Hi Terence
Firstly, its heart-wrenching being unable to attend Saturday’s annual D & D, because another colleague had earlier than me applied for a weekend day’s leave. Only one from each of the 4 services’ staff section is permitted to take a weekend leave of ONE day only. Glad you guys had a good time and several new faces were welcomed.
Your flattering confidence regarding my expertise in outlying Indonesian islands’s potentiality for retirement living do overwhelm me. As stated in my previous remarks, the crucial factor is one must be quite conversant in Bahasa Indon/Melayu so as to gel comfortably with the locals and thus it is due to my proficiency in BERCAKAPAAN Jawa dengan Melayu which easily integrate me into the local scene unlike my sheer incompetence to pick up the Thai language or Teowchew dialect during my frequent sojourns in peninsular Thailand re: Satun, Betong, Hatyai, Songklah, Ban Upai, Rayong & Hua Hin during the early 70s to early 80s.
Next year, probably in July will arrange a 2days/2nights trip to(50minutes flight from Batam) to Bangka island, nearly centrally in the Java Sea, a big island more than 4times the area of Spore. The island with its one-third sized sister island(more than 20 others in this group of islands) Belitung island are for the past century till today, producers of more than half the tin output in Indonesia. There are beautiful beaches (Pantai Parai Tinggiri at Sungailiat, a smaller town) plus for me am attracted to the jagged peaks and aura of the 3000ft plus Gunung Daik.
Bangka was promoted as a inter-country tourism of Indonesia during the former presidency of Megawati 2001-04. The development of Pangkalpinang the biggest town of less than 100,000(propably 25% Chinese Indons) amazes me in May 2007 with a couple of nice hotels and the attractive El John(what a name) shopping plaza. Unlike Thailand(spurred by the American GI’s R & R during the Veitnam War days), my take is Malaysia, Phillipines & Indonesia are not overly keen in drawing tourism perhaps due to the locals abhorrence of brash and uncultured foreigners eg the backpackers whose unkempt appearance and tendency to nude sunbathing is disturbing re: my conversation with a few Kelantanese at Pantai Ser Tujuh(Beach of the Comely Seven), Tumpat, Kelantan, in the early 90s and with one English-speaking Mindanaon in Butuan 1995, north-east coastal town in Mindanao, southern Philippines.
Overlooked to mention that Kuching, Sarawak can be considered by the Sporean retiree as well as Labuan. Unlike Indonesian islands, nearly all Malaysian islands are more than 95% populated by native Malays and comparatively less developed too. Smaller Malaysian towns like Teluk Intan & Sitiawan(Perak), Segambut & Rawang(Selangor), Bentong(Pahang), Muar, Batu Pahat, Segamat, Keluang and Mersing(Johore) with significant Malaysian Chinese residents are considerable choices too.
Regards
Abel Tan
Good morning Abel
As usual, just ask Abel a question and you can be sure that you will get your complete or even more than you expect answers, full of details.
Like my inquiry about Karimun and the details given to me makes me think that I wont get lost even if I go there solo :)
Sounds like good retirement places. But hmmm for two weeks maybe but 3 months seem too long. But cannot rule it out cos when I hit 60, I may not need my 24hr kopi tiam or the dance floor. If we have a group of SHCians for the short term retirement overseas, it will be like a long holiday.
Cheers
Caroline Gee