House Renovation Part 2

The Chinese seventh lunar month is the hungry ghost festival and some "pantang/taboo" to begin renovation to your premise during this time is inauspicious.
My sis is worried that the work start during that month, therefore I have to asked them to postpone to the 1st August as better safe than sorry.
One other thing that I'm a little bit cautious is this year the raining season start earlier as usually it will be between October till March while May till July are generally the drier months. How things turn out fine as during the whole week for painting the weather turn out fine. My friend Chai when comes to painting outdoor, the heavy rain simply wash off the wet paint.

Always remember, this point of no return . Once the tile is plastered on the wall or floor, never think that you will ever remove or replace it , as tiles always be outdated and  no longer in production after some time.

On the front car porch area you need to pre-lay the following

1) auto gate armoured cable wiring (usually 7 cores)
2) outdoor water filter for the whole house for cleaner water . To get the inlet hose and outlet hose joint ready.
   Nowadays is essential to install filter as having a water filter no longer luxury but essential as our river is no
  longer clean.
3) Outdoor lighting and plug outlet 

Need to select wisely for tiles
1. Floor tile – Homogeneous tile
2. Non-slip tiles - Car porch and kitchen tiles- must ensure the surface is mildly rough as usually this area will be wet
   and someone could easily falls
3. Skirting - required as when you mop the floor it often hit the wall
4.Normally one half of your car porch is covered with BRC but another half is not. So better lay the   BRC than later. Your car porch when not slope properly will collect water. Again need to remind tileman on this.

Next you need to think of is how you are going to place your kitchen plan -
1-where  your sink direction will be
2-your stove - don't place too near to electrical plug
3-washing machine need standby taps suitable for washing machine and floor drain for carry away wastewater.
4-exhaust fan a must for basic smoke free kitchen and cooker hood if can afford it.
5-referigerator - where to put only can decide once you have actually brought it and must be able to open the door without obstruction.

You need to bring measuring tape to roughly measure the dimension to confirm it while buying furniture as we can only estimate only using naked eyes.

Remember
1. if you want plaster ceiling- then this has to be done first
2. plan your lighting, aircon, electrical points location - add accordingly your needs
3. price comparison on electrical and furniture shops, before buying
4. fix the air conditioner and security grills first as the touch up on painting needed once this things installed.
5. Seeking friends opinion and own judgement before purchase. Also googling for information.

Just to share my experience on buying electrical appliances and lighting.
As a general guide when buying electrical appliances we would ask what is the most popular choices and why? The salesperson then will then explain.

Ceiling fan - Before this my brother-in-law kept reminding me don't buy remote control fan, due to their unpleasant experience with it. Baby fan or low ceiling fan is prefer due to plaster ceiling will lower the height of the ceiling.

I decided to select remote control fan as

1. The regulator control fan looks plain, while the remote control fan look nice to match with plaster ceiling.
2. Fan blades is made of metal unlike previously.
3. Windy as a result of this.
4. Friend using remote control fan has no complaint.

Lighting: Some will prefer using plain florescent light but having plaster ceiling leave me no choice but use down light instead.                
When I shop around , I was spoilt of choice but note down certain lighting before making final purchase.
I need to remind myself certain light fitting was selected due to its modern and functional light and easily to to clean when required. All those using bulbs will be replaced by energy saving light bulbs. Even though it can be expensive at first but will save your money in the long run.
advice: Install also light sensor light at your front porch and back kitchen lane as this is for security purpose.
After dark it will light up the area automatically and in the morning it will go off the light automatically while you are away.

For refrigerator choose those with these advantages
1. refrigerators that use 20% less energy than models and is labelled with the 5-star Energy-Efficient Rating.
2. refrigerator using tempered glass is beautiful and lasting. Old models often has corrosive surface after a few years.

Air-conditioner. Choice between Inverter  air-conditioner and the normal unit. Inverter air -conditioner can only save minimal amount in a year. Therefore we choose the normal unit as inverter is more difficult and time consuming to repair and costly.


House security bar/grilles - important feature

Before installing security grilles you must keep in mind that while you need to protect your home front and back, you need also to allow at least one window swing open from inside. This is to allow you to escape in case of emergency.
Although other countries get an quick release device but here use a padlock or keys, however you need to placed a visible key to unlock like a breakglass for keys storage as there is no time to search for key. People will panic and cannot find them.

My next door neighbour did not think of a window escape grilles for her upstairs master bedroom which might have a problem when she need to repair or service the air conditioner later on.

House Renovation Part 1

While renovating my sis house, I came across a lot of things that need to be done.
The first priority is the budget. You may think of anything you want and the end of the day is not exceed your budget.

One of the neighbour have overrun their budget in renovation and have to temporarily abandon.
Before you hire a contractor to do renovations or repairs to your home, you must have your written approval and a signed statement from your neighbours.

A bit weird as need to get consent from your neighbours for your own house renovating but I guess this is to avoid any argument later esp. on wall fencing.

Any renovation or extension work can start, the owner must seek an appointment with the Building Inspector or Building Technician for consultation regarding the procedures involved before any renovation or extension plan can be approved.

Renovation or extension plans have to be forwarded by a licensed architect/ draftsman/engineer appointed by the owner.

Every new house nowadays requires some minor renovation prior moving in. It is more convenient to renovate first than later. After all approval done , you need to display a approved building permit on renovation from the local Council before any works can start.

If you choose to follow others saying dun waste time, waste money applying for permit is asking for trouble as next door neighbour got raided by local council but luckily she got permit on renovation. Only did not display prominently.

I was recommended a contractor by Ah Chai as his house been renovated and he is very pleased with the results. I have asked the contractor to quote the house renovation but was works delayed to a year as she is being highly sought.

She's a foul-mouthed person but very competent contractor as she has to handle a range of man who works under her directly or indirectly including plumber, bricklayer ,tileman, painter, electrician and security grill maker.

Very swift and well executed construction job by her and her man. From day one, floor foundation completed, next day brick wall has been laid and within two weeks already have building extension structure ready.

After applying mortar on the brick walls , it has to wait at least two weeks on the exterior and 3 weeks on the interior before the painter can painting the new mortar , as to let it completely dry.

...to be continue

My Tasik Kenyir Holiday, 3-6 June 2011

Foreword

This vacation made possible by my good friend -Ah Ming , together we bring along so many of his fishing kaki(local word for fishing enthusiasts) and gila-gila gang of mine.(fun crazy gang)

We departed  from Tampin and Kajang respectively before we met up at Kuantan, a long distance from our home to our holiday destination- Kenyir Lake.

DAY 1
(3/6/2011 FRIDAY)

8.30PM We started out by pick up 'malay girl'(nickname due to her appearance) at Puchong followed by 'Kit' at Ampang. Journey to Kuantan was delayed due to the traffic jam at Ampang and also Karak Higway . The reason was due to tomorrow being a public holiday so everyone has a plan will go 'balik kampong/back to hometown' or makan angin/holiday break.

DAY 2
(4/6/2011 SATURDAY)

2.00am By the time we reach at our meeting point at Gambang is already 2.00am in the morning , we continue travelling another 200km before reaching Kuala Berang town. Followed by another 50km uphill.


6.00am Reached Pengkalan Gawi(Jetty)

We've reached the largest man-made lake in South East Asia. After long journey we continue to endure the hours of anxious waiting. We're so frustrated when we see others holiday makers being pick up by their host while we were still waiting someone for the last six hours.  Everyone started to grumble when will the boathouse owner send someone to collect us. I guess the guest reluctant to leave on time.

All smiles at last when our receptionist  has come by speedboat to get us to the floating hotel

Someone did not sleep well last night or maybe when the wind blow on her face makes her sleepy

12.ooam Finally the speedboat came to collect us in two separate speed boats. Our floating hotel cum boat or boathouse is parked just inside of Taman Negara. The boathouse is basically modified from fishing boat and provide a basic house facilities which are 8 guest rooms , a kitchen, toilet two units, bathroom with shower facility and a TV Room(Entertainment room by day turned staff sleeping quarter at night). On the way there our guide has to slowdown for refueling twice and also help someone to restart their boat engine but to no avail.Travel time about 2 hours.

It seems like the ABC Tv drama, my first impression is like "Da Plane,Da Plane" but here I should use "Da Boat,Da Boat"

I was expecting the boathouse will be old, ugly and dirty boathouse as mentioned to me by Ah Ming but to my surprise the owner has just changed his boathouse six months ago.
Lucky for us and seeing how wonderful the brand new boathouse have let us forget about the waiting ordeal. The boathouse owner was there to greet us when we arrived and we are surprise to see this owner (Mok San) is 78 years old but does not aged much. Has time stands still here which prevent aging?

Me and the boathouse owner

Peaceful and calm serenity make Lake Kenyir the perfect getaway from everyday hustle and bustle everyday hectic life .Maybe this is the Shangri-La everyone dream about.

Ah Ming didn't mention to him we want to visit the kelah fish sanctuary ,so he did not apply for a permit and change of plan ensue. Instead we go for a boat ride to Sungai Cacing.This river was once a popular fishing site but it is now not allow as this is protected for fish breeding purposes.

He was so eager to start fishing and go straight at the back of boat house and do warm up by catching 'lampam fish' which are plentiful .This fish will not likely end up on our dinner plates as it ate our shit! No indah water septic tank here so most likely end up in fish belly.Yuck!

Shh..Don't tell anyone I didn't caught this fish!

5.30pm All the food is prepared by his Malay worker and Mok San will do the cooking. He usually go out fishing to get his fresh river fish away from here and will be back before seven. His cooking is unbelievable tasty and what surprise us more is he has no training as a chef!

I reckon his cooking is on par with some of the fancy restaurant I go.What is his secret recipe? According to him the foods must be fresh and one important sauce is a particular soya sauce he got from Tampin.

Otherwise can it be we are so hungry as we only had maggi rebus/instant noodle in the early morning at a small town called Kuala Berang.

Delicious Dinner Dishes cook by Mok San

NO HANDPHONE COVERAGE AT THIS AREA

I guess this will be good as your mind is at peace and give you a solid reason for not answering their call but be prepared for a lot of missed call when you return.

DAY 3
(5/6/2011 SUNDAY)

9.00am Breakfast served- fried noodle with teh tarik .(Malaysia famous tea drink by successive pouring from one container to another)

No argument about it, the best fried noodle(kway teow) I have ever tasted-Looks ordinary but  taste not ordinary

Another dissapointment as the waterfall we want to visit is too far from our place ,so instead we visit BEWAH CAVE only .

To get to the cave we need to go up the stairs quite a distance before reaching. Upon reaching we visited the mini museum on prehistoric man history before proceed to the dark cave .We need to used torchlight to find our way inside , previously there are some lights using solar power but not working anymore.

So this where Flintstones used to live

While exploring the cave , OKL found a snake on the platform hand rail but thankfully he managed to avoid touching it.

Prehistoric Bewah  Cave

2.00pm Reached back to our boathouse, with nothing to do we went off down river using the motorboat provided- this boathouse owner has 7 single engine boats for his guests, more than any boathouse you can find.After a few tips from Fam another good friend of mine, I have finally managed to learn how to steer the single engine boat around nearby river .

Fun to steer a motor boat

If you move the tiller to the left the boat goes to the right and move the tiller right the boat will goes to left. It's easy right? You need to brainwash your brain for a while as you need to adjust how you normally would drive your car.

3.oopm Another boat ride to a nearby river ,where we stop and play around floating with life-jacket. How to   relax your body? You can when you rest your back and lifting your leg to allow buoy takes over. After having lessons on floating we move upper shallow river which we need to paddle with our back hand as props due to propeller cannot be use for fear of hitting the rocks.Upper stream river current is stronger where we enjoy playing floating on your back when rapid river ride. Rain came down unexpectedly and we have to rush back with everyone's soaking wet . Mok san was waiting to serve us with Tong Shui/Red Bean sweet dessert soup.

Rapid River Ride

DAY 4 (6/6/2011 MONDAY)

3.30am Woke up by the passing boat wave which causes the boat to rock slightly. I wanted to accompany Ah Ming which is alone fishing at the front of deck of the boat but end up felt asleep on the observation deck.

5.00am Woke up this time not by the passing boat but the commotion downstairs, it seems a large snake estimated more than10ft swam pass by our boat and circling around the area. Wasn't sure from far as we can only see a creature head and neck rose up above the water, looking as if it was hunting for morning meal. We were convinced at what we had seen due to one of us who happen to saw it from short distance.There is no doubt it was a snake but what kind of snake was that? Not anaconda but could be python?
After this snake lurking in river, the fish sense something is not right and no fish were caught afterwards-all hiding presumably. Fish also have the sixth sense that we have?

7.00am Start boathouse engine for journey back.

8.00am We all had our breakfast fried noodle on the front deck of the boat due to engine is at the back of kitchen and you could not enjoy it quietly. While having your breakfast there allow you to enjoy the breathtaking scenery which is enjoyable and we chatted with Mok san and listen to his story. Our journey back let us take a closer view of the surrounding areas as the boathouse has slower speed. It takes about 5 hours to reach jetty. My only regret is that we did not discover about this wonderful place sooner as Mok san is not getting any younger. We are afraid that in future will there be a successor as he has no male children, all four are daughters. I joked about Ah Ming should take over Mok San boathouse as he has almost all the requirements to run a boathouse business but Mf argued she also want but first she has to cope with sea sickness.
Also what worries me is whether environment cleanliness have done enough for the future generations to enjoy

MALAYSIA SHANGRILA

End of our trip, now back to civilization!

Group Photo- Everyone say Cheese!