the world. If you're looking for bangles or
bindis, saris, or an ornamental Hindu Ganesha or Krishna, this is the place to come. Hindu temples are architecturally busy buildings. The Sri Mariamman Temple, built in 1883, is Georgetown's oldest Hindu temple. With dozens of vibrantly colorful representations of deities, it's well worth visiting.
"Not far from the city center, and easily accessible by public transportation, is Penang Hill. A funicular takes you to the 2,694-foot summit. It's worth the trip for the views, the hiking, and the cooler temperatures.”
Kathleen Peddicord
P.S. Remember that, unlike most countries in this part of the world, Malaysia welcomes foreign retirees and makes establishing residency here a straightforward process with the help of their My 2nd Home In Malaysia (MM2H) program.
Details here.
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The Perks, Privileges, And Advantages Of Foreign Residency In The World's Top Overseas Havens
From
Panama to the
Dominican Republic, from
Uruguay to
Malaysia, and from
Belize to
Nicaragua, some countries roll out the welcome mat for foreign retirees, offering significant tax breaks and other advantages you can't afford to ignore.
Full details here.
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"Yesterday was an idyllic fall day in the Languedoc region of
France,” writes Correspondent from that country Lucy Culpepper. "No wind, 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and clear blue skies. The perfect day for a visit to one of the Languedoc's greatest treasures, the Canal du Midi.
"Even if you are not a boating person, it is worth a visit to this feat of engineering. The Canal du Midi was built between 1667 and 1681, during the reign of Louis XIV, and connects the 150 miles between Toulouse and Sète (on the Mediterranean). The most frequented part of the canal is from Trèbes (just east of the fabulous citadel at Carcassonne) to Colombiers.
"We went on a day cruise starting out from Capestang, cruising 'downstream' for three gentle hours to Colombiers, where we had a picnic lunch on the banks of the canal right beside the oldest canal tunnel in the world! There are several historic sites along the way, including the towering 13th-century church at Capestang and Oppidum Enserune, an abandoned hilltop city that dates back 2,600 years.
"As we glided along the tree-lined banks, we passed painters with their easels, walkers strolling the banks, and every type of canal barge from basic to luxurious. Some people live year-round on their barges. Peering in through windows of the luxury 'homes,' we understood the appeal.
"A particularly beautiful 24-meter house boat was for sale for 180,000 euro (previously 215,000). Not a bad price for a 'property' that includes three large double staterooms with full tiled bath and shower; built-in cabinets, a desk, a sofa and lounge chairs, and two rosewood buffets; a stereo and video equipment including a DVD player; a dining suite for eight; a washing machine and dryer; a gas barbecue; and full central heating and air conditioning!”
"Your comment in your Oct. 27 e-letter, Kathleen, about gringos not being welcome in Costa Rica, is something I have been factoring into my decision-making process as I consider a move out of Canada. I have lived overseas before and traveled a lot over the past 37 years, maybe as much as you have. Now I'm looking to make a final move to a country where overseas income is tax-free and good Internet service is available. I use the Internet to make my living.
"Panama and Costa Rica are on my list, but the problem for me is that there are too many Americans living in both those countries. You mentioned that you have the feeling gringos are not welcome in Costa Rica. I think that this can be a back-lash against Americans. The problem for me is that Canadians get caught up in that back-lash.
"I see Cuba as a good example. Americans have not been traveling to Cuba over the past few decades, but it has been a common destination for Canadian vacationers and businesspeople. However, because there has been almost no contact between Americans and Cubans, there is no back-lash against Canadians in Cuba at all.
"I know this sounds anti-American. Please know that I'm not. I have many dear friends, business associates, and relatives in the United States. But the painful truth is that many Americans (not all of them, of course) tend to talk, act, and carry on in foreign countries in ways that are not compatible with other cultures. That does not mean Americans are bad people, only that American culture does not blend well with other cultures.
"Could you suggest a country that meets my tax and internet criteria and that you think won't have a significant number of Americans living there in the future?”
-- Robert O., Canada
Perhaps it's Americans, specifically, but I'd say the back-lash you describe can be against foreign residents in general--Germans along the coast of Spain, for example, or British and Irish expats in parts of France.
On the other hand, in most countries, foreign residents from anywhere are welcome if, as you point out, they make an effort to respect the local culture and ways of doing things. And, to tell you the truth, I've known this back-lash effect to be an issue rarely and nowhere more noticeably than currently in Costa Rica.
I don't see this developing as a problem in Panama, for example, because Panama is so accustomed to having big populations of non-Panamanians in their midst--the French, for example, and, especially, the Americans. Plus, Panama is embracing Americana in all its forms--food, music, movies, TV, etc. This isn't necessarily a good thing (I watched the same thing happen in Ireland while we lived there with dismay), but it does guard against a concern over anti-American sentiment developing locally.
Another place you could consider if you'd like to retire overseas among foreign but not necessarily American neighbors is the
Dominican Republic. While the DR has attracted foreign retirees for decades, few Americans have yet to discover this island's charms. This is changing, and more Americans are on their way, but so, too, and primarily, are more Europeans. This is a place where a Canadian could lose himself among expat European enclaves, rather than American ones. This would be my top pick in the Caribbean.
More information here.
In South America,
Uruguay could be a good option. Again, the expat communities here are more European than American.
More here.
