Sharon Lim, Author at Penang For Expats

03Nov 2016 by Sharon Lim No Comments

Top 10 things to do in Sekinchan

Holiday

[gard group='1'] Writing about all things Penang has and always will be the heartbeat of our blog posts here. Having said that; quite recently, we visited a unique place in Malaysia and we just wanted to share it with you because I'm most certain you'd love this place too. Hidden in the state of Selangor is a small town called Sekinchan. We have never even heard about it until recently when we saw a video that was filmed there. You won't usually pass by this town when travelling on the North-South Highway. Sekinchan is both a fishing village and also a major rice-producing area in Malaysia so you would definitely see lots of paddy fields there. I was initially not too enthusiastic about visiting this place. Why? Growing up in Kedah, paddy fields have naturally become a…

13Oct 2016 by Sharon Lim 2 Comments

International Schools in Penang

Education

Penang has seen much progress in terms of the choices of good education available here. In the past several years alone, there have been a growth of popularity for private education amongst the locals here which has brought about the establishments of more international schools, home-schooling centres and private Malaysian schools all over the island as well as in the mainland. Here are a list of international schools in Penang that are found here: Dalat International School Address: Jalan Tanjung Bungah, 11200 Penang Phone: +60 4-899 2105 Dalat International School is a K-12 American Christian International day and boarding school in Penang, accredited by WASC andACSI. Founded in 1929 in its original location in Vietnam, Dalat International School is now situated in a prime beach front property in Tanjung Bungah, Penang. Dalat is an…

09Nov 2015 by Sharon Lim No Comments

Best Hotels for Kids in Penang

Holiday

Holidays can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. As an individual, it is a time to put aside my hectic routines of everyday life for a much needed time of R&R. But like any parent of young children, my first concern is finding the right place to stay for my family. I realize that the right accommodation can put your child at ease in a strange place. It always helps to know what to expect and plan ahead so that your holidays can be a little bit less stressful. Check out below on which is the best hotels for kids in Penang. 1. Hard Rock Hotel Penang Situated at Batu Ferringhi, HRH is the ultimate place of fun for kids. The hotel provides special room options that are actually catered for your kids such as the Roxity…

03Apr 2015 by Sharon Lim No Comments

2015 Events in Penang

Event

[gard group='1'] This page contains a list of events in Penang for the year 2015. Please bookmark this page as events will be updated from time to time. All Month: Occupy Beach Street @ Lebuh Pantai | Every Sunday 8am-12pm. Live performances, street markets, exhibitions, street games and more. All Month: Weekend Market by the Sea @ Straits Quay | Shopping that includes Apparel & fashion accessories, homeware, antiques, books and more. All Month: Friday's Car Boot Sale @ Straits Quay | First Friday of every Month All Month: Organic Farmers' Market @ Straits Quay | Third Sunday of Every Month June Events Jun 28: Music From the Movies @ PenangPac | Performing memorable themes from "Star Wars", "Superman", "The Dam Busters","The Battle of Britain" Jun 27: Tale of the Dragon Princess @ PenangPac…

05May 2014 by Sharon Lim No Comments

Basic Facts About Living In Penang

General

If it is your first time staying in Penang, it may help to have some information about the basic day-to-day facts of living here. I've put together a list of things so that you can have them available all in one place at the click of your mouse. The list may not be comprehensive for now but we will continue adding on to it whenever anything new comes up. We welcome any questions, suggestions or feedback whatsoever. Currency Declaration: Arrival into Malaysia- Maximum MYR 1000 ringgit notes and any amount of foreign currency Departure from Malaysia - Maximum MYR 1000 ringgit notes and foreign currency up to the amount brought into the country Other modes of payment accepted: Credit cards - Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club Travelers cheque - Accepted by all…

23Apr 2014 by Sharon Lim No Comments

Twenty Things to do with Kids in Penang

Entertainment

One thing my two children look forward to the most is getting out during the weekends to explore and do fun activities as a family. That is what inspired me to write this article about "Things to do with kids in Penang". Penang actually has quite a good share of both outdoor and indoor activities you can do with your kids. So what are you waiting for? Read on, make a checklist and start exploring! [gard group='3'] Outdoor Fun 1. Penang Municipal Park (also formerly known as Penang Youth Park) Location: Persiaran Kuari, 10450 George Town. Google Map Opening hours: Daily, 7am-7pm This is a great place not only for kids but adults too. There are jogging tracks, children's playground, play pool, chess corner, skating rink, archery range, mountain bike tracks and lots…

07Apr 2014 by Sharon Lim 1 Comment

Pediatricians in Penang

Healthcare

Island Hospital @ Macalister Road, Penang [gard group='3'] Having given birth to both my children in this hospital, naturally their pediatrician at birth would also be from this hospital. We've also had the opportunity to consult with all the other pediatricians in this hospital when our family pediatrician was away on leave. Island Hospital's consultation fee is currently RM50. The pediatric clinics do not take appointments, consultations are only on walk-in basis. Upon registration, they will issue a waiting number to you and you will be able to view the number from a screen above your pediatrician's door. Each pediatrician has his own attending nurse who will take your child's measurements (height and weight) before your turn comes for consultation. The pediatric clinic only has 1 breastfeeding room cum nappy…

03Jan 2014 by Sharon Lim 13 Comments

Pre-school Education in Penang

Education

[GARD align="right"] If you are moving here with young children, you'd be glad to know that Penang has quite a good variety of pre-schools throughout the island. Generally, pre-school in Malaysia is structured for children from 4-6 years of age but most establishments accept children even from the age of 2 or 3. Some pre-schools also function as daycare centers where children will stay back in the afternoon after their classes have ended and have their meals, take afternoon naps, and complete their homework under the guidance of the teacher. Here are some recommendations in random order: 1. The Learning Garden Reputed for pioneering its successful tri-lingual immersion programme in 1999, The Learning Garden is a child development centre set up by speech and language specialist, Chia Kien Eng and her engineer husband, Chow Chee Keong,…

05Nov 2013 by Sharon Lim 2 Comments

10 Reasons Why You Should Move To Penang

General

Relocating to another country is exciting and fun but it is a big decision and shouldn't be taken lightly especially if you have a family moving together with you. It requires a lot of background research and planning before you can decide which location is the ideal one for you and your family. If you're up for some adventure in a new place but can't seem to decide where to relocate, then perhaps consider moving to the beautiful, tropical island of Penang. Here are 10 reasons why you should choose Penang as your new home. 1. Lovely beaches Image credit: epSos.de Batu Ferringhi and Tanjung Bungah are situated at the northern coast of Penang island and is famous for its stretch of beautiful beaches. Many foreigners love to set up…

04Nov 2013 by Sharon Lim 4 Comments

Buying Groceries in Penang

Shopping

Grocery shopping in Penang is fairly convenient. Depending on your needs and preference, there are quite a number of places where you can find fresh goods at affordable prices. As a matter of fact, finding international goods in Penang is not a problem, some stores even set up aisles of products from specific countries. I'm sure this may come as a relief for many who still want to have a taste of home in your very own kitchen. Here are the variety of stores and places where you can shop for your grocery needs: Hypermarkets Tesco and Tesco Extra (In-stores & Online delivery) In Penang island, you can find 3 of this hypermarket: Tesco Penang at Lebuh Tengku Kudin (near to the Tengku Kudin underpass), Tesco Tanjung Pinang at Tanjung Tokong…