What’s a Bungalow in Malaysia?

What’s a Bungalow in Malaysia?

Last week, we went up into the sky to view a Bungalow in the Sky. Today, let’s look at landed bungalows.

What is a bungalow? There are differing real estate definitions for bungalow; but in Malaysia, a bungalow is basically a house built in the middle of a plot of land.

Often, we real estate agents get a lot of enquiries from clients who want to buy a bungalow. There are many and different types of bungalows in the market. We’ve to filter the buyer’s requirements and match the buyer with the right bungalow.

Basic / Renovated Bungalow

A basic bungalow usually maintains its original structure. The first owner or the seller did not renovate or extended the bungalow; therefore earning the term “basic bungalow”. Buyers can tear down the building and rebuild from bottom-up. Or they can maintain the structure internally, and then renovate and extend around the structure.

Basic Bungalow in Petaling Jaya (click picture to learn more)

Modern Bungalow in Damansara Heights (click picture to learn more)

Renovations and extensions involve additional expenditure. Usually in a suitable to move in condition as is. But sometimes, the bungalow may not be renovated to buyer’s taste.

Modern Vs. Tropical

How then do you differentiate a modern bungalow from a tropical bungalow? From my many bungalow viewings, a modern bungalow tends to emphasise on the colour white, glass panel windows, and spacious living. A tropical or Balinese style bungalow emphasises on nature, solid timber flooring, brown window frames, and beige walls.

3-sty Modern Bungalow in Damansara Heights (click picture to learn more)

3-sty Modern Bungalow in Damansara Heights (click picture to learn more)

 

4-sty Modern Tropical Bungalow in Damansara Heights (Click picture to learn more)

4-sty Modern Tropical Bungalow in Damansara Heights (Click picture to learn more) 

 

Swimming Pool & Private Lift

Some bungalows come with many additional features (just to name a few): swimming pool, private lift, basement, garage, sauna, wine cellar, and squash court! Nonetheless, the features that get the most attention from buyers are swimming pool and private lift. Some buyers prefer to have a swimming pool because it’s a water feature, while other buyers don’t prefer to have a swimming pool because of the maintenance costs associated with it.

For bungalows with three or more floors; the feature that separates a three-storey bungalow from another three-storey bungalow is the private lift. Imagine walking down three or four storeys up and down daily in your own home. Good cardio exercise! Generally, buyers who show an interest in bungalows with private lifts indicates that they want to buy a bungalow that is wheelchair-friendly and/or they have an elderly family member(s).

Space Vs. View

The bungalow is not without its land as defined in the beginning. The ideal bungalow is one built on flat land. Even if the bungalow is constructed on flat land, the next question is the amount of available space on the land. Some bungalows take up a lot of space on the land that there is very little or no garden. There are also bungalows with a big garden and a lot of land for future expansion.

Sometimes, that’s not the case from Mother Nature. There are bungalows built on the hill.

Buyers have to sacrifice the space for the view. Bungalows built on a hill present magnificent views from top-down and surround. Wake up every day to a beautiful view!

Bungalow with a view

 

Bungalow on flat land (Click picture to learn more)

 

Similar Yet Different

Some neighbourhoods may have bungalows with a variety of individual designs. Along the same road, buyers can find a basic 2-storey bungalow, a modern 3-storey bungalow, a modern 3-storey bungalow with a swimming pool, a tropical 4-storey bungalow with lift, etc.

On the other hand, there are bungalows built in a gated and guarded, master-planned community. All the bungalows in the community have similar layouts and interior designs. The bungalows are not built by individual homeowners but by a master developer.

Summary

Throughout my real estate career thus far, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to view and learn about the many different types of bungalows in Damansara Heights, Bangsar, Bukit Tunku (Kenny Hills), Country Heights Damansara, Petaling Jaya, etc.

Each bungalow has its own unique interior design, feel, build, and story to tell. I’m a real estate agent for anyone who wants to purchase or rent a bungalow in Petaling Jaya or Kuala Lumpur. I would also like to invite your good self to respond if you are interested to sell or rent out your bungalow in Petaling Jaya or Kuala Lumpur.

You can call me on my mobile 0123447550 or Whatsapp me.

Restoran HSBC – Hot & Spicy Bangsar Cuisine

Restoran HSBC – Hot & Spicy Bangsar Cuisine

Restoran HSBC in Lorong Maarof, Bangsar has become a household name for the past 17 years not because it is owned by a bank.

After all I am not a fan of the banking group, but the acronym which stands for “Hot & Spicy Bangsar Cuisine” has its uniqueness that is not often found in other Chinese restaurants. The two entities are a world apart.

It was set up a family restaurant in 2000 by Jeevan Simon, with the help of his wife, Uma Revathy and brother-in-law, Ravinder Nadarajah. At that juncture, Jeevan had decided to give up his banana leaf rice to concentrate on his passion for Chinese food. But, for an Indian to run a Chinese restaurant?

Why not? Malaysians operate Japanese, Italian and Western, Thai, and even Korean restaurants, so why can’t a Malaysian Indian operate a Chinese restaurant. After all, Jeevan comes across as an Indian who understands what understands what the Chinese tick.

In fact, I was wondering whether Jeevan is a lost descendant of Admiral Cheng Ho or Justice Pao. Both were well-known Chinese heroes but they looked more Indian than the average Chinese.

Hailing from Penang, Jeevan’s success in the food business is largely due to his passion for anything that satisfy his taste buds.

So besides the Chinese dishes, he has also introduced a wide variety of cuisine such as Nasi Ayam Dulang (RM12.50) which he claims to be from Bali. His HSBC Special Tom Yam Soup (RM10 per pax) and HSBC Special Pineapple Fried Rice RM12.50 also received positive feedback from the foodies invited to the food tasting session.

Every year, he travels to other countries where he would try out different kinds of gastronomic.

“When I find something interesting, I would come back to try to reproduce it,” he said. “Sometimes, I have to improvise it to suit the local tastes.”

For those who love crabs, they can also try Jeevan’s curry leaf crabs (RM45 a kilo). He uses the smaller blue crabs which I understand are more acceptable to Muslims.

Because Jeevan wanted enough foodies to help finish up the dishes that he wanted to introduce, it turned up that I received a lot of thumbs-up for his other dishes, too. I particularly like his Special HSBC Kailan (RM20 for a medium serving) and his Kung Po fish fillet (RM15 Small).

Others picked the HSBC Special Chicken ((Medium) RM20) and Cheong Cheng Style Deep Fried Siakap.

In fact, since they do have a wide variety of gastronomical delights, I can understand why some older couples in the neighbourhood prefer to have their dinner there almost every night.

By the time we finished our meals at 6pm, other customers already started streaming in. They included expatriates, Eurasians and even Malay customers.

Restoran HSBC is located at
84, Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2282 7221

Business hours: 11:45 AM – 2:45PM, 5:45PM – 11:45PM (Sunday – Saturday)