Expat Community > Malaysia

MusicCreativeEducation
Joined 2021
Posts: 6

Quiet

11 months ago

The Philippines is definitely noisy with Karaoke going on in neighborhoods. I think Panama can also be noisy with dogs barking.
I live in a quiet gated neighborhood, except for the early morning, and evening prayers which are broadcast through very loud speakers. So, get used to waking up at 5am, if you are within 3 blocks of a Mosque.
People are very friendly in MY. I have never had anyone look at me with hatred, anger, or malice just because I am a foreigner. Everyone treats me with respect, as I do them!
It costs me about 1/4 the cost of living in Hawaii (which of course is a very expensive place to live, and which I can't afford being retired.)
I don't pay rent or mortgage, but my house expenses, house cleaner, gardener, water, sewage, gas for the stove, including my car payment of $400rm, run about 1000 rm or 250 us a month. My groceries are about 200 rm/$50 us per month, and we eat out a fair amount at moderately priced restaurants. That could cost us 1000rm/250 a month if we ate out everyday.
I am satisfied at what is available, especially fresh fruit and vegetables. I don't eat much meat and chicken and fish are readily available. We shop in both the smaller local grocery stores as well as the mall grocery store.
We live in Seremban, so we are close to everything, and about 1 hour drive to KL, which we go and visit relatives every week or so. P.S. i don't care for KL as it is too busy and too dangerous for me to be driving there, which is how I get there. You MUST know your way around, because if you take 1 wrong turn it is likely to take you 1 hour to get back to your intended exit, and that can be VERY frustrating...especially for an older guy like me. I'm 73 but I act young. LOL
I had hoped to open a small business in MY, but that is no longer a consideration as we needed to stay in Hawaii for the last 7 years for health reasons. My wife had a kidney transplant, and is doing super well. It was a miracle sent by God! We hope to return in the next few months God willing.
Some people do speak English, however no one understands me. My wife has to repeat it again "in English" so that they understand. LOL Thank goodness, she speaks 3 languages: Malay, Tamil, and English very clearly so she is a great help. Probably, I couldn't live in MY without her help.
I do like the Philippines (English is well spoken there) and Panama (Boquete up in the mountains and very popular with expats as it is cooler there, and lots of restaurants), and have also investigated Portugal...which is clean and livable and not super expensive.
I would love to live on an island with a view of the ocean and beaches but up above on a hill top so I don't have to worry about a tsunami.
It would be nice to own a small piece of land, but that's not always possible (or reasonable) in many countries.
All of the malls are clean and organized.
I spend my free time playing my sax, designing space saving Tiny homes, programming, learning, and I enjoy having a coffee and a chat with friends and neighbors. I hope in the future to have a chance to teach some of the life lessons I have learned...the hard way. LOL
"We are the flowers of One Garden, the Leaves of One Tree"
Aloha from Hawaii,
You are welcome to post an email if you have any questions to [email protected]
All the best,
Randy

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