Life in Kuala Lumpur

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    103

    Life in Kuala Lumpur

    Just curious to hear from anyone that has lived in KL, what life is like there as an expat. Thanks!


  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Back in Toronto now - after 10 1/2 years in HK
    Posts
    945

    Can't say about work (too specific to your situation), but in terms of quality of living in general a great place to be posted to, even more so on expat terms. You may not find the same efficiency as HK and you need more patience, but their systems work, local people in general are friendlier and easy-going, more comfortable with English (even if often Minglish) and much easier to socialize with than is the case in HK. Good housing, good international schools, easy golfing, vibrant nightlife (different from HK's, but IMHO more interesting), well-stocked stores and supermarkets, decent hospital, dentists, etc. The best thing about the place is the local food - wide variety, tasty, and inexpensive. Satay and stingray on Jln Alor, and chilli-fried crab in PJ and Subang, Yong Tau Foo, Bak kut Teh, etc etc. to die for. Easy to drive out for day or short excursions.

    Some of the downsides:
    Traffic/transportation - not great, with traffic congestion in downtown core and on highways at rush (but cabs, if you can find them, are inexpensive);
    Imported cars have duties and are somewhat expensive;
    Domestic help - much cheaper than HK but not that stable or reliable;
    Higher education - no strong university/graduate school tradition;
    Newspapers - strong hand of government, so true local news hard to come by (but foreign publications - AWSJ, IHT, etc etc easily available);.
    Sometimes haze blowing over from forest burning activities in Indonesia;
    Increased incidence of petty crime compared with a decade ago.
    Weather - no seasons, just hot or rainy all year round.

    Most expats there that I know would not trade it for moves to HK, Singapore, or any other place (except maybe Bangkok which is similar yet so different).