Name: Edgar Jose Prates
Home Country: Portugal
Occupation: Director of Corporate Strategy at Felix Relocations
Marital Status/Number of Children: Single
Other Countries you have lived in: United States, Czech Republic, Romania, Germany

What brought you to Malaysia and how long have you been here?
Business, food, weather, beach, multi-cultural living lifestyle. Been here for 6 months.

What were your impressions of Malaysia before you came? How have they changed, if indeed they have?
Wild, raw, disorganized, underrated, growth potential. Love Chow Kit or Mont Kiara, just like that.

If you had to pick a sound, a smell, a taste or a touch to describe Malaysia, what would it be?
The sound of a thousand birds at 6pm sunset by the Melaka river with a fresh sea breeze shaking palm trees.

What are the three things you like most about living in Malaysia?
Food, weather and Chinese antiques from the 19th century (Qing Dynasty).

What are three things you dislike about living in Malaysia?
Glass of European beer: RM16!! Dirty streets, cocky expats.

Name three places you would take an overseas visitor.
Bukit Bintang nightlife, Portuguese fort ‘A Famosa’ in Melaka and Coral Islands in Kota Kinabalu.

Name three typical weekend activities that you enjoy.
Clubbing, walking ‘Jalan-jalan’, and searching for treasures.

What’s your favourite three restaurants and bars in Malaysia?
La Bodega, Werners and Rooms.

Do you own property here? If so, where? If not, why?
No. For this price, rather buy in the Algarve or Marbella.

Are most of your friends Malaysians or expats? Why?
Mostly Chinese, American, European and some Malaysians who have lived abroad.

What do you miss most about your home country?
The Algarve. Red cliffs over sandy beaches. Mediterranean lifestyle. The smell of flowers.

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Name: Raya Khalef Al-Ismaily
Home country: Oman
Designation: Business Representative for Oman Air, Kuala Lumpur
Marital status/Number of children: Married with two sons and a daughter
Other countries you have lived in: United Kingdom, Northern Ireland

What brought you to Malaysia and how long have you Name three typical weekend activities that you enjoy. been here?
I have been in KL since May 2010 for employment.

What were your impressions of Malaysia before you came? How have they changed, if indeed they have?
Malaysia is an adorable country and every visitor will fall in love from the first visit.The Malaysian tourism industry keeps growing.

What are the three things you like most about living in Malaysia?
Shopping, friendly environment and many places to visit.

Name three places you would take an overseas visitor.
Cameron Highlands, Langkawi and KL tour.

Name three typical weekend activities that you enjoy.
Shopping, going to the cinema and watching TV.

What’s your favourite restaurant and bar in Malaysia?
Sahara Tent, Bukit Bintang and any seafood restaurant.

Do you own property here? If so, where?  If not, why?
Thinking of getting one, in Kuala Lumpur, Taman Desa.

Are most of your friends Malaysians or expats? Why?
Almost equal number; we share experiences.

What do you miss most about your home country?
Omani culture and family gatherings.

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Name: Dina Djumic
Home Country: Croatia
Company: Dubrovnik Restaurant
Other countries you have lived in: Croatia, Algeria, Italy

What brought you to Malaysia and how long have you been here?
I moved here 14 years ago with my parents. I first lived with them in Kuching.

What were your impressions of Malaysia before you came? How have they changed, if indeed they have?
At first everything seemed strange and unusual, but now I feel very much part of this country.

If you had to pick a sound, a smell, a taste or a touch to describe Malaysia, what would it be?
Sound: Lip smacking sound to call waiters (very rude to me)
Smell: Durian
Taste: Sambal

What are the three things you like about living in Malaysia?
Comfort, friendliness and sunny weather.

What are three things you dislike about living in Malaysia?
Driving style, politics, and inefficiency in certain circumstances.

Name three places you would take an overseas visitor.
Taman Negara Park, Penang and Melaka.

Name three typical weekend activities that you enjoy.
ATV, diving and movies.

What’s your favourite restaurant and bar in Malaysia?
Casbah.

Do you own property here? If so, where? If not, why?
Yes, in Dutamas.

Are most of your friends Malaysians or expats? Why?
Mix of Malaysians and expats.

What do you miss most about your home country?
Food and friends and family.

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Name: Brian Douglas
Home Country: Scotland
Other Countries you have lived in: New Zealand, Samoa and Venezuela

What brought to Malaysia and how long have you been here?
I was brought here because my girlfriend is from here. I’ve been here for 4 and a half years.

What were your impressions of Malaysia before you came here? How have they changed?
It’s much more cosmopolitan than I thought.

If you had to pick a sound, a smell, a taste or a touch to describe Malaysia, what would it be?
Roti canai.

What are some things you like most about living in Malaysia?
I like the climate and the proximity to other Asian countries.

What are some things you dislike about living in Malaysia?
Mat rempits and traffic.

Name three places you would take an overseas visitor.
Tasik Kenyir, Pulau Redang and Cameron Highlands.

Name three typical weekend activities that you enjoy?
I enjoy bike rides and diving.

What’s your favourite restaurant and bar in Malaysia?
They would have to be Chez Rose and WIP.

Do you own property here? If so, where? If not, why?
Yes in Bangsar.

Are most of your friends Malaysian or expats? Why?
I have a good mixture of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Expat friends.

What do you miss about your home country?
Family.

Source: The Expat October 2011
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This article has been edited for ExpatGomalaysia.com