Monday, April 23, 2012

Green dream to come true soon

Quote from the Star, 24th April 2012

BALIK Pulau folk can look forward to enjoying some leisure activities on a 0.0734 ha plot in front of the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) market complex which will be converted into a mini park.
State Local Government and Traffic Ma­­nagement Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the mini park would be unique as it would have a nutmeg tree sculpture and various trees.
“There will also be a mini stage for people to conduct recreational activities such as aerobics and dancing.
“Apart from the beautification project, I also urge MPPP to consider setting up a recycling centre in the council’s complex to encourage better recycling practices,” he said before officiating at the recent groundbreaking ceremony.
Also present at the ceremony were MPPP president Patahiyah Ismail and Penang State Assembly Speaker Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain.
MPPP Recreation, Tourism and International Affairs Department inquiry board member Mohamed Akbar Mustapha said the park would have seven nutmeg trees, 10 weeping willow trees, and 15 Bucida Molineti.
“Other attractions will include a water fountain, pergola, lounging deck chairs and a pedestrian walkway,” he said.
“This is the first mini recreational and educational park in Balik Pulau,” he added.
The construction began on April 2 and is expected to wrap up by May 13 next year.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Updates

We have been travelling back and forth from Palmyra to Bayan Baru area quite frequently nowadays, finalizing stuffs in Palmyra before we move in. The travelling time is around 30 mins using Teluk Kumbar way (without jam). It can be quite tiring travelling there twice a day, that's 2 hours out of 24 in a day.

We are quite worried about the security at Palmyra since very few have moved in, and we have seen a weird person walking at the back lane and easing himself in the drain. Furthermore with the way the car porch roof is designed, one can easily climb over to your house. Let's just hope that safety will not be such a major concern.

The drains at the backlane is still stuck eventhough MPPP said that they have cleared it. Same goes to the front drain, Belleview didn't do a good job ensuring good drainage system. During the evenings, there are a lot of kids "lepak-ing" at the taman entrance and the playground. It is also sad to see that the playground not being maintained well.

It seems like an impossible task to get the house squeaky from the renovation dust. The hourly maids spent total 8 hours to clean up the house (that's RM140), and I have mopped the floor like a gazillion times but it still feels dusty.

Hourly maid: I have only so far managed to get one agent who comes to Balik Pulau. Due to low demand in Balik Pulau, they only come on certain days and minimum you need to get a full day maid OR 2 maids for 4 hours. Thats minimum RM100 every visit - looks lik it's DIY for some time until more cleaning services cover Balik Pulau.

Food, we have tried the restaurant called "Yeh Lin" but it is below expectation and not child-friendly, lotsa smoking people. We got to know there are 2 food court/ restaurant at the back of the old market. Will give them a try when we move there.

Meanwhile, it's off to packing and packing, anticipating the day moving into our new house. The curtains had arrived, cost us around 1.5k complete with railing installation & kitchen blinds, from Kamdar.