2 steps forward then 1 step back

After all the hedge planting of "pecah beling" and the shrubs were progressing nicely, some spiteful grass-cutting crew came along and just cut them off. Although it could clearly be seen as a hedge-row, the crew promptly chopped off some of the healthiest bushes.


I am inclined to think they did so out of spite, as my helper informed me that she spurned them when they asked her to "keluar main" with them one day.


This week as I saw the grass-cutting crew returned for their monthly trim; I quickly instructed my helper to protect the re-growing tender shoots. Fortunately they were spared from massacre and growing healthily once more.

Thank You Sime Darby for my wish come true!!

Just yesterday I blogged about the looming tree planting binge that Sime Darby was embarking on in their Sustainability Initiative. I was wishing that the wisdom of the Bring Back The Birds report i.e. in the suggestion of suitable trees would be considered for the tree planting.


I can't believe my eyes!!! My wish came true this morning as I walked through our lake park again. Forest trees, real forest trees all name-tagged thanks to Perniagaan Tunas Harapan, the "reforestation nursery" located in Tg Malim.

I've checked the names of trees against the Bird Report, and am so pleased that not only are these new trees listed in the report, some the existing trees in and around Ara Damansara are also listed as 'plants that bear fruits which are attractive to birds'; 'plants that bear flowers that are attractive to birds'; oh the list goes on.

"Blackcurrant ~ Plant which bears fruit attractive to birds"












Not only are these trees to be planted in the lake park,





they are also going to be planted along the lake's edge next to the houses. A necessary buffer to keep the fauna of the park peaceful.





I just can't wait to see the variety of birds that will be coming to visit and call Ara Damansara their home. We already have a certain species of hornbill roosting in this area. What a thrill it is going to be to see a flock of them fly by? As it is the pair is already a sensation with residents here. Oh and just a little reminder ~ please don't forget the perch poles in the lake for the fishing birds to stand on and aim for their prey.

Once again, thank you Sime Darby for doing right by your resident investors. I further wish is that you could also buy up the remaining land offered for sale around Ara Damansara and sustainably develop it too. If only more developers would emulate the example set by Sime Darby, wow the Klang Valley would be known throughout the world as THE PLACE to call home. What a pull factor for Malaysia My 2nd Home!

Tree planting binge

After all the input given by concerned residents of Ara Damansara, Sime Darby Property has committed that they have taken it all into account and planning the rehabilitation of our parks according to expert advice.



A recent walk through one of our lakeparks shows that tree-planting is already beginning here. A back-hoe machine was seen digging holes for the planting of trees, forest trees I hope, and a variety of it too. I've learnt from a very reliable source that Sime Darby has embarked on a mega reforestation initiative with help from Tunas Harapan, a tropical forest nursery somewhere in Tg Malim. I'm so excited, I can hardly wait for the trees to be in the ground and by the end of next year start, give the park the majestic look and feel of a tropical rainforest. And can you imagine the variety of birds that will visit and nest in this area. I am thrilled beyond belief.


Already along the banks of the silted lake, a large tree, looks like a Saga (red-seed) weaver birds are roosting, their elegantly woven nests hanging works of natural art. I hope the landscaping doesn't destroy this tree.


The trees that should be wiped out of our surrounds are the ubiquitous acacia, not indigenous and a voracious coloniser, pushing out precious indigenous species, so sensitive to the conquering nature of the acacia. But I really don't know about planting trees so close to the lake edge so soon, before the lake has been dredged and rehabilitated. I do fear that after some beautiful species are planted here, their fine specimens may be destroyed in giving way for desilting works. I'm hoping that planning does take place before development


What I would really like to see, is what I was reminded of in Bali recently. No wasteland seen there. If a piece of land was cleared of its natural vegetation, for development which has yet to happen, the land is cultivated with meaningful agriculture either rice paddies or orchards. Not just left to waste and turned into a dumping ground for people too lazy to dispose of their rubbish responsibly.


There's much to be learnt from any country we visit, if only we are not too proud to admit that knowledge and wisdom comes in all shapes, sizes and sources. None superior to the other, just helping everyone grow in harmony with our creator.

No abate in mosquitos

Following the installation of the first black-hole mosquito trap and the intermittent rains, the mosquito problem has escalated. The intermittent rains have made the situation worse by keeping the stagnant water levels in the drains optimal for mosquito breeding as opposed to torrential thunderstorms which was away mosquito eggs and larvae.

So I went out and bought 2 more photo-catalytic black hole traps. Thanks to my brother, who discovered another make at a cheaper price, I saved me quite a bit of money buying these ones. What's more this make even comes with 2 free replacement bulbs.





I've placed the traps in each likely corner and within just a couple of days, the number of mosquitos trapped is simply staggering. To think that without the traps, they would all have come into our living area. This time around, I shall remove all the beetles and moths and other non-mosquitos and weigh the vampires. Perhaps that statistic will lend some weight to the gravity of this pestilence plaguing Ara Damansara.

The drains, the drains, the drains around our houses need to be opened up and cleared of debris. When authorities, when?

Mosquito, Nyamuk, Kohsu, Mun (Pt2)

Well here it is. Undeniable proof that this BlackHole system is keeping over 90% of mosquitos aiming to get into my house, out.

The BlackHole was installed on Monday 22/June @ 6pm. I removed the glue-disc this morning 29/6 @ 10am so there's a weeks worth of trappings. I carefully emptied out the trap and if I had the patience of a research scientist, I would count the trapped population and present a bar chart of mosquito, moth, beetles etc. It would be overwhelmingly be mosquito, of that I am sure.

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Anyway, I am glad to know that since my article on the BlackHole, HomeFix guy now dubbed "The Mosquito Slayer" reported a couple of sales to Ara Damansara residents. Could you please post your comments in response to my article? It is so that we get a broad perspective of this trap's performance.

Speaking of responses, those who know me, know that when I find a good thing, I just can't wait to share it. So there I was blabbing away about the efficacy of the BlackHole to all and sundry. Funnily, I discovered a couple of pro-lifers who were actually sympathetic to the way the mosquitos were being trapped and modus of death. Now this was eye-opening to say the least. My jaw must have dropped a couple of inches in disbelief. Well, it does put vermin extermination in a different light that I never considered before. But hey, all I can say is that if you have never been swarmed by mosquitos it's easy to advocate mercy for this vermin.

I shared the pro-life response with another highly animated friend, who has suffered dengue 3 times, the final bout almost took her life. She reiterates my sentiment above, if you've never suffered the deadly effects of vermin, it is too easy to be humane about their extermination.

My home help while not being pro-life or humane in the extermination of our resident mosquito population, is disappointed with the efficacy of the BlackHole. Why? Her electric mosquito racquet no longer lights up like a Christmas tree as she plumps up the cushions or goes over the dogs with it. A simple joy that brought ecstasy to her chores. Oh well, you win some, you lose some!

Mosquito, Nyamuk, Kohsu, Mun

There I've said it in all the languages and dialects I know. I bought a "Black Hole" mosquito trap system yesterday after much convincing from the HomeFix guy that it really works. Not 100% of course, he said, but guaranteed at least 95% effective. I drew him a map of my home layout, where the drains and ground holes are etc and he helped me plot the position of my first "Black Hole" trap.

So I hooked it up and turned it on yesterday (22/Jun/09) at 6pm. Look at its bounty by 10am this morning (16 hours in operation). Mind you not all the mozzies in the trap are on that glue paper. There's still about 10 of them settled on the wire mesh, waiting to DIE...









HOMEFIX guy reinforced that plants DO NOT shelter female mosquitoes, only males. As everyone knows, male mozzies are vegetarian.

So the efficacy? Yes it is effective, I am ecstatically happy to say. Last night I could watch tv quite comfortably in my living room with only a couple of bites, mostly from mozzies already hiding inside. They do like soft pillows ~ have you noticed?

I swear the vampire mozzies are breeding and hiding in the drains surrounding our houses and they have a ready built conduit into our house by the rain-gutter ground drainage that goes straight into the surrounding drains. The designers of our houses have provided a SMART Tunnel for mosquitoes and vermin to enter our premises. I vehemently believe that if the drains around this precinct in Ara Damansara were either totally sealed or totally opened, the mosquito population will reduce drastically. When will someone take action?

Hedge planting has begun

I've started planting a hedge of "Pecah Beling" along 1A/20.

With the great help of my maid, who does the hole digging,



we extended the row of Pecah Beling from behind my house right up to the junction entrance of 1A/22. Really good exercise, sweat and perspiration was trickling into our eyes as we bent over to put the rooted cuttings into their new home.




Neighbours of this row who stand to benefit from this hedge, I have a simple request which is very obvious. Please water these cuttings everyday so that they will grow into robust shrubs, not only shielding your home from prying eyes and keeping unwanted persons out, but it is also such a beneficial plant.



I have blogged about Pecah Beling in an earlier post.



I would like our hedge to not just be decorative, but useful too. And when you read about Pecah Beling, you will really appreciate the treasure that is growing behind your home. Give it life, and one day when it is big and robust from your care and attention, it will return the good deed to you.

Just what are the CCTVs for?

Well the secret is out. For over a month, the trench digging all around Ara Damansara got everyone wondering what was going to be installed and worries of water shortage too cropped up.







Well they are finally installed ~ the CCTVs. Dreaded if solely for monitoring traffic violations, welcomed if to surveil crime.

Looking at the direction the cameras are facing, the benefit of these solar powered CCTVs is not for Ara Damansara residents for the some authorities to gain revenue from summonses.



When I first heard that CCTVs were going to be installed, I thought to myself "Wow, our neighbourhood must surely be one of the most progressive non-gated communities in the country". So after the CCTVs were installed someone stopped to ask me the purpose of the surveillance. Naive me said to the asker, surely it must be for crime watch. Who on earth would want to waste that amount of public funds to catch traffic offenders?

Regretfully, the "who on earth" guess is apparently true if you observe the orientation of the cameras. When the poles first went up, I was glad to see that there were CCTV poles at each of our padangs. The football field by Mutiara, the playfield in the center of Ara Impian etc each have a CCTV pole. But on careful observation on the location of the pole and orientation of the camera, I am utterly disappointed.



It would make better community sense for the CCTVs to aid crime watch instead of traffic watch. Where is the need to watch the traffic anyway?

While the benefit of placing cameras at each junction could also a good idea to capture felons making their escape, the cameras at the padangs should really point inwards to the main area of activity. It would deter undesirable behaviour and should there be a football fight, viewing footage of the incident would shed light on it.

I guess revenue from traffic summonses will help pay for these cameras. Any other benefit from these cameras is only secondary.