Year 2008 is coming to its end. We have voted 9 of the best and worst apartments/condominiums in Johor Bahru from over 20 candidates for their “must-know specialties”.

The most strategic location
Surrounded by 3 highways – Tebrau Highway, Skudai Highway and JB inner ring road, Wadihana is located in kampong Wadihana – centre of the triangle of the 3 highways. “Perfect location”, surrounded by kampong, you will even get “rooster” giving you a wake up call every morning. That will be an extra you will not get in city living!!!!

The most “unbelievable” location
So near yet so far!!!! You could see Pulai View from Skudai Highway, yet it is impossible to get in directly (from City or Skudai). You would need to make an U-turn 2km away (which is about another 10 mins) from every direction in order to enter into it. Otherwise, you have to take small roads from Angsana Plaza or Tampoi Indah. Thanks to the designer of the “head-spinning” Perling Flyover – “Another Project by BN”.

“Too-well-planned” Club House location
Larkin Residence’s Club House is at least 200m away from the nearest resident unit, o.5km away from the farthest unit. Thanks to the on-hold phase 2 which is supposed to be constructed in between the club house and the existing phase 1. The developer should not have “planned” so far…

The best of the worst
Besides its large compound and good management, every 8 units in each floor of Sri Wangi are served by 2 spacious lifts with security gate at the entrance of ground floor (small point, it makes you feel like you are a jailbird getting out of the lift), making its residents the most fortunate apartment residents – although surrounded by several pretty run-down apartments like Lily & Jasmine, Sri Kenari and Park Avenue. Truly a rose among the thorns!

The worst of the best
Sri Kurnia is situated in one of the high class estate in Taman Pelangi. Although it has less than 60 units only, the management seems to have difficulty in managing this apartment with its super-small compound. Imagine, how would you feel if you see a main gate that still requires human power to open for residents and visitors?

The largest swimming pool
Straits Views has more than 3 pools as shown in the pictures. We found its compound for common facilities to be the biggest among all condominiums we have seen in JB.

The most pathetic swimming pool
If you are wondering how small a swimming pool can be for a condominium, you should visit Embassy Suite. Allegedly its swimming pool can only accommodate a family with 3-5 kids! Can you imagine the residents still have to share this pool with a budget hotel operating inside the condominium! Take a look at the picture and you can understand our sentiment. Sigh….

The most “environmental-friendly”
With broken light bulbs in most common areas (corridor of several floors and lifts) for the whole year, Larkin Utama is considered the most energy-saving apartment in Town! They even have a water conservation policy – “they DON’T change water of swimming pool at all”. They are really going “Green”…

The most children-friendly
Bistari Impian is the only apartment we found to be equipped with childcare centre just at the door step. Also, there are 2 primary schools (one Kebangsaan and one Chinese) within walking distance.

The too-lenient security
To top the list of leniency, we have to hand it to Bistari Impian. Anyone can get in and out without being checked. In fact, anyone can just enter into the apartment by waving hand to the guards in guardhouse – no ID is required from visitor. So, don’t expect you will be given a permit. Just drive straight through! Also don’t expect you can find out who has just moved in recently because the guard house has no record!

The most secured security
Prima Regency is the only condominium with so-called “3-tier security” – main entrance, building entrance and lift. If you happen to drop by in the evening, you will even see more than 10 security guards assemble in neat form in front of the management office for their daily briefing.