'Tis The Season To Be Jolly, Fa La La La La La . . . DURIAN!

In this 2011 Christmas season, all Malaysians are once again greeted by the unique aroma released by the King Of Fruits - The Durian.

Yes, we are once again into the durian season where what smells like a gas leak turns out to be God's gift to our taste buds, and where we discover newer and newer durian species with names ever so puzzling and amusing.

Nevertheless, there is no denying the popularity of durians. Today, this King of Fruits is enjoying a growing popularity and demand around the world which will only mean one thing - be prepared to pay higher and higher prices for this fruit in the future as we compete against importing countries demanding this delicious local produce.

When it comes to quality durians, Bentong is one of the places where you can expect to find them. So far, I only had the chance to taste the 'Musang King' and D24 species which I bought from nearby Bukit Tinggi Village and to sum it up - Good Price, Great Taste! I got my D24s from a restaurant owner who sells only a few durians at a time in front of his shop and he only sells durians which he thinks are good and ready to be consumed. Must be a real durian expert.

Apart from the opportunity to savour delicious foods offered by the countless restaurants in Bukit Tinggi Village, I now look forward to FRESH, QUALITY DURIANS at reasonable prices in every coming durian season.

In this same time, I was also invited by a friend to visit his relative's 2-acre fruit orchard in Bukit Tinggi and guess what I saw ? Ta daaaaa . . . . .

Since that day, I have decided to plant a durian tree near my house in Genting Tiara. Of course, the tree must be a distance away from the house to avoid potential damage caused by the tree's deep, long roots but still be within the compound of the house so that I may lay claim to that tree and its produce. It will most likely be a 'Musang King' specie since its price is so absurdly high. Unfortunately, I will have to wait 5 - 6 years for the tree to mature and bear fruit. Well, I guess I just have to tell myself that those who have patience shall be highly rewarded.

In the meantime . . .

"WISHING ALL A WONDERFUL MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

Mother Nature's Work Right Up My Doorstep

Went to Genting Tiara yesterday to take some photos for my home renovation. As I have not started work on the landscape of the house, did not really bother or appreciate the plants which are currently growing wildly and rather messily around the house compound.

While waiting for my daughter playing in the compound, I glanced upon a rather pleasant surprise. My guess is they were previously planted by someone else but I certainly did not take care of any plant in the compound since possession of the house a couple of months back and don't think anyone else did way before that. Here are some pics of my pleasant surprise . . .

Orchid plants (don't know which species) growing from my ground up and blooming some rather beautiful orchids, surviving solely with the help of Mother Nature. Don't think that can happen easily in the city without human care. I am no flower guy but orchids have always been my favourite and most admired flowers due to their simplistic form yet vibrant colours, especially when combined together among their vast and exotic species. Am now wondering how I can safely transfer and retain these orchids when I do up my landscaping? Am beginning to love my place even more now and can't wait to move in soon.

Again, hope other dwellers in Genting Tiara will appreciate what Mother Nature has to offer and refrain from turning their natural landscapes into concrete platforms.

A Legend Is Born

5th October 2011. The day the whole world begins to mourn for the loss of one of the world's most admired humans - Mr Steve Jobs (1955 - 2011), co-founder of Apple.

Whether it's the Mac user or the PC user, whether it's the iPhone user or the Android Phone user, whether it's the iPad user or the Android tablet user, no one can deny your achievements or how, under your leadership, Apple products have directly or indirectly influenced their lives.

I started this blog using my first ever Apple product - my MacBook Pro 13", and I can safely claim that in the foreseeable future, my next computer or laptop will definitely be an Apple. I am no techie and may never be one, but the day I started using my MacBook, I knew I had in my hand a cool product which is fast and reliable and definitely worth every dollar in my pocket. It is not often that one is able to find products which consistently look good yet work extremely well, but Apple has managed to do it and does it really well too, thanks in no small part to the late Steve Jobs. As of today, I am also the proud owner of a Mac Mini and an iPad 2, all of which are enjoyed by my entire family. Yes, I am now an Apple convert but I still carry a HTC Android phone and never owned an iPhone. Hmm, am suddenly having a vision of myself holding an iPhone 5.

Simply put, Apple products carry premium prices but that is only because they DESERVE TO! An Apple product is a classic example of FORM and FUNCTION at its BEST. The popularity of Apple products and the superb Apple share price say it all.

On this day, a great visionary is lost but A LEGEND IS BORN!

May your beliefs in always introducing to the world the simplest yet most innovative and attractive of products be forever carried on by every member of the Apple family.

May you rest in peace.

In Cloud 9

Monday 26/09/11 @ 4.15pm: Snapped some photos while on Karak Highway a couple of minutes after leaving Genting Tiara and after much rainfall. One can expect to see such sceneries often along the Karak Highway to or from Genting Tiara especially on a day just before or after the rain. These scenes can truly heal the soul, relax the mind and bring us into a realm where the mountains softly touch the skies - HEAVENLY. Definitely causes one to have second thoughts returning to the city.

But even on such days , Mother Nature never fails to colour the world . . .

nor make our life any less interesting with her other creations . . .

P.S. Do not let the above pic fool you. It's just slightly smaller than the size of your thumb's nail. Don't think it's dangerous but if you get bitten, don't hope to turn into 'Your Friendly Neighbourhood - Spiderman'. Just appreciate that you have your own National Geographic Channel - LIVE!

Green The Earth

Anyone choosing Genting Tiara is assumed to be looking for an environment which offers cool and fresh air. This cool and fresh air is not only the result of Genting Tiara's high altitude but is also sustained by the evergreen rainforest and surrounding grounds which are layered with PLANTS & GRASS.

One should not join the fate of today's city home owners where most home compounds are cleared of greeneries and replaced by tiles. When that happens, it is no wonder that even bungalow owners in the city will complain about how hot their homes can be during the hot seasons, not to mention other smaller types of houses. A land covered with grass is able to absorb heat from the sun with minimum heat released back to the environment compared to a one covered with tiles or concrete where the materials are quickly baked and the ground turns into a hot frying pan. When that happens, a breeze coming into the house will carry with it the outdoor heat released, making the temperature indoor much higher than normal.

Even for a cool place like Genting Tiara, heat from the afternoon sun will still hit the ground but if the ground is of tiles or concrete, it will quickly heat up and this heat will rise above the surface making the surrounding air hotter than usual i.e replacing the cool air around. It would be a pity when that happens to a place which is supposed to offer free, cool air.

Safetywise, a tiled or concrete ground pose a far greater danger to children and old folks alike. Falls on grass and earth are definitely softer than on hard surfaces, thereby allowing parents to feel much safer permitting their children to play and the elderly to take a leisurely walk in the open.

Healthwise, playing on a natural ground provides a good opportunity for growing children to be exposed to the natural environmental elements which will greatly boost the children's immune system and enhance their resistance to bacterias and viruses.

Therefore, it would really be a waste and a mistake to turn the compound of the house from one layered with nature's beautiful greeneries to one layered with manmade tiles or concrete.

GO GREEN, FOR OUR FUTURE!

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - Final Part (Health)

Health:

OK! Finally reached the last part of the Good of Genting Tiara - Health. Often ranked among the most important aspect of our lives but more often than not, one which is taken for granted until we begin to lose it. So, I guess this post will only interest those who are conscious of their health and want to lead a healthy lifestyle, but I sincerely hope that this post will also create awareness amongst all that staying healthy is a choice everyone can equally have access to and staying in Genting Tiara offers exactly that.

As mentioned in my earlier posts, Genting Tiara offers the excellent environment for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Firstly, it's location amongst the green lungs comprising the lush and abundant rainforests, away from massive vehicle and industrial pollutions of busy towns means only the freshest and purest air will go into our body. Therefore, the body takes in a lot less harmful pollutants and contaminants detrimental to health.

Secondly, the body's continuous unprotected (people nowadays can be too protective and too hygienic) exposure to the natural environment and it's elements e.g. air, water, plants, soil and all living beings within can only mean a more natural and more effective way of strengthening the body's immune system as opposed to the countless vaccinations with questionable effectiveness and side effects. Mother Nature intended for 'When the going gets tough, the tough gets going!" and not "... the tough gets vaccinations'. The human body's fantastic immune system works by winning fights against external invasions (bacterias and viruses) and growing stronger thereafter without forgetting how to win the next similar fight. It is humans who altered Mother Nature's gameplan and increased everyone's reliance on medications and vaccinations, regardless of whether they are truly necessary or not. Ever wondered why each progressing generation of kids almost always seem more prone and susceptible to illnesses and allergies compared to those of the generations before? And these progressive generation of kids always seem to have more and more vaccinations.

Finally, I would rate the cool climate in Genting Tiara as the most beneficial for health. Some might argue that the daytime temperature in Genting Tiara is not as cold as locations on the mid-hills like Gohtong Jaya and on top of the hills like Genting Highlands Resort. Well, unless one works or studies in these areas, chances are that during the daytime, we will all be down in Klang Valley in air-conditioned offices, rooms and vehicles, and if we are out in the open, it will be the same hot and humid climate.

It is the nighttime temperatures which are the most appealing and when we are most in the house. The night temperatures in Genting Tiara from 22 - 24 deg Celcius are most ideal and most similar to the widely used temperature settings for an air-conditioned room during our nightime slumber. This natural gift from mother nature is precious, priceless and best of all, comes with zero or minimal cost (for those who may still want a running fan just to ventilate the room whenever or if ever there is a lack of breeze).

We all know that an apple left in the fridge will maintain its freshness very much longer than one that is left in the open. Hence, all else being equal, a person living in a cooler environment should be healthier compared to one living in a hot climate. This, of course does not mean that the colder the environment, the healthier we get. End of the day, we are still warm blooded beings with low tolerance for extreme temperatures.

Maybe some may think that they can mimic the cool environment by the use of air-conditioning units. Well, higher electricity costs aside, I would equate such a move with an apple which is left on a fridge tray as opposed to one kept inside a fridge drawer. After a while, notice how the apple on the fridge tray ends up dried, shrunken and wrinkled like a prune while the one in the drawer more resembles a healthy fruit? Air-conditioning units dry up everything in its surroundings, even wet clothings left overnight. Imagine what prolonged usage will do to the human body which consists of about 60% water, and all this while the body is supposed to be healing itself every night when in sleep mode? Air-conditioning units may mimic the temperature of an environment but they certainly cannot replace the many other healthy aspects of a naturally cooled environment.

If we choose to go natural and organic on food, why would we do otherwise when choosing a home where the entire family has all the opportunity to be rejuvenated in body and in mind? Can city living realistically offer genuine rejuvenation of the body and mind? Instead of shutting out the noise of the city through various meditations while absorbing sounds of the winds and waters through CDs, why not get the REAL DEAL and live the REAL THING?

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - Final Part (Value)

Value:

Often when we talk about the value of an item, the first thing that comes to mind is $$$. And it is because of $$$ that we often overlook the real values that lie within. Much like being mesmerised by a pretty or handsome face while overlooking the beauty or darkness that lies beneath that face.

$$$ - Anyway, I shall first begin by talking about the value in terms of $$$. The item in discussion is none other than Genting Tiara, more specifically the bungalow lands. Over the last 2 years, property prices have risen tremendously especially the properties in Klang Valley, namely those located in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. I shall attempt to illustrate a comparison with the current property situation in Klang Valley the way I see it, therefore all views are expressed in my own honest opinion and any misinterpretation or misrepresentation is truly unintentional.

For easier illustration and understanding, Kuala Lumpur shall be the centre point (assuming KL being place of work) with Genting Tiara on one end and Klang on the other since the latter two locations are roughly of the same distance and travel time from Kuala Lumpur. We shall not take into account the really, really super expensive properties in truly, truly ultra high end locations which are frankly out of reach of the average successful mortal.

Genting Tiara Kuala Lumpur Klang

Average per square foot cost

of freehold land (RM) 65 250 100

Cost of 10,000 sq. ft. land (RM) 650,000 2,500,000 1,000,000

Cost of building a bungalow

with 5,000 sq. ft. built -up

area @ RM200/sq. ft. 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000

Total cost of land & bungalow 1,650,000 3,500,000 2,000,000

Average cost of a semi-detached Not applicable 1,800,000 1,000,000

unit with a mere 40 ft. x 80 ft.

(3,200 sq. ft.) land size

Note: Pardon my above alignment. Must be my limited knowledge on how to work them.

The above clearly illustrates the obvious savings from owning a bungalow in Genting Tiara. The $$$ savings are in the hundreds of thousands if not millions. These savings will most certainly come in handy as money for furniture and renovations. As the average land size in Genting Tiara is 10,000 sq. ft., we can also see that every RM1 increase in its land cost in future equates to a total increase of RM10,000, but bear in mind that land prices don't usually change by the Ringgit, it's more common by RM5 or RM10. That would mean very significant increases of RM50,000 - RM100,000.

From the illustrations, one no longer needs to dream but can actually begin realising the dream of owning a big bungalow with a big piece of land for under RM1.7 million and it's all only a 30-minute drive to KL city centre practically on one long stretch of road alone. Heck, it's even cheaper than today's semi-detached units in town and definitely more value for money than today's new launches of a tiny plot of land in Klang Valley with a so-called bungalow on it and having neighbouring units like only 20 feet apart where your neighbour may look into your window with their naked eyes and clearly read the title of the book that you hold in your hand.

Apart from the above, there is also another form of savings from Genting Tiara - savings on cost of electricity. As we all know, air-conditioners consume large amounts of electricity, therefore make up a large portion of our monthly electricity bills. Nightly use of 4 to 6 air-conditioning units for 8 hours alone can easily chalk up a monthly electricity bill of RM250 to RM350.

Sitting at 2,000 ft above sea level, the night temperature in Genting Tiara is already comparable to that of an air-conditioning unit i.e at a comfortable 22 - 24 degrees Celsius. Add to the fact that the surrounding grounds in Genting Tiara are mainly trees, greeneries and soil, the sun's heat is easily absorbed and dissipated as opposed to the unbearable heat coming from the sun-baked grounds of common 'concrete jungles' of the cities. All these equate to much cooler homes at Genting Tiara throughout the day, throughout the year and best of all, they are mother nature's gift to us at no monetary expense.

Recently, I found out that we can actually install BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaic) systems - simply put, solar power generation systems built onto our homes, more specifically roofs, car porch, pergola or other open spaces, AND actually use the generated power (exported to the power grid) to contra with our power consumption (imported from the power grid) from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). Currently, there is no monetary gain when we have a net supply of power i.e even when solar power generation is equal to or more than actual consumption, our bills are at best, zerorised but that in itself is already a great savings on our power bills.

The beauty is when the country's Renewable Energy Act comes into effect (expecting in Q3 2011, fingers crossed) where the FIT (Feed-In Tariff) mechanism is up and running. Under this Act, the net surplus power generated is sold to TNB at a set price i.e consumers are paid money for net sales of power back to TNB. Each contract will run for 21 years (it is estimated that the efficient lifespan of BIPV systems are around 20 years, so it would be worthwhile to install a new system thereafter before entering into a fresh contract with TNB). Given that the breakeven for the installation of a BIPV system is around 8 years, that equates to a healthy net profit for the next 13 years. That, to me, is quite an interesting deal, not to mention environmentally friendly as well.

The other beauty is the cost of BIPV systems. These systems are continuously undergoing technological improvements and are enjoying good economies of scale i.e drop in costing. Today, BIPV systems can be installed for as low as RM15K/kWp. But realistically, a 4kWp system is the more likely option to match the average tropical house with electricity churning air-conditioning units. It is here that I would like to point out yet again the value of Genting Tiara. With practically no necessity for air-conditioning units, a bungalow in Genting Tiara can see significant $$$ savings with just the installation of a 1kWp BIPV system. That is a clear savings of no less than RM45K for system installation and significant reduction in monthly electricity bills, maybe to the point of nil. If one wishes to take advantage of the FIT mechanism i.e to make extra $$$, then the cheaper land price of Genting Tiara is the perfect option since land area is the main factor in enabling the installation of a higher capacity BIPV system.

Environmental - I do not wish to overemphasise the simple logic and obvious advantage on the environmental values of Genting Tiara. So, I would just offer this simply comparison:-

Location A: Cheaper yet fresher and cleaner air yet naturally cooler yet not too cold till everything is damp and moldy and layers of blanket and heater (more electricity cost) are needed during night time.

Location B: Far more expensive yet very polluted air yet naturally much hotter till air-conditioning unit is needed during both day and night time.

Question 1: Which of the above two locations offers the preferred choice of living?

Question 2: Which of the above two locations will enable both young and old to spend more time outdoors?

Question 2: Which of the above two locations best describes Genting Tiara?

BINGO!

Realise how we look up into the city's night sky only to find the stars being blanketed by the light pollution of the city's buildings, roads and vehicles? Well, fancy the moon being your only light in the sky with minimal light pollution? Look no further . . .

Family - The affordability of owning a bungalow in Genting Tiara may be translated to mean shorter time span required to own such a property. Here, I am implying on the following:-

Time spent on making money VS Quality Time spent with family

The value of quality family time. Hmm, seem to be a scarcity nowadays. We need only observe or ask our children to get to the truth of things. Is coming home everyday quality time with family? Is having a meal together quality time with family? Is sleeping in the same bed quality time with family?

Well, the average person needs to come home, eat and sleep. That is a near certainty for the average family today. However, what are we coming home to? A good, quiet and undisturbed nap? The next episode of a TV series? CNN? Sports Channel? Food done and ready to serve? Children ever ready to hear how difficult and tiring their parents have been working on yet another day and how they should appreciate that alone, or ever ready to be lectured or punished for not performing well enough in school after all our hard earned money spent on their tuition fees?

Were we greeted with hugs from our children the moment we came back home and entered the house telling us how much they missed us and wants to play with us? Were we laughing at the silliest of jokes or discussing/debating events of the day over dinner? Did we hug and kiss our spouse good night before going to bed? Often times, the excuses given are that one does not have the mood nor the energy nor the patience nor the time left for the family. Simply put - "Mommy and Daddy has to work hard and often long hours so that you children can one day stay in a dream house". Well, in a way, that is the reality for many average decent family today who strive to achieve and upgrade to the condominium (RM500K), the 2-storey link house (RM800K), the 2-storey corner lot (RM1.2M), the 2 1/2 storey Semi-D (RM1.5M) and ultimately the 3 or 4-storey bungalow (RM2.5M). Time is being spent making money, thus obviously leaving no more time for family.

Family bonding with children starts from when the children are born till maybe 12 - 15 years old. Miss that opportunity and one may be passing the point of no return. By then, the children may be having a stronger bond with their friends instead of with their parents. That is when problems arise and parents have a hard time wondering why their children are rebelling while the children feel that their parents have never understood or cared for them at all.

But, wait! What would the average parents (estimated age: 35 - 40 yrs) be doing during these golden 12 - 15 years of the child? All would likely be working to own their dream homes. The normal ones would be happy to own a condominium, the more successful ones would be happy with an intermediate 2-storey link house, and the even more successful ones would have got their 2-storey corner lots or 2-storey Semi-Ds. The fact is, many would not be able to have enough time nor outsmart a couple of economic cycles to even be close to owning a bungalow.

Since we are, after all talking about Genting Tiara bungalows here, let's concentrate on the more successful ones with their corner lots or Semi-Ds. As stated above, prices for corner lots in a respectable area are in the range of > RM1 million while Semi-Ds in the range of > RM1.5 million. Compared to a typical bungalow in Genting Tiara as illustrated above, we end up with a Semi-D with barely 1/3 of the land size and 1/2 of the built-up area. If we downsize the built-up of the bungalow to a reasonable 3,000 sq. ft. on 10,000 sq. ft. of land to bring the total cost down to the price range of a 2-storey corner lot, we end up with a corner lot which is somewhat of similar built-up but still probably 1/2 the land size.

The above paragraph may seem a bit confusing. In short, what I am trying to say is that parents may only have a couple of golden years left for their children and instead of chasing the ever expensive dream bungalow in Klang Valley, they can actually own a bungalow very much earlier and appreciate it together with their children. The bond in the final golden years of the children may pave the way for a better parent-child relationship for many more years to come. It also means less stress for the parents in terms of work and financial commitment.

Residential building structure is called a HOUSE;

HOUSE + FAMILY may be called a HOME; but only

HOME + LOVE & CARE will earn the right to be called a 'HOME SWEET HOME'.

If the desired HOUSE is a bungalow, then based on the above, the earlier we get the HOUSE, the sooner we have our 'Home Sweet Home'. Time is of the essence.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - Final Part (Amenities)

Amenities:

Food - Ok, car breaks down, car is not around. No problem. Just walk right out of Genting Tiara's guardhouse and you will be greeted by numerous fruit and roasted chestnut sellers displaying their daily fresh produce, and right opposite the stalls lies a long stretch of eateries offering a variety of local delicacies. Best of all, the ever convenient and ever popular McDonald's is also located right beside. For some snacks, tit-bits, ice-cream, beverages etc. ala convenience store offerings, just step right into the Petronas petrol station in front of the eateries.

A short drive in any direction to nearby villages and towns eg. Bukit Tinggi, Bentong and Janda Baik will lead one to even more restaurants offering deliciously prepared dishes at very reasonable prices. Most popular of all, of course, would be Gohtong Jaya town, located midway to Resorts World Genting and requiring only a mere 10 minutes drive from Genting Tiara. Due to it's strategic positioning, Gohtong Jaya has become a must-stop point for any visitor travelling to or from Resorts World Genting to grab a sumptuous lunch or dinner at one of it's many restaurants. One must try the variety of fresh fish cooked in different styles and very yummy, nevertheless.

For everything else, just head to Resorts World Genting which houses countless restaurants and cafes, among them franchises like KFC, McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks and many, many more to spoil your choice.

For those who enjoy cooking their own food, what better place to grab your groceries than from the nearby towns which also happens to be farming towns filled with the freshest of produce one can find. Malaysia's famous Bentong ginger, anyone?

All said, when it comes to food, moderation is the order of the day - Eat Healthy, Stay Healthy!

Fuel - As mentioned, there is the Petronas petrol station practically just right outside Genting Tiara ever ready to provide the much needed fuel that our vehicles require, thus ensuring everyone uninterrupted travel in their vehicles.

Education - Schools are aplenty around Genting Highlands, with the more popular ones being the secondary school, Sekolah Menengah Swasta Saleha (S.M.S. Saleha) together with their own international school, Highlands International Boarding School (HIBS) located between Genting Tiara and Gohtong Jaya and finally a college in Gohtong Jaya, the Genting Inti International College (GIIC).

With such options of higher learning readily available, those who may want to treat Genting Tiara as more than a resort home can rest assured that their children's academic achievements will not in any way be compromised.

Security - This is one important section that I would like to share with everyone since security of a home is a top priority for any homeowner. The strategic location of Genting Tiara is such that there is only one point of entry/exit, which is through the guardhouse via access card, thus making the security guard's job much easier but more efficient.

The perimeter of Genting Tiara is actually protected not by man-made fencing but by mother nature in the form of the rainforest. The vicinity is almost entirely shielded by trees which not only offer a natural wall of protection but also provide the sounds of birds and insects which calm our body and soothe our mind, and more importantly ensuring a constant release of the freshest air into the vicinity (photosynthesis, mother nature's gift to us).

The highway operations office which is located just outside the front of Genting Tiara's guardhouse also houses the highway police patrol units. This is an added advantage which will make potential perpetrators think twice about infiltrating Genting Tiara. Best of all, this feature is FOC : )

Sports - For the health conscious who love to jog and cycle, the high and low gradients of the residential roads inside Genting Tiara with its extremely low traffic volume and the cool and fresh surrounding atmosphere offers the best conditions to enjoy the two said exercises. To me, this beats jogging in the evening in any Klang Valley township under the hot sun and in polluted exhaust from motor vehicles or cycling beside vehicles driven by careless and irresponsible drivers.

Moreover, there is also the Gohtong Jaya Sports Centre located in the centre of Gohtong Jaya town. As far as I can remember, there is at least a heated swimming pool, tennis courts, table-tennis tables, pool tables and video game machines for the entire family to enjoy at very minimal fees. All this in just a 10-minutes drive away.

Golfers can enjoy a cool round of golf in Awana Genting Highlands Golf & Country Resort or Bukit Tinggi Golf & Country Club, both within 15-minutes driving distance.

Entertainment - Where else but the City of Entertainment - Resorts World Genting. I shall very quickly summarise this section. Apart from gambling in the casino and having fun in the outdoor and indoor theme parks, one can virtually shop, eat, drink, watch movies, sing karaoke, play bowling and the list goes on. Just have to make sure you bring sufficient $$$.

Those who seek a less 'taxing' experience may want to visit Colmar Tropicale (a replica medieval French village) and the Japanese Garden, both in Berjaya Hills Resort, Bukit Tinggi.

There, done!

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - Final Part (Accessibility)

The Good

Finally, we have come to the part which I cannot wait to share with everyone. What is so good about Genting Tiara?

Alright. As there are so many good things that I can talk about, this post shall also be divided into several sections: Accessibility, Amenities, Value & Health.

Accessibility:

For ease of reference, I shall talk about accessibility using basically 2 departure points - the city centre of Kuala Lumpur and Karak Highway toll plaza. The destination is Genting Tiara, of course. The constants used - normal non-jam traffic flow & normal driving within speed limit. All other reference points will only add to more confusion especially when variable traffic flows (depending on peak or non-peak hours) can greatly affect ETAs (Estimated Time of Arrival) by as much as + 30 mins or more if it rains.

Ok, regardless of what you may have seen or heard, it basically takes 30 mins drive from city centre of Kuala Lumpur to Genting Tiara. From the Karak Highway toll plaza to Genting Tiara, it takes 15 mins drive and the entire stretch of road is built wide and brightly lit at nite by white LED street lamps to ensure maximum safe driving experience for all road users. Total distance from Karak Highway toll plaza to Genting Tiara guardhouse entrance is only a mere 19.7 km to be exact.

Accesses to Karak Highway toll plaza are aplenty. To name a few popular accesses, one can easily use Jalan Batu Caves (no toll), Jalan Sentul (no toll), Duke Highway (no toll depending on entry point) and Kesas Highway (no toll depending on entry point), all joining into MRR2 (Middle Ring Road 2) which shortly leads into Karak Highway.

So, depending on where one resides in Klang Valley (i.e not residing in or near the above stated roads and highways), one will need to add 15 - 30 mins extra drive time to calculate total travel distance from home to Genting Tiara. That would mean total travel time of 45 - 60 mins for those not residing near the city centre of Kuala Lumpur.

Now, compare the above to our daily driving within the Klang Valley from work to home which usually takes up no less than 30 mins and which most likely would include passing through at least 1 toll plaza and through a certain amount of traffic congestion. Doesn't that make travelling to and from Genting Tiara look somewhat similar to our normal driving days? The only difference being one destination seems to resemble a hot sweltering oven in a polluted concrete jungle cooled down only by air-conditioners consuming huge amounts of electricity (bad for the environment, bad for the wallet) while the other destination is a naturally cooled home some 2,000 ft above sea level nestled within the major green lung of Peninsular Malaysia - the lush and refreshing rainforests, and yet so near to the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur and nearer yet to the ever popular 'City of Entertainment' - Genting Highlands Resort.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - Part 2

The Bad

There are currently a few bad things that can be spotted in Genting Tiara. I highlight the word 'currently' as I feel that most of these unfavourable things will disappear once more owners get together and once a proper management team is set up to run the place.

Let's begin from the entrance and then all the way in.

Currently:

a) the supposedly beautiful signboard cum water feature located on the left before the entrance to Genting Tiara is not working (or perhaps just not turned on?) and is in need of a fresh coat of paint. The signboard is one of the most important features of Genting Tiara as it is one of two first things to be noticed by anyone who comes to Genting Tiara. The other being the guardhouse.

The signboard must at all times, come day or night, be highly visible, visually captivating and pleasantly welcoming to reflect the refreshing, serene and harmonious lifestyle any resident, potential resident or visitor can come to expect from Genting Tiara.

A fresh coat of paint, a good quality pump and some appropriate lightings shall do wonders to the aesthetics of the signboard. All these do not really cost much but they will certainly breath life back to the signboard. Question is, WHO is going to do it and WHEN?

b) As mentioned, the other obvious thing noticeable when entering Genting Tiara would be the guardhouse. Externally, the guardhouse looks like a 2-storey narrow watch tower which is quite acceptable visually. However, upon closer observation, a few things see lacking:-

1) Entry/Exit is via access card but entrance boom bar is faulty. Currently, it is manually operated. Thankfully, the exit boom bar is working fine;

2) Crucial component - CCTV not installed. It would be optimum if 3 CCTVs can be installed at guardhouse entrance. One to capture images of vehicles (including registration numbers) coming into the area, one to capture images of driver and passengers inside incoming visiting vehicles (windows would have to be wound down) and one to capture image of visiting drivers' driving license and image of any legal identification tag/document for all other visitors. As for the exit, 2 CCTVs should be sufficient. One to capture image of faces and one for image of vehicles (including registration numbers); and

3) Insufficient security personnel. Currently, the guardhouse is manned by only 1 security guard. There should at least be 2 guards, both equipped with walkie-talkies. While 1 is stationed in guardhouse, the other can patrol the entire area at pre-determined intervals and both must rotate duties. In case of any unwanted trouble, one can backup the other.

c) While most bungalows in Genting Tiara maintain their compounds fairly well, certain units have allowed tall weeds to grow and two units can be seen with picket fences which are partly broken. Perhaps the owners do not come by Genting Tiara as often as they wish, perhaps the owners are not particular about the condition of their houses, perhaps these units are uninhabited. Whatever the reasons, the owners should be responsible for the proper maintenance of their properties. This not only ensures a pleasant and harmonious living environment, it will also guarantee the continuous appreciation in the value of all properties in Genting Tiara.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - Part 1

Have a feeling this is going to be a 3 part post i.e Good, Bad & Ugly of Genting Tiara. I like to start off with the bad things first and end on a good note.

The Ugly

None. Hahaha. . . . ! Ok, bad joke. But seriously, the only ugly things I can think of at this moment would be the topography of some of the bungalow lots and the type of ground that some of the bungalows would eventually sit on.

While it is understandable that most lots lie on slopes (well, it is a hillside development), some of these slopes can end with quite sharp drops. Hence, careful planning and extra cash would be required when building the dream bungalows on such lots to prevent any occurrence of soil erosion. Fortunately, on site observation at Genting Tiara revealed that most lots with such drops already have bungalows built or are having bungalows under construction and all of them have had the drops properly reinforced with retaining walls. As long as proper retaining walls are built, this should not be a problem at all to those who are going to construct their houses on these lots. Only difference being, a little more $$$ is needed for the retaining walls. Sometimes, we just cannot have the best of everything but it would be these lots which offer the best unobstructed views of the scenic rainforest hills of Genting and the beautiful night view of Genting Highlands resort city.

Most would expect the land that they buy to be a piece of earth/soil. Well, SURPRISE! Certain lots (thankfully just a handful) actually consist of rocks. Yes, an entire plot of land sitting on solid rock. Downside - more planning and $$$ needed to perhaps level the piece of land and to build the foundation of a house. Piling works are definitely going to be a lot easier on soft earth than on hard rocks. Upside - no worries of earth settlement : )

Brief Introduction To Genting Tiara

Perhaps I announced a tad too early that my next post shall be 'The Good, The Bad & The Ugly' before even publishing a post on a brief introduction to Genting Tiara. I shall not dig into the history of Genting Tiara because honestly, I do not have sufficient information to support me to do a write up on what had previously happened to this beautiful project, causing things to progress rather slowly and only picking up its pace these past months. A little knowledge may be more dangerous than zero knowledge on this area, so I shall play safe and assume zero knowledge. Okay, here goes the extremely brief one-sentence introduction to Genting Tiara:

Freehold bungalow lots of various interesting shapes and sizes set approximately 2,000 feet above sea level amidst the tranquil rainforest at the foothill of Genting Highlands that allow owners to live their dreams of building and residing in a landmark so serene, so filled with fresh cool air yet so easily accessible from the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur.

Another Jewel In The Making!

Hello to all who are reading the following introduction to my new blog.

Firstly, let me introduce myself in the shortest and most P & C way possible since this blog is not about me but about a landmark which I happened to chance upon recently and have immediately decided to make it my resort home and ultimately, my retirement nest.

Am just a normal family guy in Kuala Lumpur who happened to chance upon Genting Tiara, previously known as Rainforest Sanctuary while on the net in search of some information on lands in Bentong.

There you have it. Enough about me. Let's get to the subject matter - Genting Tiara.

As of now, there is very little that I know about Genting Tiara but that is enough to convince me to sell my soul to the bank to grab a piece of this most wonderful landmark. Perhaps it is timing, perhaps it is economics at work but the very first time that I stood inside Genting Tiara, all my vibes were just so positively sure that now is the right time to be a part of this place.

As it is now, Genting Tiara is like that unpolished diamond, that firework without a fuse. Once it is polished, once the fuse is lit, it shall sparkle and light up the night sky!

But wait! Who's going to do the polishing, the lighting up of the fuse? Of course it shall be the OWNERS and the MANAGERS of Genting Tiara.

This is the main reason for my setting up of this blog. To CONNECT ALL OWNERS & POTENTIAL OWNERS OF GENTING TIARA, working together to transform it into the shiny 'TIARA OF GENTING FOOTHILL'.

That's all the time I have for now.

Stay tuned for the next post - 'The Good, The Bad & The Ugly'.