I'm not so familiar with Ampang - I live West of KL and I know the Western areas better than the Eastern side. From what I've heard though I'm glad I don't live in Ampang and hardly ever venture out there! All I've heard about it is that it's so congested with traffic. And it's not particularly attractive from what I remember - large roads full of traffic, lots of concrete, not much greenery. We've got some friends who live out there and they don't go out much because they say there are very few non-local places to eat or good places to go shopping.

In contrast I live near Mutiara Damansara and I just love all the facilities there - shopping at One Utama or Ikea, eating at the Curve, there's just so much to do around here! And Bangsar is only 10 minutes away if I'm bored with my usual shopping grounds or restaurants.

• Read More »

Bangsar feels a lot less exclusive than Damansara Heights as it's a lot more of a mixed neighbourhood with link houses and townhouses, condos, semi-ds and bungalows. There are great shopping facilities though - Bangsar Shopping Centre, Bangsar Village, to name but a few - and a great nightlife! Who shops in Bangsar Village II - I wonder! Sooooo upmarket...it looks empty all the time.

My favourite part of Bangsar is Pantai Hills - some nice bungalows there with amazing views. I don't like the Taman Pantai area so much - it feels a bit messy and it's been ruined by that big highway they built just on top of it.

Mont Kiara - I guess you might like it if you're into concrete jungles... Actually it's not so bad - I guess it's reasonably green and the condos look reasonable nice and there's a good selection of cafes and restaurants. But it's so incredibly overpriced! Does anyone live there apart from Japanese people who want to feel like they're at home and expat parents who send their kids to the international schools?

• Read More »

I love Kuala Lumpur and I love property so this blog is all about KL property. BTW this site is great - way above the rest!

So...where shall I start?

Well, why not start with KL’s (supposedly) best area, Kenny Hills (also known as Bukit Tunku). I do like the tropical forest ambience of the area but the whole place feels like it’s been abandoned 30 years ago. The issue is: who can afford to maintain or renovate these huge bungalows (typical land area 20,000 sq. ft)? I’d feel unsafe living there as there’s so much vegetation for burglars to hide in and your neighbours are all so far away. But I guess I could pay for a few guards if I could afford to live there...and a driver...and 3 maids... That huge abandoned structure (owned by the Sultan of Brunei or someone?) seriously brings down the area. The condos there also looks so dated – some have carpets in the bedrooms – yuk!

You get it, Kenny Hills’s not for me – I’d much rather live in best area number 2, Damansara Heights (also known as Bukit Damansara). Bungalow sizes are much more manageable (typical land area 6,000 – 10,000 sq. ft) so the area is getting regenerated all the time with lots of renovation/rebuilding going on. Lots of peace and greenery (very neat and tidy greenery). Some beautiful houses in the area – others do look quite run down but you know they’re going to be renovated sooner or later. It’s not all bungalow land, lots of semi-dees too. Some semi-ds have been extended and made to look ultra-modern so you get these funny combinations with huge modern bungalow-looking semi-dees attached to the original tiny semi-d. My favourite roads are in Setiamurni and I also really like Setiakasih 1.

The older part of Damansara Heights is also getting its fair share of renovations and some new developments. A few months ago I visited the show house in iDamansara (gated community of semi-dees). The finishings and furnishings were made up beautifully – made you want to buy on the spot (if you had the money that is! – I think they’re going for close to RM4m these days). 70 Damansara (gated community of bungalows) also looks good and very exclusive (RM7m they’re asking for these?). Up the road in Taman SA is that enormous bungalow (or is it a ferry? a cruiseliner? a spaceship?) being built (by some property tycoon I hear). Are they going to have a mega housewarming party when it’s complete? Can I have an invitation? I’d love to have a peek inside this bunker.

• Read More »