WTNY 8-26-2007 07:48
British expat Peter’s experience in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
[img]http://expatinterviews.com/files/imagecache/thumb/files/1_pete-tram-bike.jpg[/img]
Being an expat who’s British and single and living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a rewarding experience, according to Peter. Prepare to be amused at this Brit writer’s tongue-in-cheek account of some aspects of his expat life there.
Peter Darling
February 17 2007
-Where were you born?
England
-In which country and city are you living now?
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
-Are you living alone or with your family?
Alone, reaping the rewards of being a singleton expat
-How long have you been living in Malaysia?
4 years
-What is your age?
30 years
-When did you come up with the idea of living in Malaysia?
I had a pal email me saying how great it was, so I jumped on the next plane.
-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Don’t need one. Well you should, but I’ve never bothered. When you enter the country you get a 3-month visa as soon as they stamp your passport, after that you are meant to get one. But if you leave the country every 3 months and re-enter you don’t need to.
-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
Never bothered, that stuff’s for wimps.
-How do you make your living in Malaysia? Do you have any type of income generated?
I’m a writer; it wasn’t hard for me to find work. Somebody with my natural charm and ability, I had offers left, right and centre.
-Do you speak Malaysian and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
Never bothered with that local stuff. Thankfully I was born British and as a Brit I don’t have to do anything like that. You see the sun will never set on the British Empire and as long as it doesn’t I can keep on speaking very loudly at foreign people until they understand what I’m on about.
-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
No, to put it plainly. Thankfully they haven’t caught up with me yet and if they do I’m out of here!
-Do you have other plans for the future?
Well there’s always the next Happy Hour.
-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home?
I’ve got a 2-bed apartment with ensuite, my block’s got a gym (that I’ve never used), a pool, laundry, and a roof garden.
-What is the cost of living in Malaysia?
Cheap, but it’s a bit pricey for the beers.
-What do you think about the Malaysians?
Nice enough, and the ladies are very nice.
-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Malaysia?
Negatives: taxi drivers trying to rip you off, pollution, lack of culture (theatres, ballets, opera, etc.)
Positives: beautiful women, excellent weather, great place to be based if you want to travel the rest of Asia, lack of culture (theatres, ballets, opera, etc.)
-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Malaysia?
Always wear your wellies (that’s a youthinism).
-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Malaysia?
Peter Darling
Peter Darling’s MySpace
My MySpace is more up to date than my website as I’ve forgotten how to update it.