Supervisor

Richard, he is the compound Supervisor (Contractor?). On Monday 28th Sept 2008, morning, I saw him cutting the grass. Why? He said the grass was too long and and the guy who used to cut the grass has now left his services. According to him he gave the guy quite a good pay (by local standard) and even promoted him to some sort of supervisory job.
Anyway he still has 3 cleaning ladies to look after the cleanliness of the apartments complex.



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Swimming

I took this photograph at about near sunset on Friday. It looks very peaceful.

Some boys were using the apartment's complex swimming pool. What set me thinking then was how clean was that swimming pool? Has any test been done to assure that water in the pool is 'clean', free from any ... God forbid ......... virus that may affect one's health? No doubt the maintenance people have put chlorine periodically in the water, and they also pump, filter and clean the water when the water seems cloudy, but is that all that can give assurance that the pool is 'clean'? All sorts of people (tenants and outsiders) have been swimming in the pool.

There is a notice board in the gazeboo nearby stating the 'right' rules for using the pool. It was strictly enforced when the apartment complex was first opened and the pool first used, only for a couple of years or so when the 'rules' were enforced. But like all rules in Malaysia, some are just there for decoration. Anyway who is going to enforce the rules?

Todate the pool seems safe enough.



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Is the building safe?

What are the safety precautions in my apartment? I would suppose that since it already has a Certicate of Fitness for occupancy issued by the Kuantan (Malaysia) Municipality, it has already abided by the Malaysian Building Bylaws. To what degree and to what standard I would not really know. I have not seen the Certificate. Anyone ever seen such Certificate?

Just mere observation. There are fire hydrants, that I have seen. But I have not seen a fire hose anywhere, or even any portable fire extinguisher anywhere, or even a fire wagon. Are these necessary by the Bylaws? I do not know. And I am just wondering what does the Bylaws say about fire escapes.

One area which, I suppose is of concern is, is the community safe from thefts and burglaries? We have of course guarded guard hut at the main gate. But cases have been known where intruders climbed up the complex compound fencing. In fact cases have been report on minor theft (burglaries?) in some apartment, not minor really if cameras and laptops are missing. Where do the thieves (burglar?) gain entry? From what I heard, from the windows. I suppose that is to be expected. But we do not want to live in bird cages, where all the windows have iron grills. Maybe in some places these are necessary but I do not believe that these are yet necessary in my apartment complex. And a case had been known where people (a security guard, now sacked) entrusted with an apartment keys have entered the apartment concerned and taken away valuable stuff.

Lets keep our apartment complex safe!


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My neighbours.

I cannot really describe who my neighbours are, indications are that they are varied. My only measure are the vehicles they drive.



Most of my neighbours are professionals and semi professional, people who can very well afford to live away from the town centre. Somehow they choose to live in the town centre, cramp as it is in these apartments.
But there are also youth and students living in the apartments, measured by the number of motorcycles parked in the parking area under the apartments.

And I have seen trainee nurses living in a couple of apartments at the other corner of the complex away from my apartment.
There was even once, some apartments rented by a College in town as their place of students residential. It did not work out, these students are not the type to live in an apartments complex where good families live. The students became nuisance to the apartment community. They soon move out. They were really misfits.
Once we even had some dubious bar-girls living in our midst.
Some of the apartments are owner occupied, but many are rented out by their owners. Some rented out apartments have good (and civilized) tenants but many are rented out to youths (males and females) who do not really take care of the apartments and some do not fit into the ‘society’. Many stay out late, make engine noise at odd hours, and they soon move out when they find more suitable (to their way of thinking) houses or rooms to rent.
I have my complaints but the overall picture is that the complex is managed and tenanted by people of acceptable standard, at least for now.


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Balai Seni Lukis Pahang.

Pahang has its own Balai Seni Lukis (Hall of Artist), in Kuantan. Probably Pahang (as a State in Malaysia) has many talented artists and I suppose the hall was created as a place where budding and other artists in Pahang (Malaysia) can exhibit their work. Just my guess, but I do not really know the objective of its formation. Anyway, its good to know that such organisation exists in Pahang (Malaysia).
Walking pass it today, I observed buntings (two) indicating the centre's activities. These had happened before this visit of mine, but I am glad to know that such pertinent activities had been going on.


What attracted me when walking pass the building as an unfinished art work under the tree in the compound. A sort of school of goldfish.

And on enquiry, I met the artist, his name he said was Acai (he did not give me his full name).

The place is so hidden from view, I do not really know how people can find the place to visit it and to see its exhibits. I have not traced any signboard on the main road (perhaps its there but I have not seen it). (Unlike the Museum Tokoh of the Kuantan Town which has a big signboard on the main road but try locating the building, one can hardly know which building in Town is called Museum Tokoh, one needs to be lucky enough to find it).




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A Quiet Place

A town normally is polluted with noise, people, cars, activities and whatever else that can generate noise. But today I found a peaceful quiet spot in Kuantan (Malaysia), a most unlikely spot. It was behind a big hall called the Silver Jubilee Hall (Dewan Jubili Perak), it was the Silver Jubilee of the period of rule by the present Sultan of Pahang, so I understand (any correction? ) in Jalan (Road) Teluk Sisek.

It has trees, a lake and a construction for a recreation site, an additional recreation garden under construction for the Town was going on.

But it was quiet, one could hear birds singing and one could ever hear one's breathing. That was how quiet it was. From memory, such quietness can only be found in the rural scenes, away from the hustle bustles of towns and cities.
Probably all noise from the main road was blocked by the Hall.



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