Retire Malaya VS Thailand: Advantages? Disadvantages? Your Experiences?

[GammaGlobulin]

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

Not sure, but I believe I may have been destined to retire in Malaya.

 

Here is why: When I was very young and in boarding school, I got to know a very fat boy named Kulisek. His father worked for Esso, and he was considered one of the richer boys at our school.

 

For some reason, I have never forgotten his telling us about his lovely holidays visiting his father and mother in Malaya, during school breaks.

 

At the time, I became fairly enamored by his stories of his exploits while vacationing with his family in such an exotic land, among the mongooses and banana trees, and many house servants.

 

There must be a reason why I have yet to forget his tales of bliss among the natives of such a faraway land.  And, I now wonder if it truly is my fate to go to Malaya, and find out, first hand, if his fantastical stories were true.  (Such as losing his virginity at age 12, to a native woman, for example…..)

 

This feeling of fate has been niggling at me for the past few years, and so much so that I am seriously thinking about going to Malaya, around May of 2025.

 

I have a few friends who have settled there.  And now I ask myself:  Should I settle there, as well?

 

But before I take the plunge, and sell everything here, and give up the romantic life in Thailand that I have, so far, been leading….

 

I want to know if, by uprooting here and going there, I might be setting myself up for a letdown.

 

So I ask the question:

 

Unbiasedly Speaking:

 

Would a move to Malaya be good for me?

 

And, how does life in Malaya compare with life in Thailand, especially from a retiree’s perspective?

 

You see, I know that I could never live in the Philippines because, for one thing, I can never recall how to spell the land where Tagalog is rampant.

 

Also, fate is what I am talking about.  And, I think, if Malaya is not too dissimilar compared to Thailand, then I might just let fate take its course…  And actually GO there.

 

At this moment, I have begun to collect more information in order that I might make an informed decision about whether to stay here, a land that I love, or to go to Malaya, a land that just might have always been my destiny.

 

Is Malaya as good as Thailand?

And why?

 

What about housing, and is it as quiet as Thailand?

 

And, can I have servants in Malaya for a reasonable price?

 

Thank you much.

 

This is NOT a joke post.

I have already begun discussing a move with friends.

 

If I go to Malaya, I will still be able to post Topics on TV, probably.

 

Best regards,

Gamma

 

 

NOTE4:  Here is an image of what I thought Malay looked like, based on my friend's reports.  Fairly sure that I won't be able to live in a village like this, if I retire to Malaya...but....I think this style of living might be good for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lacessit]

1/  You will be woken up every day at 4 am by the calls to prayer.

 

2/ As I understand it, the cost of living is higher.

 

3/ The climate is hotter

 

4/ Women not as available ( Muslim country )

 

5/ You need assets of USD 80,000 and a monthly income of USD 2275 for a retirement visa.

 

6/ The air is less polluted.

 

7/ Food is a 50:50 proposition. I prefer Thai, others may prefer Malaysian.

 

8/ More people speak English.

[Enoon]

1 hour ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

Not sure, but I believe I may have been destined to retire in Malaya.

 

Here is why: When I was very young and in boarding school, I got to know a very fat boy named Kulisek. His father worked for Esso, and he was considered one of the richer boys at our school.

 

For some reason, I have never forgotten his telling us about his lovely holidays visiting his father and mother in Malaya, during school breaks.

 

At the time, I became fairly enamored by his stories of his exploits while vacationing with his family in such an exotic land, among the mongooses and banana trees, and many house servants.

 

There must be a reason why I have yet to forget his tales of bliss among the natives of such a faraway land.  And, I now wonder if it truly is my fate to go to Malaya, and find out, first hand, if his fantastical stories were true.  (Such as losing his virginity at age 12, to a native woman, for example…..)

 

This feeling of fate has been niggling at me for the past few years, and so much so that I am seriously thinking about going to Malaya, around May of 2025.

 

I have a few friends who have settled there.  And now I ask myself:  Should I settle there, as well?

 

But before I take the plunge, and sell everything here, and give up the romantic life in Thailand that I have, so far, been leading….

 

I want to know if, by uprooting here and going there, I might be setting myself up for a letdown.

 

So I ask the question:

 

Unbiasedly Speaking:

 

Would a move to Malaya be good for me?

 

And, how does life in Malaya compare with life in Thailand, especially from a retiree’s perspective?

 

You see, I know that I could never live in the Philippines because, for one thing, I can never recall how to spell the land where Tagalog is rampant.

 

Also, fate is what I am talking about.  And, I think, if Malaya is not too dissimilar compared to Thailand, then I might just let fate take its course…  And actually GO there.

 

At this moment, I have begun to collect more information in order that I might make an informed decision about whether to stay here, a land that I love, or to go to Malaya, a land that just might have always been my destiny.

 

Is Malaya as good as Thailand?

And why?

 

What about housing, and is it as quiet as Thailand?

 

And, can I have servants in Malaya for a reasonable price?

 

Thank you much.

 

This is NOT a joke post.

I have already begun discussing a move with friends.

 

If I go to Malaya, I will still be able to post Topics on TV, probably.

 

Best regards,

Gamma

 

 

NOTE4:  Here is an image of what I thought Malay looked like, based on my friend's reports.  Fairly sure that I won't be able to live in a village like this, if I retire to Malaya...but....I think this style of living might be good for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Fairly sure that I won't be able to live in a village like this, if I retire to Malaya...but....I think this style of living might be good for me."

 

Yes, it looks lovely.

 

You would have loved it......it's a "New Village":

 

"Most were surrounded by barbed wire and watchtowers to stop people from escaping, with guards being ordered to kill anyone who attempted to leave outside of curfew hours"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_village

 

Photo origin:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briggs_Plan

 

 

"Weaver of life, let me look and see, the pattern of my life gone by shown on your tapestreeeeeeee"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 9 by Enoon

[GammaGlobulin]

14 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

1/  You will be woken up every day at 4 am by the calls to prayer.

 

2/ As I understand it, the cost of living is higher.

 

3/ The climate is hotter

 

4/ Women not as available ( Muslim country )

 

5/ You need assets of USD 80,000 and a monthly income of USD 2275 for a retirement visa.

 

6/ The air is less polluted.

 

7/ Food is a 50:50 proposition. I prefer Thai, others may prefer Malaysian.

 

8/ More people speak English.

 

Your item #1 would be an utter non-starter for me.

Totally impossible.

 

As to your other items, no problemo.

 

What I care about is finding a locale in Malaya with a lower population density, and lower noise level.

 

Also, good telecom infrastructure, not to mention better electrical grid.

 

Food, so I have heard from my Chinese friends from SiChuan is basically....inedible. Still, I assume that, in Malaya, canned tuna and 5-egg omelettes are available.  And, if I have servants, than I can teach them how to cook Thai food, too.... Not to mention....some of my more yearned for Chinese dishes, and I am not talking about the dishes that you say are not as available.

 

If it's hot, then this is the way like it.  Right now, as you know, yesterday and today were too cold for me, and probably even colder in Chiang Rai.

 

I prefer to speak Chinese, rather than English, on a daily basis.

So, English is a non-issue for me, just as long as there are a few intelligent overseas Chinese I can get to know, and one's that still remember how to read and write Chinese.

 

In conclusion:  Housing is paramount.  For example, I must have hardwood floors, and quiet neighbors.  If I can have these two things, then....Malaya may truly be my desitiny.

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

49 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

"Fairly sure that I won't be able to live in a village like this, if I retire to Malaya...but....I think this style of living might be good for me."

 

Yes, it looks lovely.

 

You would have loved it......it's a "New Village":

 

"Most were surrounded by barbed wire and watchtowers to stop people from escaping, with guards being ordered to kill anyone who attempted to leave outside of curfew hours"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_village

 

Photo origin:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briggs_Plan

 

 

"Weaver of life, let me look and see, the pattern of my life gone by shown on your tapestreeeeeeee"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I read your links.

I found them extremely interesting.

 

Before reading your excellent comment, I had had only a rudimentary understanding of the high percentage of ethnic Chinese (up to 85%) living in these New Towns.

 

I will need to read more to learn what type of Chinese these might be.

For example, my guess is that quite a few might be Hakka.

Unfortunately, I do not speak KeJiaHua, although I once had a Hakke GF who was Fine FINE.

 

Also, one of the more famous Hakka People that you might know is President Lee.....

Not of Singapore fame.

 

I am talking about LiDengHui....

I guess you might recall him.

And, as I recall, he attended university some place in Iowa or Kanasa, or....

He was BIG on farming.

 

 

And, you know....

With his big smile....

One might almost mistake president Li for someone who grew up in Thailand.

 

If you think those teeth are real, I might bet against it.

 

Here in Thailand, everybody has great teeth.

 

 

 

 

 

[Prubangboy]

Muslim-ness is a sliding scale so a fair few are datable. Plus plenty of non-M. I found Bangkok Tinder a dead end for educated women. In KL, I got a few nibbles.

 

Housing is about 20% more, but higher quality. You can't toss a rock without hitting a Thai food option. Def crazy-hot. 

 

It's classier, nicer Thailand with no sanuk. So ultimately a pass for me.

[GammaGlobulin]

35 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

Muslim-ness is a sliding scale so a fair few are datable. Plus plenty of non-M. I found Bangkok Tinder a dead end for educated women. In KL, I got a few nibbles.

 

Housing is about 20% more, but higher quality. You can't toss a rock without hitting a Thai food option. Def crazy-hot. 

 

It's classier, nicer Thailand with no sanuk. So ultimately a pass for me.

 

Thank you.

Good to know.

20% higher housing cost is not important.

[Lacessit]

43 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Thank you.

Good to know.

20% higher housing cost is not important.

You might like the Cameron Highlands, cool climate and more seclusion.

[GammaGlobulin]

4 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

You might like the Cameron Highlands, cool climate and more seclusion.

 

Amazing.

Thank you.

Is the internet stable?

Very nice.

I could EASILY see myself there.....

Just me and the tea, and no thou, but maybe a crust of bread....

 

Edited November 9 by GammaGlobulin

[Prubangboy]

Cameron Highlands is one medium length street with a dozen restaurants all serving the same thali meal. Good internet, tho.

[StreetCowboy]

9 hours ago, Lacessit said:

1/  You will be woken up every day at 4 am by the calls to prayer.

 

2/ As I understand it, the cost of living is higher.

 

3/ The climate is hotter

 

4/ Women not as available ( Muslim country )

 

5/ You need assets of USD 80,000 and a monthly income of USD 2275 for a retirement visa.

 

6/ The air is less polluted.

 

7/ Food is a 50:50 proposition. I prefer Thai, others may prefer Malaysian.

 

8/ More people speak English.

05:44 today.

I slept through, this morning.

Food is more varied.

Kuala Lumpur suffers more from burning in Indonesia.  Burning in Thailand does not seem to affect Thailand so much.

In KL, you can cycle to hills; Bangkok is as flat as last week’s lager for as far as you can go.  I really enjoyed cycling in Bangkok, but I’m not sure that would remain true for long.

[thaibeachlovers]

Malaya is boring. I managed 2 nights in Penang before giving up and going back to Thailand. It's more expensive and has no night life except eating out.

Food is a rip off, and even satay is overpriced.

 

Also, McDs charge more to eat in their shop than takeaway, something I found out the hard way ( I paid for a takeaway and ate it outside the door ).

 

Penang was no longer the blissful tropical island I remembered from the 70s. All the beaches were destroyed by revolting high rise hotels and jet skiis, and the dual pricing on the cable car left me gasping in disbelief at the rip off.

 

You'd have to pay me to live in Malaya.

[Flyguy330]

18 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Malaya is boring. I managed 2 nights in Penang before giving up and going back to Thailand. It's more expensive and has no night life except eating out.

Food is a rip off, and even satay is overpriced.

 

Also, McDs charge more to eat in their shop than takeaway, something I found out the hard way ( I paid for a takeaway and ate it outside the door ).

 

Penang was no longer the blissful tropical island I remembered from the 70s. All the beaches were destroyed by revolting high rise hotels and jet skiis, and the dual pricing on the cable car left me gasping in disbelief at the rip off.

 

You'd have to pay me to live in Malaya.

This post gave me such a laugh that I've finally decided to 'out' myself because of it.

I have a Thai LTR Visa which I obtained just over a year ago. I applied for it because....I've been living in MALAYSIA for 10 years (not 'Malaya' as you ignorantly name it) but they've been faffing around with the MM2H Visa terms, and also applied a Remittance Tax. The LTR Visa is an insurance policy, justy in case I am ever FORCED to move. I hope not.

 

I've been visiting Thailand since even before I moved to Malaysia, so I know it pretty well. There was a time when I'd have said Thailand was even preferable to Malaysia....but not any longer.

 

I was in Thailand for two fortnight long holidays last year.

 

The first I stayed in Bangkok. I found it dirty, noisy, chaotic, overrun by pot shops, and the whores have become tough as nails and nasty. It was nice swanning in with my new LTR Visa, which at least worked properly. That was the only positive.

 

The second visit was to Phuket, where I went on a sailing holiday, in the very rural south.

No PFP down there, but still the ever present pot shops all over. I ended up in Patong for the last two nights of the trip, such a kip. Plenty of whores, plenty of noise and traffic, plenty of air pollution from all the vehicles, noise and more chaos, slummy buildings, honky tonk spit on the floor pubs, and crowds of Russians everywhere. EVERYWHERE!

 

The thing that got to me most about both BKK and Phuket were those overhead wires. You just don't see that in Malaysia - those crazy 'birdsnests' on every pole, a jungle of cables tangled like spaghetti. It all gave the place an air of disorder and real third world infrastructure. They put them underground in Malaysia!

 

The communication issue was just another thing wherever you went. No english spoken (unlike Malaysia where EVERYBODY speaks it). Rubbish strewn all around. No building regs - slummy houses and abandoned buildings all along the rural roadsides.

Depressing.

 

I couldn't wait to get home to KL.

 

I don't know when you last visited Penang, but you missed out bigtime. Beach Street and Love Lane are hopping at night. Penang has fantastic history from the Colonial period. Thankfully they didn't demolish all their colonial history, and at least half of those old buildings are either still being used, or have been upgraded and restored as boutique hotels and artisan shops. They'll get around to doing the rest too, because Malaysia is now booming again thanks to a better class of Prime Minister.

 

The multi culturalism of Malaysia makes it THE most diverse place in Asia for food choice. Stick to your monocultural Thai food. We get to eat Malay, Indonesian, Viet, Japanese, Chinese, Western, and yes....Thai too, and all in far more variety and choice than boring Thai Thai Thai every bloody day.

 

By the way, Penang is majority Chinese Malaysians, and Georgetown can feel more like Hong Kong than some muslim town. You'll be hard pressed to find many mosques to bother you - but do your due diligence next time when choosing your hotel. Look at a fricken street map fer chrissakes! And bring ear plugs if you still can't be bothered .

 

KL puts many Western cities to shame. Excellent roads, good planning, no 'free for all' slum building.Streets are clean - people have civic respect for the most part. It's safe to walk around, no druggies and whores accosting you, no Russian hordes, fantastic malls, and - did I mention - EVERYBODY speaks english.

 

Finally, I'll review that list:

 

1/  You will be woken up every day at 4 am by the calls to prayer.

 

Bull<deleted>.

 

2/ As I understand it, the cost of living is higher.

 

You understand WRONG. For one example, the price of a bottle of wine in Thailand was near twice that of Malaysia.

 

3/ The climate is hotter

 

Rubbish

 

4/ Women not as available ( Muslim country )

 

Whores aren't on every street corner. 25% of the population is NON muslim, so try harder.

 

5/ You need assets of USD 80,000 and a monthly income of USD 2275 for a retirement visa.

 

Tough titty!

 

6/ The air is less polluted.

 

You better believe it. The smog from Indo a few years ago hasn't returned because the Malaysians demanded action and got it.

 

7/ Food is a 50:50 proposition. I prefer Thai, others may prefer Malaysian.

 

Yeah, stick to Tom Yam soup every day if you like that.

 

8/ More people speak English.

 

And they don't look at 'Farangs' like you're the enemy. I have always found the Malaysians to be very welcoming and friendly to Mr.Whitey.

 

So the upshot is - I'm staying in Malaysia until they kick me out, or I go out naturally.

I'll slum it in Thailand occasionally - but there are other nicer places around Asia to visit as long as you aren't a whoremaster and a pothead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

3 hours ago, Flyguy330 said:

(not 'Malaya' as you ignorantly name it)

 

If you had read the Topic, then you would have noticed that I have used the name used by my boarding-school classmate in 1964.

 

[GammaGlobulin]

3 hours ago, Flyguy330 said:

Finally, I'll review that list:

 

1/  You will be woken up every day at 4 am by the calls to prayer.

 

Bull<deleted>.

 

Yes.

I thought this must have been a joke comment.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, Flyguy330 said:

I've been living in MALAYSIA for 10 years (not 'Malaya' as you ignorantly name it)

LOL. I am aware that the luvvies call it Malaysia, but I deliberately call it Malaya to differentiate it from Borneo which is part of Malaysia. Same reason US people don't call all the states America. Also, I spent my childhood in that part of the world and it was Malaya ( it was also British ) so It's what I'm used to. So stick your "ignorance" where the sun don't shine.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, Flyguy330 said:

The first I stayed in Bangkok. I found it dirty, noisy, chaotic, overrun by pot shops, and the whores have become tough as nails and nasty. It was nice swanning in with my new LTR Visa, which at least worked properly. That was the only positive.

 

The second visit was to Phuket, where I went on a sailing holiday, in the very rural south.

Sooooo, you visit Phuket, the <deleted> hole of Thailand and Bkk and claim that the entire country is the same.

 

Try visiting other parts of the country outside cities for a change of attitude.

Edited November 11 by thaibeachlovers

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, Flyguy330 said:

The communication issue was just another thing wherever you went. No english spoken (unlike Malaysia where EVERYBODY speaks it).

Oh I'm sure the THAIS are sooooo sorry that they don't all learn English for your benefit.

 

Perhaps you are not aware of this, but Malaya was run by the British for over a century, while THAILAND was never colonised.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, Flyguy330 said:

The multi culturalism of Malaysia makes it THE most diverse place in Asia for food choice. Stick to your monocultural Thai food. We get to eat Malay, Indonesian, Viet, Japanese, Chinese, Western, and yes....Thai too, and all in far more variety and choice than boring Thai Thai Thai every bloody day.

You went to Thailand and missed seeing all the restaurants that serve all sorts of food other than Thai food? Seriously? Did you never leave the hotel room or something?

 

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, Flyguy330 said:

You understand WRONG. For one example, the price of a bottle of wine in Thailand was near twice that of Malaysia.

So, the price of wine is by which all prices are judged? Seriously?

 

The room I stayed at in Penang was way more expensive than an equivalent in Thailand. Food was more expensive, even satay which is a common Malayan food. I used to eat it in Johor Baru when I was staying there for a weekend and very nice it was too.

Satay is way cheaper in Thailand. It was so expensive in Penang that I didn't bother.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, Flyguy330 said:

Whores aren't on every street corner. 25% of the population is NON muslim, so try harder.

If whores are available in Malaya they would have been in Penang, but if they were there they were hiding.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, Flyguy330 said:

And they don't look at 'Farangs' like you're the enemy. I have always found the Malaysians to be very welcoming and friendly to Mr.Whitey.

If you go to places like Phuket it's no wonder the locals appear unfriendly. There is an entire country with friendly locals, but you will never see it if your idea of Thailand is Bkk and Phuket ( LOL ).

[thaibeachlovers]

On 11/10/2024 at 1:44 AM, Lacessit said:

You might like the Cameron Highlands, cool climate and more seclusion.

I never heard of Cameron Highlands when I was living there in the 1950s, but there was a place called Fraser's Hill which is apparently a smaller version, where I was taken on holiday. Most boring week of my life.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

On 11/9/2024 at 9:24 PM, Enoon said:

 

"Fairly sure that I won't be able to live in a village like this, if I retire to Malaya...but....I think this style of living might be good for me."

 

Yes, it looks lovely.

 

You would have loved it......it's a "New Village":

 

"Most were surrounded by barbed wire and watchtowers to stop people from escaping, with guards being ordered to kill anyone who attempted to leave outside of curfew hours"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_village

 

Photo origin:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briggs_Plan

 

 

"Weaver of life, let me look and see, the pattern of my life gone by shown on your tapestreeeeeeee"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most were surrounded by barbed wire and watchtowers to stop people from escaping, with guards being ordered to kill anyone who attempted to leave outside of curfew hours

 

That how the British won against the communists. They cut them off from supplies. Nothing to do with "escaping". Where do you get your information from?

Edited November 11 by thaibeachlovers

[GammaGlobulin]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

LOL. I am aware that the luvvies call it Malaysia, but I deliberately call it Malaya to differentiate it from Borneo which is part of Malaysia. Same reason US people don't call all the states America. Also, I spent my childhood in that part of the world and it was Malaya ( it was also British ) so It's what I'm used to. So stick your "ignorance" where the sun don't shine.

 

Agree!

[GammaGlobulin]

50 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If you go to places like Phuket it's no wonder the locals appear unfriendly. There is an entire country with friendly locals, but you will never see it if your idea of Thailand is Bkk and Phuket ( LOL ).

 

Most Farang prefer to associate with Farang, no matter which countries they visit.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

Just now, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Most Farang prefer to associate with Farang, no matter which countries they visit.

 

Not me. I was quite happy to have nothing to do with other farangs. If I wanted to associate with them I'd never have left NZ.

One thing I liked about the village was that there were zero farangs apart from myself. In Lamphun where I lived after the village I only saw 3 farangs and then only rarely.

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I never heard of Cameron Highlands when I was living there in the 1950s, but there was a place called Fraser's Hill which is apparently a smaller version, where I was taken on holiday. Most boring week of my life.

 

Depends on what you want, Pattaya and Patong it is not.

[Ben Zioner]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

So, the price of wine is by which all prices are judged? Seriously?

 

The room I stayed at in Penang was way more expensive than an equivalent in Thailand. Food was more expensive, even satay which is a common Malayan food. I used to eat it in Johor Baru when I was staying there for a weekend and very nice it was too.

Satay is way cheaper in Thailand. It was so expensive in Penang that I didn't bother.

Will be pertinent, once SEA economists invent the "Satay Index".

Edited November 12 by Ben Zioner

[Ben Zioner]

8 hours ago, Flyguy330 said:

This post gave me such a laugh that I've finally decided to 'out' myself because of it.

I have a Thai LTR Visa which I obtained just over a year ago. I applied for it because....I've been living in MALAYSIA for 10 years (not 'Malaya' as you ignorantly name it) but they've been faffing around with the MM2H Visa terms, and also applied a Remittance Tax. The LTR Visa is an insurance policy, justy in case I am ever FORCED to move. I hope not.

 

I've been visiting Thailand since even before I moved to Malaysia, so I know it pretty well. There was a time when I'd have said Thailand was even preferable to Malaysia....but not any longer.

 

I was in Thailand for two fortnight long holidays last year.

 

The first I stayed in Bangkok. I found it dirty, noisy, chaotic, overrun by pot shops, and the whores have become tough as nails and nasty. It was nice swanning in with my new LTR Visa, which at least worked properly. That was the only positive.

 

The second visit was to Phuket, where I went on a sailing holiday, in the very rural south.

No PFP down there, but still the ever present pot shops all over. I ended up in Patong for the last two nights of the trip, such a kip. Plenty of whores, plenty of noise and traffic, plenty of air pollution from all the vehicles, noise and more chaos, slummy buildings, honky tonk spit on the floor pubs, and crowds of Russians everywhere. EVERYWHERE!

 

The thing that got to me most about both BKK and Phuket were those overhead wires. You just don't see that in Malaysia - those crazy 'birdsnests' on every pole, a jungle of cables tangled like spaghetti. It all gave the place an air of disorder and real third world infrastructure. They put them underground in Malaysia!

 

The communication issue was just another thing wherever you went. No english spoken (unlike Malaysia where EVERYBODY speaks it). Rubbish strewn all around. No building regs - slummy houses and abandoned buildings all along the rural roadsides.

Depressing.

 

I couldn't wait to get home to KL.

 

I don't know when you last visited Penang, but you missed out bigtime. Beach Street and Love Lane are hopping at night. Penang has fantastic history from the Colonial period. Thankfully they didn't demolish all their colonial history, and at least half of those old buildings are either still being used, or have been upgraded and restored as boutique hotels and artisan shops. They'll get around to doing the rest too, because Malaysia is now booming again thanks to a better class of Prime Minister.

 

The multi culturalism of Malaysia makes it THE most diverse place in Asia for food choice. Stick to your monocultural Thai food. We get to eat Malay, Indonesian, Viet, Japanese, Chinese, Western, and yes....Thai too, and all in far more variety and choice than boring Thai Thai Thai every bloody day.

 

By the way, Penang is majority Chinese Malaysians, and Georgetown can feel more like Hong Kong than some muslim town. You'll be hard pressed to find many mosques to bother you - but do your due diligence next time when choosing your hotel. Look at a fricken street map fer chrissakes! And bring ear plugs if you still can't be bothered .

 

KL puts many Western cities to shame. Excellent roads, good planning, no 'free for all' slum building.Streets are clean - people have civic respect for the most part. It's safe to walk around, no druggies and whores accosting you, no Russian hordes, fantastic malls, and - did I mention - EVERYBODY speaks english.

 

Finally, I'll review that list:

 

1/  You will be woken up every day at 4 am by the calls to prayer.

 

Bull<deleted>.

 

2/ As I understand it, the cost of living is higher.

 

You understand WRONG. For one example, the price of a bottle of wine in Thailand was near twice that of Malaysia.

 

3/ The climate is hotter

 

Rubbish

 

4/ Women not as available ( Muslim country )

 

Whores aren't on every street corner. 25% of the population is NON muslim, so try harder.

 

5/ You need assets of USD 80,000 and a monthly income of USD 2275 for a retirement visa.

 

Tough titty!

 

6/ The air is less polluted.

 

You better believe it. The smog from Indo a few years ago hasn't returned because the Malaysians demanded action and got it.

 

7/ Food is a 50:50 proposition. I prefer Thai, others may prefer Malaysian.

 

Yeah, stick to Tom Yam soup every day if you like that.

 

8/ More people speak English.

 

And they don't look at 'Farangs' like you're the enemy. I have always found the Malaysians to be very welcoming and friendly to Mr.Whitey.

 

So the upshot is - I'm staying in Malaysia until they kick me out, or I go out naturally.

I'll slum it in Thailand occasionally - but there are other nicer places around Asia to visit as long as you aren't a whoremaster and a pothead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even my Thai Wife agrees.