Kuala Lumpur advice

thank you so much. I think the office is in Jalan ampang. We'll be going into year 6 for school so after only a year will have to move to a secondary. Do most primaries feed into linked secondary schools? I'm checking Alice Smith - thanks for the recommendation. Like you, I am already anticipating missing the beach but it sounds as there are so many other positives. I'm not too worried about the heat but the humidity can get to you I guess. And not having a sea breeze probably makes it worse. Here in Dubai I still go to the beach up to end May. So you and Goofball are saying that you do spend time outdoors but not too long spells? AS long as I can do my daily walking I'll be happy. With the wonderful weather in Dubai just now it's easy to forget that from April onwards and well into October it's uncomfortably hot eating outdoors so what I'm working out is that in KL although you don't get the fantastic November and March temperatures you can enjoy some outdoor all year round. Am I close to the truth? Another question I have is : is KL a dog friendly city? Do landlords tend to allow pets? We would have a real problem if that was not the case. I guess that will influence our choice of accommodation. Having looked at some of the properties on agents websites many seem very attractive, modern and well maintained. Having lived in Dubai, would you say that expats would generally settle for smaller properties in KL? Or is it just the same? Did you get a maid? Are children's after school activities as espensive there as they are here? Do you find that expats of different nationalities tend to mix among themselves as well as with the locals? Is it more common for expat wives to work there than here in Dubai? It is encouraging to hear that you settled well and you are enjoying KL after Dubai. Would you say there is anything about KL that caught you by surprise? Sorry about all the questions.. Thank you again for your kind assistance.

sounds good. The prospect of mixing with local people adds a good dimension. Permanent smiles not required :-) - I think they would get on one's nerves after a while .... and if one is always smiling how do people know when one's actually happy? Do you know if Filipina maids are in high demand? What other nationalities? I hope to make a trip to KL in the next couple of months to see the place first hand but it's likely we'll have to commit before that. I've had nothing but positive feedback so feel fairly confident that it would be a good move. One not to be missed in fact.

regarding the climate... does constant heat and humidity mean people don't spend much time outdoor / eat outside? Or is it bearable and you just get used to it? I know it's difficult to generalise... but how would you describe Malaysian and KL people in particular? ps thank you so much for the information so far - and the links to schools, estate agents and all of the comments

great to hear locals and expats mix. The great food sounds like heaven, too. Crazy traffic when it rains sounds less good - especially if downpours are daily occurrence? But tropical rain does appeal to me, especially if it is followed by sunshine. Sounds like people who have lived there love it - which is great. Mind you I also like Dubai. One of the things I would miss there is easy access to the beach/sea. How far from the city are the beaches? Can't work it out from the map I've seen on google. I see the coast is not far but have no idea what kind of coastline there is. Regarding the expat life there... how would you describe it compared to Dubai. I don't have personal experience of other places than Dubai but I've heard comments about other destinations, Cairo for example, where the expat community is more 'close knit' and generally friendlier. Would you say that of KL? Any other comments on geneal 'feel' of the place would be gratefully received - although I know lots of things are personal opinions.... for example... is there a mass summer exodus of expats in summer? Or maybe not as no need to escape the heat?