Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Update on 30 March 2011

Made a call yesterday to the developer just feed my own curiosity on the project's progress. Alhamdulillah, was told yesterday that the project will be completed sometime in November this year. I doubt will it be handing over vacant possession or defect visit. Really hope that it will be handing over vacant possession for the unit.

Besides asking about the progress, I also asked about the refund of our deposit (RM2000.00) paid sometime April 2010 in order to secure our unit. The lady said yesterday that it will be refunded once key is handed over to us and likely it will take a month (the most) for them to issue the cheque. I anxiously will wait for it, since it was my wife money which we used to put it as deposit. To make it more sentimental, it was actually the balance of her mas kahwin given by me (or it was my father hehe) during our kahwin day.

No photos available as it was just a phone call hehe. Till my next entry..

Friday, March 25, 2011

The pinch of the glitch

When we start planning to own our very own place, little we knew of what will happen to us in the following year. I still remember April 2010 when we first visit a developer's showroom and start to dream of having our own. The process took us smooth when we were requested to pay a deposit of RM 2000.00 for the unit we were interested in. Starting from that point, we knew that situation will be difficult for us but we were very much optimistic that eventually we are going to make it through no matter what.

At time, I still remember when we were asked to pay the 10% down payment for the unit. We knew, we would never afford to have RM 32,000.00 from our own saving and if even we have it, I think, we would never use it to pay the down payment. That was last year before the government announce the 1st home ownership programme which waive the requirement for the 10% down payment. What we did were something known to the property market and of course I won't disclose it here of how we deal with the issue of the down payment.

Starting from April last year, things still work pretty good for us. We still able to enjoy our holiday (once in a while), eat in a fancy places and think less on the hassle of having to ration our spending. The first glitch was a few months after that when the panel lawyer request us to pay upfront for some authority payment. At first, I refuse to pay since they will get the payment anyway from the bank. According to them, the amount was so big and they need the upfront to be paid by the purchaser. I forthwith follow even after some grueling and deep thinking of where to fork out close to RM 2000.00. Luckily, the bank release a payment to the lawyer and we get our money back without much hassle. Case close.

Sometime in August 2010, after much of the paperwork have been settled, I was summoned to the bank to sign some papers. The papers includes an agreement that mentioned that I agree that my salary to be deducted for the house installment. I don't see any problem with that as I think it will help me to pay the installment without having to visit the bank on monthly basis. I offered myself to cross check with the HR on the status of my application but was told by the bank that they will do the cross check and follow up on the progress. I agree and I let the bank do what they offered. I was wrong..

Sometime in November 2010, I received a call, telling me that I have failed to pay the house installment for 3 consecutive months. We were stunned. At that time, I was so angry with that lady who has offered to follow up with the HR and I was so suprised why we were only told after 3 months has passed. In the months following singing the papers, we were so anxious as my salary has yet to be deducted for 3 months after the first disbursement was made. We just concluded that perhaps the process took a while to complete and sooner or later, my salary will eventually be deducted. Thinking critical on our source of income, we mandate that the budget that suppose to pay for the house installment, at time when deduction has yet to be made, to be saved in one of our dedicated account and we planned to use it as a back up should budget prove to be constrained in year ahead.

Since we were told that our installment has lapsed for 3 months, I forthwith used up all saving from our dedicated account to pay for the arrears. We were left without saving and that prove to be difficult to me. It was difficult and it still difficult to date. I still remember my visit to the bank a day after I was told about the arrears, I can't stop myself from being rude as I believe the situation was just seem unfair. I am a difficult situation and this is something that beyond imagination. The lady showed me every evidence that she has pertaining her application for my salary deduction to my company's HR. I know she has done her part but I believed she has forgot that once she promised to cross check with my HR on the application. I know that I can't do nothing with the HR since we are in the same boat. I did called the HR one day just to be told that the document has been received by someone that they not even recognized. The document just gone missing and nobody care anything about it.

The sad part or the part that I am so mad about the glitch is the record that will be kept by the central bank. Perhaps i need to apply for some loan in the future and this record maybe will affect my future application. I demanded the bank to issue me a letter stating that this is their fault and I won't be held liable in any way. I never received the letter until to day...

I know 2011 will be difficult. I remember comforting my wife as we talk about our hardship that we are facing. I believe we should remain positive and know what, those who sees hardship in their way are those who have better chance to succeed. Why? because they simply have calculated the risk and weighted every options that they have. In short, they are more prepared, likely more motivated and have clear plan for their limited resources that they are going to spare. On the other round, those who never sees hardship in their way, tend to be more relaxed and have little plan for their future. At the end, they normally miscalculated, spend more than they should be and often left with regret. That is how i see it. Hardship should never be used as a deterrent of progress, but it is actually an impetus for change and victory. Recently, my fear of not getting my part time pay on time came into reality. To date, the company has delay payment for almost two months and that adds to the pinch that I am having. I live terrified for not able to pay the house installment. Last week I received a printed letter mentioning that I have delayed payment for 1 month, later that evening, I was told by my wife that the bank that I made my loan with is suck. They will remind customer like **** and I have experienced that.

So far, it just March and we still remain strong. The world is just a vacuum cleaner which suck all money that we made. I just wonder why some people is needing money more than they require, and why they are keeping it for their own. If something can be sold at 10 ringgit, why there are some who sell it at 20 ringgit. Is it how business is run, or simply making profit or cheating.

Life is a never ending pinch...

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Taman Sutera as at 23 March 2011

Lama dah tak masuk entry projek rumah taman sutera. Sibuk sikit tahun ni dengan segala projek2 peribadi yang harap2 berjalan lancar. Alhamdullillah, progress rumah so far so good, i mean really good. Harap2 speed di maintain sampai la siap. The last check we made were 2 weeks ago. Sekarang dah start internal plaster, first row yang awal2 start dah start 1st coat internal paint. Roof trusses untuk window hood pun dah masuk. The last row (least progress) pun dah hampir siap ikat bata. Now I think architecture/finishing stage untuk semua unit. Our unit facing the main road, so setiap kali visit memang tak nampak actual progress. Normally, bila external works dah start, contractor akan bukak hoarding, time tu boleh la check out our own unit. Hopefully, the workers are doing perfect job for the unit. Sekarang habuk memang banyak kat area tu, Normal la untuk kawasan yang dekat dengan job site. Sabar banyak hehe. InsyaAllah akan masukkan gambar terlatest, cuma kena carik dalam phone gambar yang mana. Alright!

Monday, March 21, 2011

All Seasons Sathorn Bangkok Thailand

Was here in late 2008 and booked the room through (then) goholiday.com/air asia. Room is spacious and they embarked on sort of minimalist/modern deco. Room is brightly coloured complete with LCD tv and sofa. Kettle is not available in the room and I have to ask for hot water. Language can be a barrier as I have to explain in length just to have hot water for my coffee. Breakfast was great but non-halal :( and I resorted only with toast and coffee. Thais hospitality is great and I enjoy it from the airport to the hotel. The hotel is located right beside the Malaysian embassy along the busy Sathorn road. There is a coffee house that serve great coffee at the lobby and I enjoy it very much. Overall deco is great, food = non halal, service = great, amenities = minimal. Chances to stay again = moderate. Public transport = BTS not so walking distance.

Azio Hotel Langkawi

In many places we stay, we like this hotel very much because there is a duty free shop just down our hotel room. Yes, just climb down the stairs and chocolates are there in the duty free shop. We book online and we get rm95 for 1 night. The hotel location is great as it sits right in the middle of pandak mayah town centre. However, looking for the hotel is not that easy task as it located at the end row of pandak mayah. We went all the way to the jetty kuah just to locate the hotel. When we checked in, there was only 1 lady manning the front desk. There is no kettle available but they provide water heater somewhere on the hotel floor. Bathroom is rather funny in term of design, they have glass wall which obviously not tinted or obscured. Your partner will be able to see you inside the bathroom and that I consider funny. The bathroom however, comes with simple PVC curtain so you can peek-a-boo with your partner who is doing her business. Overall, chances to stay again = must when visiting langkawi, food = not provided (find seafood in Langkawi), Parking = free, lock properly, Great because = duty free + night market weekend.

Cititel Express Kota Kinabalu

One of the smallest room we have ever stayed besides tune hotel. Even the front desk guy remind us before we enter into our room "Please do not be surprised, our room is small", and he means it, it really small. Inside the room, there is a bed, cupboard couple as divider to bathroom, small alleyway beside our bed, and one side of the bed is actually sits right at the window. We have to squeeze in and take turn to move inside the room. Rate was good, we booked early and we got less than rm100 for 1 night. Location wise is great, right in the middle of KK and walking distance to major attraction. Parking spaces are available in front of the hotel with fee. Breakfast is included in the room rate but expect descent nasi lemak and some noodles only. Overall, likely to stay again = will weight other option, food = descent, activity = drooling, Location = centre, great for sightseeing. Rating = 8/10. Like the rate.

Mount Kinabalu Heritage and Spa Kundasang

Picturesque and the most beautiful place I ever been. Google this place for quite sometime before deciding to stay in one of its chalet. We were given a unit which face directly the mount Kinabalu. Kundasang is midway to Ranau, and temperature may plummeted at night. This hotel is located on top of a hill and there is a serious climbing should you wish to go there. Rate was around RM 200 for the chalet and its worth the view. However, please do not expect a sturdy chalet as units are constructed with lightweight materials. The wall is so thin and we can even feel the coldness from the weather. That night, we were hoping that night will pass quick since it was so cold in there. There were a family and a couple staying in a unit near us and we believe they are hoping the same too ehhe. View at dusk is so great. The peak of mount kinabalu is visible should the weather is fine. Overall = chances to stay again = Low, food = descent breakfast, activity = no idea. Perfect for = honeymooner + poets +photographers.

Equatorial Cameron Highland

Definitely a great place! We stayed here sometime in 2009 and room rate was not cheap. It costs us around RM400 per night and that includes a yummy breakfast and buffet dinner spread for two. yes, buffet dinner for two. Up there, nothing much you can do at night (especially during weekend + rain) as Brinchang town will be jammed packed with tourists flocking to the night market. This hotel sits near to a local market where endless vegies/flowers are sold. Vegies look fresh, but price-wise is comparable to that in KL (perhaps we don't eat vegetables that much). Hotel seems old but well maintained. Food is extremely delicious and nothing remind me better than the best breakfast and dinner. We had a Deepavali themed dinner that night and that taste so good. There is a fireplace somewhere in the lobby, and there are people who sits so close as it seems that they will fall asleep there and not in their room. Parking is free and there is a covered parking at the basement. We had a few round of billiards that night and that's it. Overall = pricing, hefty, Food = goodilicious. Chances to stay again = definitely. Rating = 9/10.

Thistle PD

We stayed in this hotel sometime in 2010 and we book our room through booking.com, I must say sometime, it worth trying because who knows what you may get through website like that. The rate that was offered to us was less than RM 200 for weekend, and that includes breakfast. Ok, PD beach is not that good after all, but this hotel comes with huge swimming pool. I was told by someone that this hotel was previously belong to other brand, but recently rebrand as Thistle. Room is spacious with all basic stuff you can expect from a hotel and all rooms come with private balcony. Ours were actually country view, but somehow we manage to get upgrade to sea view. Though room rate was not that cheap, occupancy rate was consider high during our stay, mainly local I think. Breakfast was descent and nothing special. Quite hard to find an empty seat and I think they should improve the food replenishing pace. Overall, price-wise = not friendly, condition = great swimming pool, food = need improvement. Overall rating = 7/10. Likely to stay again = Yes.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Bandung (lagi yeah)

Khamis, 17 March 2011:

Bulan depan, InsyaAllah, kami sekeluarga bakal ke Bandung untuk kali kedua. Trip pertama dulu masa baru2 kahwin (2009 sekitar bulan 8) dan selepas hampir 2 tahun, yeah, Bandung here we come again. Sangat la teruja pasal elemen shopping untuk trip Bandung hehe. Cuma tahun ni, mrs wife mestilah dah aim baju budak2 since skg dah ada anak kecik hehe. Teratas dalam senarai adalah Pasar Baru (tak minat - pening kat sini, banyak sangat kaler) dan ditengah2 ada rumah mode, grande, summit dan beberapa tempat lagi yang consider wajib-bul untuk singgah. Last time, flight QZ AA delay, flight patut pukul 940am delay sampai pukul 11am. Harap2 kali ni dengan bawak baby comel cononet tu, tak lah delay2 lagi, boring dok kat departure hall LCCT, tapi nasib baik masa tu honey moooney moon, lambat pun tak kisah hehe.
okeh, gambar sekadar hiasan sahaja. Untuk perjalanan kali ni, kami pergi dengan AA total flight pergi RM 419.00, dua orang + infant (baru je beli sabtu lepas) cukup dengan seat assignment + beg 20kg. Balik kami booking MAS dengan harga lebih kurang sama. Saja ambil MAS untuk balik beli masa mula2 mereka launching route KUL - BDO. Last time, 2009, flight balik pun delay dekat 3 jam, harap2 kali ni jangan la delay2.

Pergi Bandung kami mesti ambil khidmat pemandu, kontrak dah di award kepada Pak Zul mcm dulu2. Something good, rata2 pemandu2 hired kat Bandung baik hati, Pak Zul ni siap boleh mintak tolong book kan hotel lagi ataupun suggest hotel yang macam2. Rata2 blog lain cerita pengalaman yang baik kat pemandu mereka kami pun ada pengalaman yang baik dengan pemandu kami dulu. Teksi, walaupun org cakap kalau berdua elok naik cab je, tapi aku ada skeptik skit kat taxi driver, bukan kat indo je, kat Malaysia pun sama, takut la dorg caj yang bukan2. Selalunya, kat mana2 pun, kami try carik hotel yang ada free airport shuttle, jimat dan free dan kompem tak kena tipu, tapi kali ni kami nak gamble naik cab dari bandara ke hotel. Kali ni nak jimat terpaksalah amik hotel bajet2 je hehe.

Hotel kali nih, setelah menghabiskan 2 3 hari study option, kami decide untuk duduk 3 hotel berasingan, day arrival cadangnya guntur, 2nd day Amaris Cimanuk dan last night Asmila. Semua hotel di pilih berdasarkan lokasi dan tentulah ratenya hehe. Kami pilih guntur pasal walking distance to Pasar Baru (telah di-stresskan oleh mrs wife aka mamy bahawa tempat nih wajib pergi - ok la), murah dan dekat dengan kartika sari kebon jukut (meleleh air liur - nak makan pisang molenn!!!) tapi brownies edisi baru sampai ni cuma untuk melepas geram je hehe. edisi tapau balik kl 3rd day nanti baru beli. Masa 1st time kami ke Bandug dulu, kami stay kat Arion - sebeleh je dengan guntur, tapi Arion sangat lah mahal dalam 900 ribu semalam (kami tak mampu hehe - baik buat beli kain). Dulu pergi 3 hari 2 malam je, jadik kami rasa tak puas walaupun puas berabis duit hehe. kali ni kami pergi 4 hari 3 malam, baru puas hehe. Hari ke dua, kami dah book Amaris kat Cimanuk dekat dengan heritage, summit, toko coklat yam yam. semalam dapat la RM 170 pakai Agoda. Minggu yang kami pergi nih, cuti panjang Indo kerana kena dengan Easter dan Good Friday. Jadik hotel mmg la panas harganya. Kami pun tak tau la kena long weekend pulak. ok, hari last kami ambik Asmila depan rumah mode, rate agak pricey IDR 720k semalam dekat RM 250 semalam. Saja nak bagi treat kat mamy dengan baby cinonet.

Asmila ni ada provide free shuttle to airport, jadik senang la kami ke airport pada hari last nanti hehe. Oh, pemandu yang kami hire untuk dua hari tu caj 400k sehari, untuk ke tangkuban dia maintak extra 50k, gasak la, janji settle. Kali ni kami pilih siap2 nak kemana, berbekalkan ingatan masa lampau, dapat la agak2 tempat2 yang berbaloi, toko tiga mungkin tak pergi pasal skg suka pakai track suit je, haritu balik langkawi pun naik flight pakai track suit dengan sandal jamban je hehe. wife jalan jauh2, dia cakap selekeh hehe. yelah, nak dokong baby cinonet lagi, tak sempat la nak sarung2 jeans hehe.

Apa lagi, hotel dah clear, pemandu pun dah, oh yea, tukar duit belum mamy bawak duit shopping, aku bawak baby je - follow mamy hehe. Masa nak decide hotel mana, banyak jugak la hotel2 berbintang kecil hingga besar aku tengok. D'batoe (suka), Rumah tawa (suka gak, tapi area sekitar tak tau), yang kelas skit, serela, seriti, novo, arion. Sekitar RM 200/semalam dah ok sangat dah, nak carik bawah 300k kena hati2 skit dan buat banyak perbandingan. Ke atas skit, ada banyak hotel lain, tapi kalau bajet nak shopping, duduk je la dekat area town lebeh berbaloi.

ok. sambung nanti, setakat ni tu lah perancangan nya, harap semuanya berjalan lancar amin......