6th March 2011 Visit

Finally we had some time to drive to Balik Pulau to see the latest updates on Palmyra. Our Proton Exora did pretty well going up and down the winding road, but that would mean the fuel expenses will increase 3 fold once we move to Balik Pulau.

There are not many lots left. The guys there said the project will be completed this June. That would means ka ching ka ching ka ching get ready for $$$$ reno, furnitures, home loan, moving cost etc etc. In my memory, the rooms were much bigger but looks like they have shrunk during this visit :)

Need to start thinking how to renovate the house since it's getting nearer:

- to setup a balcony, where to put the door? One side will block your location of the dressing table and the other side will block your bed.

- should we hack the wall between the kitchen and the "laundry" area so that there's bigger space?

- can we move the location of the "maid's room" door to the dining area and make it into kid's playroom (though it's pretty small)

- the upstairs 2nd & 3rd room, there are some pathetic space outside. It is currently placed with the aircond condensor. Can we hack the room to get a few inches more of space?

Any good ideas???

Updates 16th July 2010

It has been some time since we visited Balik Pulau (sounds so far away right, how to stay there next time?). Since it's durian feasting season, we decided to give Palmyra a visit to see the completion status. You can actually see the "shape" of the houses now...

Asked the sales person on expected completion, she mentioned somewhere mid next year. Woooo, time to start planning to pay the installment now that BLR is ever increasing, not to mention sugar, petrol and gas!

Completion of Foundation

We received a copy of letter today, asking the bank to release 10% payment as the foundtaion of the building has been completed.
There are 14 units of 2 Storey Terrace House altogether reaching the same stage.

Have not been driving to the other side of the island for some time. Still thinking that it's too far. Must get start to get used to it!

Updates 3rd January 2010

Here's the latest construction progress. The prices are RM416k for 20x62 and RM424k for 20x64 (if I remember correctly). There are few units left....

Botanica. CT to Construct International School

Quoted from Business Times: Wednesday, December 09, 2009, 09.25 AM

THE sleepy hollow of Balik Pulau on Penang island is set to buzz with the construction of an international school soon.

Penang-based property developer MTT Properties and Development Sdn Bhd, which is developing the 120ha "Botanica. CT" township in the south-west district of the island, has begun earthworks for a full boarding international school that will be sited within the development.

The establishment of the school in the township is expected to enhance demand and value of properties within the development.

"The school will offer the British curriculum system for students of Year 7 onwards and will be able to house 800 students," MTT Properties and Development group general manager Jason Tan told Business Times. The first enrollment for the school - which is expected to incur development and set-up costs of close to RM100 million and sprawled over 2.8ha of land - is planned for September 2011, Tan added.

Botanica. CT is undertaken by MTT Properties and Development, which is a subsidiary of MTT & Priority Group of Companies and has a history which dates back to 1963.

"Apart from full boarding facilities, the school will have a state-of-the-art library, science laboratories, workshops, a multi-purpose hall, concert auditorium, tennis and netball courts, swimming pools and a football field.

"About 40.6 per cent on which the school land is sited has been earmarked to be left as open or green areas," Tan said.

Penang is currently home to several international schools including the International School of Penang (commonly known as Uplands School), St Christopher's International Primary School, Fairview International School, Tenby International School and Dalat International School, which are all located in the north-east district of Penang.

Tan said MTT Properties and Development is hoping to launch the third and fourth phases of its CT.Botanica development next year.

"Phase 3, which carries a development value of around RM65 million, will feature 103 residential homes, with two- and three-storey super-link homes and two-storey semi-detached home. These will be completed in 2012," he said.

Phase 4, which is slated for completion in 2012, will comprise 29 tropical hillside three-storey villas, with seven exclusive designs and boasting their own pools.

The project's first phase was launched in 2006 and the majority of its buyers are locals, with approximately 10 per cent of them comprising foreigners from the UK and South Korea.
"While Phase 3 is likely to be owned by local homeowners, the fourth phase may probably have more foreign investors and we hope the setting up of the international school will help us attract even more foreign buyers," Tan said.

The company plans to market its Tropical Hillside Villas in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia.

"London is also a focus for us, due to the existing familiarity with Penang and the potential links which may be created due to the international school," he added.