Originally from the Netherlands, Albert has been a long-term resident of Yan-Kedah, Malaysia. There are many things he likes about living in the countryside, where he has his own home and where all his Malay neighbors are friendly.	Albert Bohlmeijer

September 18 2006 

-Where were you born?
Amsterdam, Netherlands

-In which country and city are you living now?
Malaysia, Yan-Kedah

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I live alone.

-How long have you been living in Malaysia?
15 years

-What is your age?
61

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Malaysia? What factors influenced your decision?
There's no problem in buying property (Indonesia, Thailand as foreigner cannot, + cost of living).

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Yes, but nowadays it is a lot easier.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
No, but insurance conditions here are mostly bad, and after claiming they seek the easy way to spit you out.

-How do you make your living in Malaysia? Do you have any type of income generated?
I live on my pension + some qc work for friends.

-Do you speak Malay and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
Yes, I speak Malay and Indonesian; and yes it is a must for communication with common people.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Not at all.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
No specific plans, I take it as it goes.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
Building my own house was possible for RM 200K easily.

-What is the cost of living in Malaysia?
It depends on where you stay; KL (Kuala Lumpur) is expensive. I stay in the countryside, it's very cheap. For living, RM 800-1000 is more than enough (ex car).

-What do you think about the Malaysians?
No problems with my neighbours, all Malays. They treat foreigners very openly and are very nice.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Malaysia?
Negatives: Difficulty of getting things done quickly, corruption and slow government

Positives: Nice weather, cheap traveling, cheap outside food

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Malaysia?
*Make sure you speak the language if you want to live in a small town.
*Be prepared for the fact that all paperwork takes a long time.
*Court cases solved in Europe in a week, here take 5 years...be prepared!

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Malaysia?
My own blog: Malaysia Plain Blog
Personal site: Albert's Pages, with travel tips and info about Malaysia
Screenshots: about the politics of Malaysia
Malaysiakini: independent news