Fallen in love and coming back to stay.... hubby dogs and all

[jillspad]

Hi to all.  Graham (my husband) and I have been looking around the world for the ideal place to take an early retirement (he being 52 yrs old and me 48).  We visited Penang last month and fell in love with Malaysia.  During our visit we spent a couple of days on Langkawi; we decided that rather than the slightly overcrowded metropolis of Penang, we would rather retire to Langkawi where space wasn't an issue.  It appeared as though there was little in the way of an expat community which disappointed me so was delighted to find this forum.  We plan to return to Langkawi for a couple of weeks in September to find a house to rent and are looking into the pro's and con's of MM2H versus the Visa run.  Our own house is up for sale and we would like to make our permenant move in November this year.  We have two scruffy mungrel dogs who can not be left (part of the family) so any advice anyone can give on any of the issues above would be welcome.  Hubby likes to sail dinghy's and I like to play tennis, any possibilities of these activities on the island?  We had difficulties getting our heads around land and property prices and provision and 'malay reserve and the possibility of swapping land titles - our intention long term is to buy a large plot of land and have a bungalow built - my other hobby being gardening!  Any information on our long term plan would also be welcome.  Are there any problems renting a property if you have pets?  Sorry to throw so many questions into the melting pot but having returned and spent some time thinking about going back, I admit that I need some good advice from those that have trodden this path before me!

[jillspad]

Hi to anyone reading (- I realise you have probably heard all of this before and you probably get fed up with being asked but) is no one out there able to help?  I have made a contact through a personal email to someone we became familiar with on our last visit but I thought that someone in the last month might have read this and been able to give me some or any information to be going on with.  Being the UK at the moment, nothing is happening with our house sale but we are still considering renting out our house in UK and moving to Langkawi into a rented bungalow (two dogs are too big for a condo).  Can anyone point me in the right direction for bungalow rental?  Many thanks

[Bobtalbot]

For your pet travel contact Airpets Oceanic at Willowslea Farm Kennels nr Heathrow. Tel  01753 685571 0r fax 681655.Speak to Eddie Martin.You will have to ensure your dogs jabs etc are up to date and travel with all relevant documentation.You will need a import licence for your animals. The export licence and other issues are dealt with by Airpets.They will be checked by vets at KL but if ok they will be given the all clear to travel on to Langkawi - so allow minimum of 2-3 hrs between the connecting flights.There will be no need for any confinement providing your medical paperwork for dogs is up to date.Ensure they arrive before 8 pm as customs etc close up early at LGK airport and its a mad panic to retrieve your animals.I will try n find out more about the import licence and pass details thru to you.
Solicitor is down to choice.One recommended to me - Ramli Amar Jit & Tan email langkawi_lawoffice@yahoo.my
tel 0060 4 9666448 n fax 9660481.
Plenty of wild dogs here on Langkawi.Airfare  for pets not cheap - more than yours !.
Will ask around about a bungalow/house but you didn,t say  whether furnished or unfurnished.Alternatively look at the classifieds on Langkawi-gazette.com but its difficult you not being here to see for yourself.Can,t you leave the dogs with someone for a couple of months - its easy to rent a condo until you find your alternative accomm and then that gives you a chance to arrange the import licence etc.
You may have to rent for a couple of years until you find something/ build something.
regards

[Bobtalbot]

iMPORT LICENCE:
Type in MOBIVET SDN BHD  as a keyword and you can get on their site ( and be pointed to others such as expat malaysia / pets etc)
for a small fee they will ensure your animals welfare while at KLIA.
Export licence you get from your vets - must be less than one calendar month b4 travel I believe.
Ensure that your vet understands they are emigrating - as mine was trying to tell me it took months to get a licence!He thought we were taking them on holiday ( taking a dog/cat for a holiday to Malaysia seemed a bit extreme to me - funny how people think ! )
We sold our house in UK ( which tends to finalise things ) and have no regrets.
Don,t expect to find Tesco,s around the corner tho - there " ain,t" one !

[jillspad]

Thank you Bob - that was very informative.  To be honest, I will not miss the supermarket madness we have here, rather go to the wet market and potter around local suppliers anyway.

We will probably go for furnished and leave our belongings here (failing a sale in between times!).  We are over in September for another couple of weeks to see what is on offer and get acquainted with the local solicitor.

Unfortunately, we have no one to leave our dogs with - one son doing a PHD and the other training to be a commercial pilot thus we come with dogs and all.  I was aware it would cost more to take each of them than us but I couldn't part with them, their as much family as my sons, the difference being I am leaving my sons behind.

We don't intend to purchase land or property in a hurry, particularly if we haven't sold at home.  We would rather settle in to the local community and find out what would suit us in the long run.

I don't think I will miss the UK - I have a nice house and an even lovelier garden but spend so little time in it owing to the climate.  Looking forward to a change... I know Langkawi isn't perfect, nowhere is; but difficulties there will be new to us and we really do need a better climate where we can take the time to make friends instead of work, eat, clean house, walk dogs, fill up with fuel, fill up with shopping and moan at the cost of everything.

  Thanks again - Jill

[jillspad]

Well, here we are back in Langkawi staying at the Langkasuka Resort - went to the Pier bar/cafe last night for a quick drink - seems like a friendly place.  Still want to find out about living on the island, trouble is - everyone seems to have an angle = particularly taxi drivers who all know someone but seem more interested in a commission than helping us find happiness here.  Rainy season doesn't seem to bad, still very warm - just need to take a brolly everywhere just in case.  Even Ramadan isn't celebrated in the same way as we found in Dubai on the way over - there doesn't seem to be a problem with foreigners or the local Chinese drinking liquids or eating in public.  I have found the Ramadan bazaar's a wonderful experience and the stall holders happy to explain what they are cooking or have made even if you don't want to buy.  I fear we may end up travelling home without finding our furnished bungalow to rent or finding out the costs involved and can not afford to keep coming back to find out.  Perhaps paradise is out of our reach after all.  Still love the place and people.  We are here for another week - I wish all Langkawi'an expats well and hope the rainy season doesn't dampen your spirits - just to put it into perspective, when I left Oxford in the UK it was still just summer where one day in every seven we might see the sun for an hour or two, it wasraining heavily and 15 degrees!!  I know where I would rather be!

[jillspad]

Sorry - forgot to say that if anyone can help us - please either call us at the hotel room 1127 or leave a message and we will get back to you.  Our mobile phone is UK registered so would cost a great deal to phone from here so better we contact you - hopefully - Jill & Graham Brown

[kim]

Hi Jill, sorry to hear that your recent trip has not provided the info that you wanted.  Like you, we are also wanting to move to Langkawi next year and will visit in December on a fact finding mission. We also have 2 dogs, one a big bouvier and the other a maltese.  It was therefore disappointing to hear that you had trouble in securing a house.  Unlike you we have to find a reasonable sized place to house the Bouvier and if we cannot find that, will have to rethink the move, which will be devastating.  I trust that the last week of your visit would have brought some sort of result.  We would like to keep in contact with you to see if you have any further news and wondered if it was possible to give you a ring in the UK upon your return.  Did you by any chance go thru an estate agent or were you scouting around yourself? Our intention is to make contact with a reputable estate agent and lawyer in December, so that we can set the ball rolling.  Please let me know if we can contact you in the UK.  My email address is kimreay@iburst.co.za - regards Kim and Dee

[jillspad]

For those that are reading you should know the outcome of my visit.  2 Expats came to my aid and I was advised that the best way to find property to buy or rent on the island was to mention it in passing at every opportunity at every location - shop, restaurant etc.  Estate agents don't exist but word gets around the community quite well.  Use a solicitor.  We viewed 2 properties for rent, both suitable and are awaiting the result of an interview for a job in Australia to make our move to either there or Language - should know in a few days.  Everyone we spoke to regarding our possible move was helpful, it was just making that first contact.  We met Bob Talbot, a great bloke and his lovely wife who were extremely helpful and Alison from Bon Ton (beautiful and unique boutique hotel) who also found us a very suitable property that is owned by a friend.  We found locals and expats alike very friendly and helpful and feel it will be the right place to retire to.  We went in the rainy season and still loved it, rain and all!  came back to the UK where it was also raining but the temperature plummeted to 14 degrees (yuk), can not wait to return.  Will post the outcome of the interview and thanks to all for your help and advise - sorry if my last input sounded a bit desperate.

[Bobtalbot]

Look forward to hearing from you in the near future.I was at Bonton today and spoke to Alison reference your kind remarks about us both, on this forum.
regards bob t