Asia's Top Retirement Haven--Snake Temples and Golden Beaches

A retirement destination in Southeast Asia? A multicultural jigsaw of Malays, Indians, Chinese and expats--Malaysia could tick all your boxes.

Rainforests, beaches, and tropical weather…color and celebrations. From Chinese New Year to Deepavali, from Eid to Christmas--you’ll never wait long before a festival comes around here.

But what I really like about Malaysia is that it doesn’t feel "Third Worldish". Poverty exists, but it’s not the really distressing type that makes me uncomfortable. Like the roads, public transport is good, and I’m happy using its buses and trains.

A former British colony, most people here speak English. You can also buy property freehold: houses with land as well as condos. (That’s unusual in Asia.) Plus there’s a special retirement program, which I’ll detail in the IL Magazine.

Many foreign retirees opt for Penang Island, a 50-minute flight from Malaysia’s capital and business center, Kuala Lumpur. Your neighbors might be from Australia, Korea or the UK.

Around 70% of Penang’s population are of Chinese descent. From the Snake Temple to moon cakes and elaborately decorated clan houses, their culture and traditions survive intact. So do those of Penang’s Indian community.

George Town, Penang’s main settlement, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Plenty here for colonial history buffs and foodies, but it also delivers top-class hospitals, international schools and western-style shopping. If you can’t find what you want in Prangin Mall, you're not looking hard enough. There’s also a branch of the UK’s Tesco supermarket.

And beaches are on the doorstep. A 60-cent bus ride takes you past upmarket Gurney Drive to Batu Ferringhi’s golden sands. Touristy, but not overly so.

In good areas of Penang, 850-square-foot condos start at around 300,000 ringgits ($83,000). Monthly electricity and water bills will run around $56. For the entire year, rates and property taxes only amount to $120. Visiting a doctor costs $15; a specialist, around $28. And a couple can eat out well for less than $10.

Steenie Harvey
Roving Editor, International Living

P.S. Malaysia was rated the top retirement haven in Asia in IL's retirement index--when you subscribe to International Living with this link, you get access to the Index, and you'll read my members-only report on Kuala Lumpur when it's published Wednesday.