Monday, March 19, 2007

Putrajaya

It's a horsie, Marsha!
The main reason for me getting a car with a sunroof... Very "boulevardish", don't you think?
Imagine this: A housing community without any fences or gates. Wide pedestrian walk. Super clean streets. Lushes of green along the roads. Clean playgrounds at every few blocks. No crazy dogs nor stray cats. Benches along the walkways. Howdy-doo friendly neighborhood.

Nope. It’s not Wisteria Lane.

Though it may sound just like another neighborhood in the US, but actually… believe it or not, this is a housing community in Malaysia. And nope, it’s not another ‘gated” community in Malaysia where dwellers pay a premium price to enjoy the “open” life under an invisible shield where your mom and dad needs to surrender their IDs to the security post at the entrance. Nor it’s another kampong, where in addition to lush greens and no gates to speak of – could very well be infested with menopausal chicken and goats with attitude.

I’m talking about Putrajaya. To actualize a Wisteria Lane wannabe in Malaysia is probably not impossible, but to put it up in such a humongous scale such as Putrajaya is simply awesome. Strange (for Malaysian) it may feel to be living in a house that does not have a fortress-like features like a 6inch thick wall and steel gate surrounding it, Putrajaya succeeded in making the dwellers feel safe, warm and not-naked. Of course, having the whole town swarmed with CCTVs and well guarded by the local police instead of Bangladeshi security guards, do help a little in securing some confidence.

Anyway, I really do encourage people to visit Putrajaya. It’s as astonishing as the Twin Tower is to Swedish. It’s very well-planned (at least we can rest assure that there ARE some people in the Government who are good in planning). Google it up and learn more. It’s incredibly wow. In fact, why not spare a few hundred grand and live there!

Well, best wishes to my big brother and his family on their new home. I'm sure the kids will miss Bangsar. But, nothing beats a kampung... opss, I mean, Putrajaya life. We're just happy to be able to celebrate Azim's birthday. Azim, Raisa and Nadia: thanks for taking Marsha to the playground at 3pm. She is now shiningly tanned :-) I'll see you guys again early April.

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