Author Topic: Meeting Places for expats (Read 1160 times)

HIDDEN · « **on:** September 15, 2007, 08:38:10 PM »

Where do expats meet up in Penang? or anywhere else for that matter.

All contributions gratefully received.

Bob

HIDDEN · « **Reply #1 on:** September 17, 2007, 12:29:11 AM »

Don't know about Penang, but guess it is similar in some way to KL.

There are many different levels of expat!

* The young studs out her on a contract for a year or two. I am sure the 'Clubbing Scene' is their meeting point.
* The older working ex-pats tend to meet in certain favoured pubs/eateries.
* The expat with kids often meets through school related events (rugby/football/swimming etc)
* The MM2H expats seem to only meet at event organised by agents such as the expat seminars and montlhy dinners organised by one of the more established expat magazine editors.

I could be wrong...but I am sure others will add to this thread and give a trued picture!

The Green Cafe sounds like an obvious place for Penangites!

HIDDEN · « **Reply #2 on:** September 17, 2007, 01:32:31 AM »

Thanks Fizzy,

Looks like I will be going "Green" in the near future.

Bob

HIDDEN · « **Reply #3 on:** October 12, 2009, 12:25:53 PM »

So, 2 years on, was the Green Cafe any good QJ?

Seems like a good place to meet other expats is on this forum

I do like a good expat pub though - one where you can just get chatting to other expats (or locals for that matter), not too noisy so you don't have to shout at each other.

In Penang we homed in (we have good inbuilt pub radar systems) on the Sunset Bistro in Batu Ferringhi. Clearly a lot of people knew each other in there and seemed like a good spot for a natter.

Ingolf's Kneipe (German pubby type eatery) looked interesting and will have to give that a try on the next trip.

HIDDEN · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2009, 12:41:29 PM »

Hi Papaya,

Still not visited Green Cafe, seems always to be closed when I go along. I agree about Sunset , in fact I think we will be there tonight.

I think the ladies meet up at the IWA and the gents just find their own places. Perhaps when you get here you can encourage people to meet up, I am sure we will some suitable venues.

There are quite a few nautical types like yourselves so may be something with a seagoing air to it. If there is a "Salty Dog" pub with cheap grog that would be suitable. We could all sign up for "Talk like a Pirate day" http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

Bob

HIDDEN · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2009, 04:10:10 PM »

I've never been much interested in these women only groups but maybe I'll pop into the IWA at some later date and see how it looks/functions. A lot of these women groups seem just too expat cliquey if you know what I mean.

HIDDEN · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2009, 05:32:46 PM »

Quote from: HIDDEN on October 12, 2009, 12:41:29 PM

I agree about Sunset , in fact I think we will be there tonight.

We have the same plan

HIDDEN · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2009, 07:48:57 PM »

QEII (Queen Elizabeth II) Pub at Church Street Pier, Weld Quay looks great too. It's a good spot to see the harbour and marina.

HIDDEN · « **Reply #8 on:** October 13, 2009, 11:18:17 AM »

Quote from: HIDDEN on October 12, 2009, 07:48:57 PM

QEII (Queen Elizabeth II) Pub at Church Street Pier, Weld Quay looks great too. It's a good spot to see the harbour and marina.

Yes we spotted that one too. Looks like a really nice spot.

HIDDEN · « **Reply #9 on:** October 16, 2009, 11:17:07 PM »

Is it necessary to meet up with other expats to enjoy living in Penang?

I have a couple of expat friends here but socialise mainly with Malaysian friends.

Bill

HIDDEN · « **Reply #10 on:** October 17, 2009, 07:40:54 AM »

Quote from: HIDDEN on October 16, 2009, 11:17:07 PM

Is it necessary to meet up with other expats to enjoy living in Penang?

I have a couple of expat friends here but socialise mainly with Malaysian friends.

Bill

You seem to have answered your own question already.

HIDDEN · « **Reply #11 on:** October 17, 2009, 10:16:13 AM »

I think this is a serious question that deserves a serious answer.

In my opinion some expats living in Malaysia just don't know how to socialize with the local population. Or maybe they are afraid.
And even those who came to Malaysia not only for the climate (or tax regime) but also for the local people, can't always get rit of their cultural background and need sometimes another person having similar backgrounds to talk to. Nothing wrong with that.
But I noticed there are some who live in Malaysia as in the old colonial days, they don't mix up with the locals, are sometimes just plain rude. But I don't think you can find them on this forum.
Danny

HIDDEN · « **Reply #12 on:** October 17, 2009, 11:12:04 AM »

I didn't take it as a serious question but I took it as an opinion. Maybe I am wrong and I appologize.
I have both expat and local friends and their backgrounds don't determine wether or not I enjoy living in Penang.
Their personality does.
I also don't want to get rid of my cultural background that makes me who I am. It did when I was living as a southerner in Amsterdam and now as a westerner here in Penang. However I agree with you that your own cultural background should not stand in the way to open your mind and see where you are: Malaysia. All those new experiences here can only add to my background and come part of it. Fortunatly colonials days have passed a long time ago and I think I should behave myself like a guest in this country. So far I feel most welcome.
Paul

HIDDEN · « **Reply #13 on:** October 17, 2009, 11:32:37 AM »

Quote from: HIDDEN on October 16, 2009, 11:17:07 PM

Is it necessary to meet up with other expats to enjoy living in Penang?

I think the answer is no and that is probably down to the fact that the Penang peoples are easy to interact with - at least that's what I found on my one and only trip so far (so no expert on the subject obviously). Some other places in the world, it's not so easy.

I can really relate to what Stuurman says. I think it's nice (and balanced) to keep your indentity (your Britishness, your Dutchness, whoever). It's what you are. But equally important to understand/integrate with locals too.

Personally I like interacting with other expats - isn't that what we are doing on this forum? But it doesn't mean that I won't be interacting with locals as well.

HIDDEN · « **Reply #14 on:** October 17, 2009, 03:49:08 PM »

I sometimes got the impression from comments on this forum that many expats rarely mixed with locals. I'm glad I'm wrong.

I can never forget I'm Scottish. I still keep up to date with British news and follow many British tv programmes. I'm also happy to visit family and friends in Scotland twice a year and to have them visit me. However I think it is important for those of us living here under MM2H to get to know and become friends with the locals. They have taught me more about the various Asian cultures and have introduced me to some wonderful restaurants. Some have cooked for me and they enjoy visiting me for western food.

I'm happy to mix with other expats here sometimes but I guess I'm lucky to have found some very good local friends.

Bill

Subject / Started by	Replies	Last post
FBAR for American Expats. Started by steveso Local and Foreign Banks	2 Replies 708 Views	July 25, 2009, 10:18:10 AM by steveso
UK Pension rules for British expats Started by PK « 1 2 3 4 » Tax & Pensions	46 Replies 2627 Views	December 08, 2010, 09:45:05 AM by papaya
MM2H in IPOH meeting up? Started by Shirley Liu Chit Chat	13 Replies 662 Views	May 05, 2010, 03:26:10 PM by James200
Places to eat in Penang Started by Cupert « 1 2 » Living in Penang	16 Replies 1511 Views	August 13, 2010, 06:06:51 PM by Bruce
Chinese Visa for Expats living in Malaysia Started by Tink Chit Chat	5 Replies 518 Views	August 10, 2011, 09:24:15 PM by Tink

News:

Meeting Places for expats