WHEN ANDREW AND Karen Jordan moved from the UK to Penang under the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, they knew their new life here couldn’t and shouldn’t just feel like an extended holiday. “You’ve got to try and find a life outside of beaches, hotels and casual acquaintances,” Karen said. “Birding helped us get a footing with both expats and locals.”
The couple had visited Penang more than a dozen times before settling here, but a local publication they stumbled upon became an invaluable guide beyond the tourist lists of things to do and see.
“At Gusto Café in Tanjung Bungah, we had picked up Penang Monthly,” Karen recalled. “We took it back to the UK and read it, circling places we wanted to explore once we moved. Through the magazine, we learned about the Botanic Gardens. That became one of our first stops for birding.”
That first visit opened a door. “It’s how you see parts of Penang even some Penangites have never seen,” Andrew said. “And you meet the most interesting people along the way.”
