Penang

Penang is regarded as one of the best places in the world in which to retire, thanks to its tropical climate, low cost of living, high standard of health care and welcoming immigration laws.

British took possession of Penang in 1786, and soon became an important stop for traders sailing through the Strait of Malacca. George Town, the capital city of Penang, remains a collision of colonial and commercial architecture – buildings from this era include Fort Cornwallis and the St George’s Anglican Church, which was completed in 1818 and is the oldest in Southeast Asia. The diversity of Penang’s cultural heritage is evident at every turn. Here and there, George Town's public spaces are etched with beautiful murals, Chinese shophouses stand in the shadows of skyscrapers and mosques rub shoulders with Taoist temples, and Little India is a symbol of the Indian community. The Clan Jetties, a tangle of traditional seafront stilt homes, wooden piers and boardwalks have been home to Chinese migrants for generations and were saved from demolition after a successful bid for World UNESCO Heritage status in 2008.