Best Place for Penang Gifts and Souvenirs

You can’t go to Hawaii without getting a coconut bra, or visit Thailand without picking up a pair of hippie pants. While there aren’t any quintessentially “Penang” gifts, there’s a cool little store in Georgetown that carries an array of uniquely Malaysian items, many of which are hand-crafted by local artists, and all are surprisingly…

Hairanoia – An Expat Fights Frizz in Malaysia

Thank you, humidity, I always wanted to look like The Lion King. Hair it is: the ugly truth. The humidity level in Malaysia is so high that you have to peel leg skin off chairs. Your sheets often feel like Saran Wrap. And unless you have incredibly thick hair, the humidity will transform your once-luxurious…

Learn to Teach English in Malaysia at myTESOL

Every time I travel to a far-off land, I always meet a smiling, happy expat who lives there and teaches English as a foreign language. And they always rave about how much they love the chance to live someplace exotic while doing something fun and fulfilling that makes decent money. Truth be told, I usually…

Pros and Cons of Expat Living and Retiring in Malaysia

Malaysia is almost always in the top 10 lists of best international places for expat living and retirement, and for good reason. But just not for the reasons they list. Those “10 Best” write-ups are hilarious fantasy fictions written by people who are either completely high, closely related to Pinocchio, or have never set foot…

Pandamonium in Chengdu, China

Pandas, spicy Sichuan food, a big-ass Buddha, and a couple of charming ancient neighborhoods – that’s all you need to know about Chengdu. Did you stop reading after the word “panda?” That’s the only thing I needed to hear to convince me to book a trip to Chengdu. Because c’mon, we’re talking about giant living…

Getting a Wellness Check in Penang, Malaysia

Wow, getting a check-up in Penang, Malaysia is a pretty eye-opening experience! The medical lightsaber wielded by one particular doctor certainly made my eyes pop out, but more on that later… Not only are health evaluations here a fraction of the cost than in California (where I’m from), but it’s also the most comprehensive one…