Little Rock

Hi all! It looks like my husband and I will be relocating to KL. We've just got back from the city and checked out a condo in TTDI. I was hoping that anyone familiar with the area would be able to answer some questions! My husband will be driving to Bukit Jalil for work - Google Maps estimates it to be a 25 min drive, but having experienced KL traffic, I wondered whether that was realistic? With work visas hard to come by, it's likely that I won't be working (but more than happy to do charity work locally) and I'm not the world's most confident driver, so am I likely to feel 'cut off' in TTDI as I know public transport in the 'burbs isn't great? And final question I promise - is 3,500 RM a realistic price for a 3 bedroom condo in TTDI? Thanks so much in advance for all your help and sorry for bombarding you with questions!!! LR

tonycook

Hi there,
Im from malaysiamyself. Yes public transport is not great in malaysia. you get used to driving in KL after a while so be brave. Think like malaysian you ll be fine .Anyway...iknow TTDI as well yes the condo there is quite nice. Have you try to look at sunway area or puchong? This is closer to Bukit Jalil. Or there is LRT service going to bukit jalil maybe try to find some areas where there is LRT service closer to it then your husband can take LRT to work. That skip all the traffic.

Good luck with your moving. KL is a buzzing place to live. If you enjoy night out or food its 24hrs.

Cook

Alan Wales

Get yourselves a GPS (Sat Nav), we have found it invaluable. We have lived here for 12 months, great place to live.

Amazing Grace

Hi Littlerock, first of all I am so jealous you going to be living in KL, I love, love, love it there. My husband and I lived in Bangsar for 4.5 years and left sadly in 2006. Our 3 bed condo in Menara Bangsar was 3,500 then so I dont know what you will be able to get today for that price but you may be lucky.

If you would like to do voluntary work or charity work you need to join one of the many women's groups in KL. If you are British there is a great one I belonged to called Association of British Women in Malaysia (ABWM), they have a house in Bangsar behind the shopping centre which is open every day so get yourself along and you will meet some lovely ladies. They have a thing called link ladies one of whom will live in all the main accomodation areas, I believe there is one for TTDI. MANZA is another one for Australian and New Zealand ladies. If you do a google search you will find both of them.
Enjoy your stay in KL lucky thing.

lilleclown

Hi LittleRock.

Selamat datang ke Malaysia.

I lived here from 2000-2006 and just moved back here a few months ago. I will be relocating to Canada soon though and will miss the nice weather, the great food, the outgoing lifestyle and more.

Although, I wont be able to help you with the condo in Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (TTDI) vs. Bukit Jalil (except to say that 25mins is very optimistic indeed), please feel free to ask any other questions you may have about the place in general.

You ask if you will feel 'cut off' if you decide to live in TTDI, and my guess would be Yes. Bangsar or Mont Kiara would be better options for you and with the surplus of empty apartments these days, I think you can get decent deals.

Good Luck,
Michael

livinginkl

Hi there

I married a Malaysian and moved here last year from the UK. We live right opposite TTDI.

Re: TTDI rent - that's probably okay as long as you're sq ft is a good amount (and TTDI is a bit more expensive although probably cheaper than Mont Kiara and Bangasar). Around where we live 1150sq ft 3 bedroom apt is going for RM2000 to an ex-pat couple. But not sure about how much rental for a larger place (we own so never looked into rental for our place).

Re: time to Bukit Jalil - 25 minutes is definitely optimistic. Two routes - via LDP (more straightforward but really but during rush hour)or Kerinchi link, Old Klang Road, take the cut through back road to Bukit Jalil Road. We looked into it when we thought about moving and if you've not left really early, by 7.15 am you will struggle to get in for 9 (although if you leave by 7.15 you'll be in well before 9). If your husband doesn't want to drive all the way he could park at Kelana Jaya LRT station (about 5 minutes away) and take the LRT to work.

Volunteer work - I currently do heaps of volunteer work. Some of it is through the church we attend which has lots going on but other things I help with are independant and coincidentally some are helped by women linked to the Association of British Women in Malaysia. The UN High Commission for Refugees always looks for volunteer teachers in the refugee schools that they run.

We like being near TTDI as it's easy to get everywhere (as long as it's not rush hour!). It's an easy, straightforward, 10-15 min drive to the heart of KL, Mont Kiara and Bangsar and we regularly travel there. You're also right by Penchala link and Sprint highway which take you all over. You're five minutes from One Utama (large shopping mall), Tescos, Ikea, Ikano. Opposite TTDI is Damansara Specialist Hospital, right near where we live (which is known to be a good private hospital). In TTDI there is a daily indoor market and on Sunday evenings a night market.

Location-wise we prefer TTDI to Mont Kiara/Bangsar (no offence to anyone living there!) as it's so strategic to get everywhere. However we don't have children right now so if that might affect where you stay I can't help much more than that.

When you're down, and especially if you're in TTDI, drop me a line and I'd be happy to show you a few places, introduce you to people here.

Best wishes and good luck with the move. Sorry this post is so long but hope it's helpful!

Shanti

NicholaH

Hi we moved to KL a month ago and we live close to Tropicana City Mall - we were told it was TTDI, but more realistically it's Damansara Kim

My husband works in Cyberjaya and at the moment is car sharing as we've not got ours yet but he doesn't think it's too bad as we're right on the Sprint Highway

we have a 7 month old baby too and I won't be driving here so have to rely on taxis which are scary at first but you soon get used to them. We looked at living in Puchong to begin with but then was told that the traffic is horrendous there.

if your husband is working in Bukit Jalil, maybe think about living there? we looked at some apartments in Savannah condo which were beautiful, but ended up being a bit too pricey for us

I'm still trying to find my feet but am slowly making friends through various mother and baby groups

livinginkl

Hi NicolaH

In fact, Damansara Kim is a better description of where I am too but everyone seems to know TTDI better. We live in Desa Kiara apartments. If you have a baby you probably know of Ibu House which is nearby and a great place for mother and baby groups.

NicholaH

OMG, so do we!!! and yes, we've been to Ibu!