After you’ve spent some time exploring Penang, you may decide that this is the place that you want to live. And why not? Penang is a great place for expats as this is a place of intense natural beauty and there are plenty of places to live.

Many people are drawn to Penang because of its diverse culture and attractions. The Malaysian has recently set up the Malaysia My Second Home program to attract in retirees to come to various parts of Malaysia and set up home here. Penang provides a wide range of reasons for an expatriate to settle permanently here. The people who live there are willing to welcome you into their hearts and homes.

Retirees will find that life is much more fun and relaxed while living in Penang and this is a real haven for those with plenty of time on their hands to pursue all those dreams and hobbies which they have never found time for. Cultivating exotic orchids in your garden, taking yoga classes, improving your handicap in golf, having time to try out recipes that you have been saving from magazines, helping out at a charity home are some of the hobbies that may be pursued.

Penang’s exceptional low cost of living and tax-friendly system is most attractive to retirees and foreigners looking for a second home. Property and rental costs are low, while shopping for food in the well-stocked supermarkets is cheap.

Buying property in Penang is fairly easy. The most popular belt for foreigners to settle along is the exotic northern coastal area, where the most desirable neighborhoods can be found, with its white sandy beaches and sea-facing apartments and condominiums with million-dollar views. Expats can wake up in the morning to a gentle breeze from the sea, a clear blue sky splashed with the vibrant colors of a rising sun and far off fishing boats bringing in the day’s catch.

Penang is generally a safe island for visitors and you won’t feel threatened or scared when walking the streets during the day or in the evening. However, as with anywhere, the city has its fair share of criminals and undesirables, and following some basic courses of action can make sure that you don’t fall victim to them.

Safety
Malaysia, as the rest of South East Asia, is at threat from terrorism, including places frequented by Westerners. Visitors should be aware that street crime such as bag-snatching, pick-pocketing and scams are a problem. Don’t accept rides from kereta sapu (passenger cars/unlicensed taxis). Be wary of the sometimes aggressive long-tail macaques at the Botanical Gardens.

Emergency: 999

Health
Some tropical illnesses are widespread in Malaysia and travellers should get medical advice regarding any recommended immunisations before travelling. Hepatitis A and B are common, as is dengue fever, against which there is no vaccination or immunisation. There has been an increase in cases of dengue fever since January 2005. Malaria risks are confined to the inland regions.

Dysentery and travellers’ diarrhoea sometimes afflict travellers; visitors should stick to bottled water and stay away from uncooked meat, fish and vegetables, unpeeled fruit, ice and salads. The hospitals in Kuala Lumpur and other cities are of a high standard. Medical insurance is recommended. Travellers older than one year coming from infected areas require a yellow fever vaccination certificate.

General Hospital: +60 4 229 3333

Francis Light established Penang to be the first British trading post in the Far East in 1786. The Sultan of Kedah had been persuaded by Light to concede Pulau Pinang (Island of the Betel Nut) to the British in exchange for military support. Although Light occupied the island, he suspended a promise to aid Kedah until the sultan had surrendered additional territory on the neighbouring mainland coast.

A golden shower
When Light landed where the present Esplanade is today, Pulau Penang was practically unpopulated and covered in thick vegetation. In order to persuade his Sepoy forces to take on the hard work of clearing the area, Light is said to have loaded a cannon with coins of gold and fired it into the surrounding tropical rain forest. It didn’t take long before enough land had been cleared to build a settlement, and soon traders and merchants began arriving on the island.

A safe haven
Much of the appeal of the almost unpopulated island for traders was the fact that Penang was from the onset an open, duty-free port. In contrast to their Dutch rivals in the area, who pushed for trade monopolies and introduced trade duties, the British preferred to ally themselves with regional powers instead of controlling and making a profit from Malaysian trade. Penang’s main importance to the British was that it functioned as a safe stopover for British ships sailing on the far more lucrative China trade route.

Immigrants
To fuel Penang’s development, the British founder and administrator, Francis Light, decided to let immigrants claim any land they could clear. Within a few decades, more than 10,000 settlers and traders had settled on the island including Malays, Sumatrans, Indians and above all, the Chinese.

Light’s efforts to encourage agriculture on the island were mostly fruitless, but Penang soon developed into a key trading port for tea, spices, china and cloth. Today, the city of Georgetown is a lively metropolitan city where Eastern and Western influences come together to form a unique culture.

Located off of Malaysia’s western coast, near the border with Thailand, the island of Penang is a very popular tourist destination. Since its days as the first trading post of the British in the Far East, Penang has seen a unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures, with a particularly strong Chinese flavour.

Getting there: Penang Airport is one of Malaysia’s larger and better-equipped airports, with regular connections to Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Langkawi. The airport is located on the southeastern coast of the island, not far from Georgetown. There are no trains on Penang itself, but it is possible to take the train to Butterworth on the mainland and then catch the ferry. Penang is connected to the mainland by one of the longest bridges in Asia, enabling long-distance bus travel to and from a variety of Malaysian destinations.

Key attractions: Beaches, history, diverse culture, shopping, food – you name it, Penang has it. The capital, Georgetown, is the only significant settlement on this large island, with high-rise hotels and good tourist facilities, as well as lovely tree-lined suburbs that belie Penang’s colonial past.

In the centre of Georgetown is Fort Cornwallis which dates from the late 1700s.  A funicular railway will take you to the top of Penang Hill behind Georgetown to admire the excellent views and visit the interesting mosque and Hindu temple. The Khoo Kongsi and Kuan Yin Teng are fine examples of active Chinese temples in the city.

Out and about: The Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve, at the island’s westernmost tip, encompasses sandy beaches, rocky coasts and both lowland and hillside forests. On the northwestern coastline are some of the finest and least known beaches on the island, accessible only by a hike from Teluk Bahang, or by sea. The Kek Lok Si,  located at Air Itam, is considered one of the largest temple and most beautiful complex temple in Southeast Asia. It comprises of a seven-storey pagoda influenced by Burmese, Chinese and Thai craftsmanship.

Leisure options: As fabulous as Penang’s beaches are for soaking up the sun, there is a treasure trove in the emerald hills offering trails aplenty to curious strollers and energetic hikers alike. Penang is also a resort island, with an abundance of fine hotels, night clubs and restaurants; it is the ideal playground for sun-worshippers after a hard day at the beach.

Safety: Be alert when travelling in unfamiliar territory. Tourists are more susceptible to pickpocketing, theft or loss of personal effects. Outdoor activities and travel in primitive cultures places you at greater risk. Disrupted travel plans through natural disasters, accidents and other unforeseen events can result in financial loss. We therefore strongly

Just a short walk from the popular backpacker area of Chula Street is the Esplanade. This is a good place to wander as the fresh sea breezes here are refreshing in the heat of the day and there are a number of interesting attractions to discover.

Fort Cornwallis

This ancient fort was built by Francis Light, the founder of Penang. Fort Cornwallis was actually built on the site where he landed in 1786. It was initially constructed as a wooden bulwark by convicts, having concrete reinforcements added over time. Today, the fort has been converted into an open-air park, housing an amphitheatre, a history gallery, cafés and souvenir shops. There are also a few cannons sitting around, the most famous being Seri Rambai, which is said to have supernatural powers such as the ability to get infertile women pregnant.

City Hall

Built in 1903, the City Hall is a fine example of Victorian architecture and a reminder of the colonial era in Penang. The City Hall faces the historic field of Padang Kota, which is a setting for festivals and other large-scale events. Today, the hall is still used for period meetings with members of the Penang Municipal Council.

Clock Tower

The Clock Tower is a reminder from the colonial era of the British Empire in Penang. Built to honour the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, the Clock Tower was a gift to the British authorities from a local millionaire, Cheah Chen Eok. Moorish style dominates the structure and from a distance as it looks remarkably like the minaret of a mosque.

The influx of Chinese immigrants to Penang during the 19^th century gave rise to the formation of clans, which are known in Penang and kongsi. These clans functioned as substitute kinship and professional associations for immigrants who had left behind family and friends. A large amount of different kongsi sprung up in Penang, and each association built a hall to serve as the centre of its community.

The Khoo Kongsi is the most famous example of these halls, having been designed with such splendour that it was said to rival the palace of China’s emperor.

Whether by misfortune or because such resemblance was viewed as an offence, the original Khoo Kongsi burnt to the ground almost as soon as it was completed. The present structure was built as a scaled down version of that original, though it is an extraordinarily impressive structure nonetheless. The building features a magnificent hall embellished with intricate carvings and richly ornamented beams of the finest wood, each bearing the mark of master craftsmen from China.

Browsing for bargains is a popular and enjoyable pastime in Penang as the prices of a wide range of items are considerably cheaper than in Kuala Lumpur. There are a good range of outlets selling electronic goods at competitive prices and many people travel to the shopping malls in Penang to picjk up items such as mobile phones and computers.

Bargaining is a way of life here in all shops and market stalls, with the exception of the large department stores, which have a fixed price on items.

Jalan Pinang is the best street for shopping in Penang as the shops sell a wide range of items including jewellery, souvenir items, handicrafts, clothes, fabrics, electronic goods as well as a wide range of other items

Shopping at market places is a great way to mingle with local people and save money. The best market for purchasing goods is the Thieves’ Market, which is located on Lorong Kulit. This famous market sells all sorts of delights ranging from antique items to souvenirs and batek paintings.

The main beach areas of Teluk Bahang and Batu Ferringhi have stalls that are opened at night to attract tourists. The night market at Batu Ferringhi is worth a trip to pick up a bargain or two.

The markets located in the Indian and Chinese quarters of Georgetown also open late and there are plenty of bargains to be had. Particularly good buys are clothing, bags and shoes.

Being an island, Penang has a number of pretty beaches and those who enjoy laying back and soaking up the sun for an hour or two will find some good stretches of sand to relax on. However, the water tends to be slightly polluted due to the amount of development that is constantly taking place on the island.

Tourists usually head to the beaches at Teluk Bahang and Batu Ferringhi, both of which are located reasonably close to the city. Those who are staying in Georgetown will be able to catch a bus to either of these beaches, and the journey takes around an hour.

It is best to visit the beach during the week, while they are fairly quiet and peaceful. Many of the families that live on Penang tend to head to the beach at the weekend and it can get rather crowded.

There are plenty of beach bars and restaurants located near the main beaches and there are also plenty of places offering services to visitors. Water sports are popular in Penang and those who enjoy taking part in sports such as jet skiing, water skiing and motorised paragliding will find plenty of opportunities.

Bear in mind that the sun is quite strong in Penang and the beaches often offer little shade, so a high factor sun screen is recommended.

There is an excellent range of accommodation available in Penang, range from cheap and cheerful backpacker guesthouses with fans and shared bathrooms to luxury hotels with all the trimmings. Those on a tight budget can pay just RM20 for a basic room, while those who like to stay in style will find plenty of four and five star hotels to choose from.

For the modest visitor who is here on a budget but eager to experience the local hospitality in its simplest form, the conveniently located hotels in Georgetown, along Chulia Street and Penang road are an ideal choice. There are dozens of places to choose from in this area and these establishments offer a wide range of services as well as providing a cosy place to meet other travellers.

For the more discerning traveller who wants a bit of the same action but prefers a more sophisticated and luxurious environment, there is a whole range of choices from three-star to five-star hotels. These city hotels are located conveniently around Georgetown area are just right for business travellers who needs to be near the city centre.

Penang’s famous beach hotels and resorts are located along one of the finest beach paradises in Southeast Asia; they guarantee relaxation, sun and enjoyment that are so characteristic of Penang. These famous beach hotels are strictly for those who come to Penang for a spell of relaxation.