Page 71 - Demo

5. Malaysia
Malaysia and vacation back home, effectively reversing our situation and saving a heap of money into the bargain. We started to make plans to do just that and moved here to live in early 2010.
Idyllic beaches, islands that seduce the senses, and some of the most pristine ancient rainforests in Southeast Asia—this is Malaysia. And these are just some reasons why I call it home.
Malaysian law is based on the British system and all road signs are in both English and Malay, which makes driving around easy. The unofficial first language of the country is English, so you don’t have to learn another language here if you don’t want to.
A family of six can dine out in a good local Chinese restau- rant (10 courses) for less than $5.70 per person, including beer. A men’s haircut costs just $2.16. In Penang, a couple can live comfortably on $1,800 a month, including rent.
As for healthcare, when you compare surgery prices between the U.S. and Malaysia, the benefits are obvious. Just the other day I decided on a whim to have a medical. I’d never had one done before and as I had a free morning I decided just to pop in to the Lam Wah Eee Hospital. I was already registered and found myself sitting outside a GP’s office not five minutes after arriving. Within an hour I’d had I’d been examined by a doctor, had an ECG and blood and urine tests done, and I was on my way home. The total cost of the visit was just $43. The doctor who had examined me
called me later that afternoon with the results. It’s this level of service that makes medical in Malaysia not only an attractive option but also a non-scary one. It’s all so easy.
The other attractive thing for us is the outdoor lifestyle. If white-sand beaches are your dream, you have here more than 878 islands to choose from. Both my wife, and I hike a lot; so living near the Penang Botanic Gardens is a bonus. With all year-round good weather, the temperature in Malaysia averages 82 F, there are over 60 hiking trails for us to choose from. We are also members of The Penang Sports Club and The Penang Swimming Club. The swimming club is five-star facility that offers a 50-meter outdoor saltwater pool, a state of the art gym, the best library on the island, a scuba and sailing section, and a number of restaurants that are heavily discounted for members.
Apartment rentals here are good value and you can choose between sea and mountain views. In Batu Ferrin- ghi, a nice beach suburb, you can rent a three-bedroom, apartment with sea views for as little as $403 per month. The complex has a good gym, 24-hour security, secure parking, tennis courts and at least two pools to choose from.
There are direct flights to the rest of Asia from Penang’s International Airport, which makes getting away for a weekend very easy. Penang to Bangkok in Thailand takes just one and a half hours and can cost as little as $43 return.