GEORGE TOWN: The moment the borders reopened, a British couple wasted no time hopping on a plane to Penang, which had been their regular holiday destination before Covid-19 turned things upside down.

       Malaysia’s borders opened on April 1 and five days later, Peter Dunstan Kelly, 69, and Deborah Kelly, 61, arrived here.

       In fact, Peter will be celebrating his birthday here as he turns 70 next Monday.

       According to the couple, Covid-19 precautionary measures are a lot stricter in Malaysia than in the United Kingdom, but they are fine with the restrictions.

       “The regulations here are very strict but we’re all right with that. We are very happy to follow the rules.

       “In the UK, we can go out without wearing masks and we don’t have to observe physical distancing,” said Peter.

       Prior to their arrival, he said they had been keeping tabs on the Malaysian situation.

       “We’ve been reading your newspaper online to get updates on what’s happening in Malaysia,” Peter told The Star with a smile.

       Peter and Deborah used to holiday in Penang twice a year to escape the winter ever since Peter retired in 2015. The pandemic, of course, put a halt to that.

       They are here for a two-week stay this time.

       “Honestly, we love all the food here, but it must not be too spicy,” Peter said.

       One of the first stops for them was the 138-year-old Penang Botanic Gardens to view the cannonball trees, which are fruiting now.

       Deborah said they are glad to be back in Penang and that they love the current weather although it seems to be rainier.

       Back home, she said the temperature could go as low as -3°C.

       The couple have had their own brush with Covid-19.

       Deborah said she and her husband were infected in January last year.

       “It was not that bad and we didn’t have to be hospitalised. I did lose my sense of smell and taste for over a month and even now, I still haven’t quite gotten my taste buds back,” she said.

       Deborah said she had a terrible cough while her husband had a bad cold for several days.

       Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa communication director Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman, who drove the British couple to view the cannonball trees, said they were the first of the resort’s regular overseas guests to return since the pandemic started.

       He said the couple are coming back again later this year and had already planned their bookings for next year.