Penang, an island off the west coast of peninsular Malaysia, has a large ex-pat community. They seem to be divided into three groups: those who are employed here, those who are retired and are at least comfortable financially, and those who are retired or just hanging out and don't have much money. I fall into the latter group.

Those who are working live in the suburbs or nice residential areas of the city. The comfortably retired congregate out at Batu Ferringhi (Foreign Beach) in high-rise condos. The rest of us are in the Chinatown area of Georgetown, staying in guesthouses or renting rooms, enjoying the atmosphere, and eating well in small restaurants for very little money.

Malaysia has a retirement program like those of other countries that want to be retirement havens.