Kuala Lumpur Bonsai & Orchid Show 2012 – Part 1/3

The inaugral Kuala Lumpur Bonsai & Orchid Show 2012 was held at the Taman Botani Perdana in conjunction with the Petronas Formula One Malaysia Grand Prix 2012. Taman Botani Perdana is formerly known as the Lake Gardens. This even was organised by the Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL). Wuan wanted to see the bonsai on display there. We went on Sunday afternoon with the sky threatening to pour any minute. That was also my first visit to the park.

As we were not familiar with the grounds, we parked at the farthest end of the park from where the show was held. Apparently, the park does not have accessible parking and we had to make do with the regular-sized one. The good thing about the entire place is that it connectivity between walkways and roads are almost seamless. Visitors in wheelchairs will be quite at ease moving around.

Stalls offering food and drinks, herbs, ornamental plants, bonsai and orchids like the road leading to the exhibition. It was a rather long stretch of upward slope that would have been difficult for me to traverse independently without Wuan’s assistance. We were to discover later that we could have accessed the exhibit area from another car park just beside Bukit Aman. We also discovered several ramps leading to the amphitheatre and other parts of the park that we would like to explore the next time we go there again.

We spent some time appreciating the meticulous work that went into crafting the bonsai. Some of those miniature trees must have been decades old. I also read that, if well taken care of, bonsai will outlive their creators as these trees can grow to be a few hundred years old or more. The orchids too were an attraction by themselves. Their burst of colours were in stark contrast against the restrained flair of the bonsai.

After having satiated ourselves with ogling the exhibits, Wuan and I browsed at the stalls selling plants and herbs. We found and bought two ornamental plants that we were looking for – croton and red button ginger (costus woodsonii). Further down the road, we checked out the stall with a good spread of traditional herbs usually used in home remedies. We would love to include some of them in the garden but there is no more space for any. In the end, Wuan bought the pandan wangi. We three heavy bags of plant in tow, we made a final stop at the lake where Wuan took shots of the resident ducks and geese, and agreed that we would return to the park soon.

Bonsai at the Kuala Lumpur Bonsai & Orchid Show 2012
Hokidachi (broom style) bonsai with berries.

Bonsai at the Kuala Lumpur Bonsai & Orchid Show 2012
Moyogi (informal upright styles) bonsai.

Bonsai at the Kuala Lumpur Bonsai & Orchid Show 2012
Han-kengai (semi-cascade style) juniper bonsai.

Bonsai at the Kuala Lumpur Bonsai & Orchid Show 2012
Moyogi (informal upright style) juniper bonsai.

Water Supply Disruption In Kuala Lumpur And Selangor

There has been no water supply since early yesterday. According to the recorded message at the toll free number (1-800-88-5252) at Puspel, Customer Services Department of Syabas, there would be a disruption of supply for 15 hours on Wednesday from 8am to 12am. Affected areas were large parts of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. This was due to the upgrade and maintenance of the Sungai Langat water treatment plant.

I called the toll free line at 6am just now when the taps were still dry. The call went unanswered for 10 minutes. 24 hours without water is a great inconvenience. Not knowing when the supply will be restored is even more disconcerting. I have to wash up after catheterising every 3 hours. Wuan could not cook this morning. It is ham sandwich for lunch today. She bought two bottles of drinking water when she came back from work yesterday. We did not bathe yesterday. Flushing the toilet is like playing Russian roulette, not knowing whether the water reserve would run out the next round. Our daily routine is greatly affected.

Syabas and Puspel could do better managing this matter. Since they are already in Twitter and Facebook, the least they could do is to provide regular updates on the progress of water supply restoration. Keeping customers in the dark by announcing the disruption and keeping quiet after that, and not answering calls to the toll free number is sure to raise the ire of many. I am going back to sleep in a while. Hopefully by the time I wake up, water will be flowing from the taps once again.

Affected areas as listed at SYABAS website:

Wilayah Kuala Lumpur Taman Connaught; Taman Taynton View; Taman Segar; Taman Gemilang; Taman Bukit Segar; Taman Mutiara; Taman Supreme Jaya; Taman Bukit Hijau; Desa Tun Razak; Taman Jaya; Taman Mulia; TUDM Sungai Besi; Jalan Lapangan Terbang; Jalan Lapangan Terbang Lama; Jalan Sungai Besi Batu 4 ½ (JKME dan Kuarters JKR); Jalan Chan Sow Lin; Kampung Batu Kong; Jalan Wisma Putra; Jalan Bellamy; Jalan Bukit Petaling; Jalan Kerayong; Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka; Wisma Putra; Wisma Perwira; GAPENA; Jalan San Peng; Dataran F&N; Persiaran Syed Putra; Persiaran Putra; Jalan Robson; Taman Seputeh; Taman Desa Seputeh; Taman Bukit Seputeh Heights; KL Sentral dan kawasan sekitarnya; Taman Midah; Taman Cantik; Taman Pandan Hilir; Taman Angsana Hilir; Taman Desa Aman; Taman Rajawali; Taman Cheras Makmur; Taman Bukit Ria; Taman Pertama; Taman Ikan Emas; Taman Tenaga; Taman Maluri; Taman Ampang Putra; Taman Bukit Pandan; Taman Pandan Pertama; Kampung Cheras Baru Bukit A; Kampung Sungai Kerayong; Kampung Pandan Luar; Kampung Pandan Dalam; Jalan Tenteram; Jalan Salak Selatan; Taman Billion; Taman Cheras Makmur; Taman Bukit Mewah; Taman Sri Bahtera; Taman Supreme; Taman Mutiara Timur; Taman Mutiara Barat; Cheras Hartamas; Taman Bukit Segar Jaya; Taman Orkid Desa; Taman SPPK Bukit Cheras; Alam Damai; Taman Bukit Anggerik; Taman Len Seng; Taman Suria Jaya; Taman Cheras Mewah; Taman Bukit Angsana; Taman Seri Bahagia; Taman Minang; Taman Damai Indah; Taman Cheras Baru; Taman Koperasi Polis; Taman Desa Baiduri; Taman Cheras Utama; Taman Desa Cheras; Bandar Damai Perdana; Taman Desa Bukit Cahaya; Taman Damai Impian; Taman Alam Jaya; Taman Emas Cheras; Taman Mudun; Taman Hijauan Residen; Taman Sunway Cheras; Taman Wangsa Cheras; Taman Cheras Permata; Taman Cheras Awana; Taman Masria; Taman Cuepacs; Taman Fern Grove; Kem PGA; Kem FRU; Taman Cheras Zen; Segar Perdana; Bukit Hartamas; Kampung Cheras Baru; Taman Muda; Taman Mawar; Taman Mastika; Taman Putra; Taman Pandan Mewah; Taman Lembah Maju Taman Teratai; Taman Saga; Taman Melur; Taman Seraya; Taman Mega Jaya; Taman Maju Jaya; Taman Bukit Permai; Taman Kencana; Taman Pandan Indah; Taman Pandan Perdana; Taman Cheras Utama; Taman Cheras Indah. Wilayah Hulu Langat Taman Desa Budiman; Taman Ikhlas; Taman Makmur; Taman Rakan; Taman Bukit Permai; Taman Seri Kenangan Sungai Long; Taman Suria Sungai Long; Taman Cheras Idaman; Cheras Perdana; Batu 10 (Jalan Puyuh, Nuri, Cecawi, Balam); Taman Damai Indah; Taman Murni; Taman Megah; Taman Megah 2; Taman Sri Cheras; Taman Seri Cheras Jaya; Kuari; Bukit Dukong; Jalan Suasana Seksyen 1, Bandar Tun Hussein Onn; Taman Cheras Permai; Pekan Suntex; Putri Jaya; Sungai Ramal Dalam; Sungai Ramal Luar; Desa Meringin; Taman Ramal Indah; Taman Sri Kenari; Rumah Murah PKNS Sungai Ramal Luar; Kampung Sungai Ramal Baru; Desa Surada; kawasan industri Bukit Angkat; Bandar Sungai Long; Taman Sejati; Jalan Suasana 2, 3, 4; Suasana Damai; Jalan Suakasih, Sri Tanming; Koperasi Maju Jaya; seluruh Puncak Perdana; seluruh Taman Kota Cheras; seluruh Taman Tun Perak; Saujana Impian; Impian Murni, Impian Indah; Inpian Gemilang, Impian Jaya; Taman Sri Aman; Taman Rasa Sayang; Taman Cheras Mas; Taman Lagenda Mas 1; Taman Lagenda Mas 2; Taman Uda; Jalan Kuari Sungai Long; Taman Lagenda Suria; Kampung Sungai Sop; kawasan industri Sungai Tekali; Kemacahaya; Taman Pinggiran Delima; Taman Wawasan; Taman Perkasa Fasa 1; Taman Perkasa Fasa 2; Taman Sri Nanding; Taman Putri (Venicehill); Rancangan Peringkat 1, 2 dan 3; Taman Perkasa Indah; Sungai Michu; Taman Impian Den; Felcra Semungkis; Sungai gahal; Taman Desa Pelangi; Taman Impian Langat; Taman Langat Ceria; Taman Desa Raya; Jalan Dusun Taman Bukit Raya; Kuarters Loji Langat; Sekolah Dusun Nanding; Lorong Serai 5; Kampung Bukit Kudang; Kampung Kenanga; Flat Sri Kundang Dusun Tua; Taman Titiwangsa; Kampung Sungai Kapor; Kampung Sungai Makau; Kampung Kenangan 18; Taman Indah Jaya; Lestari Indah; Taman Sungai Sering; Taman Orkid; Bandar Mahkota Cheras; Jalan Sungai Lalang; Kampung Pasir; Jalan Kacau; Kampung Sungai Pening-pening; Kampung Pasir Baru; PLKN Sungai Lalang; Rumah Murah Sungai Lalang; Taman Impian Semenyih; Taman Semenyih Ria; Taman Aik Ann; Taman Utama; Taman Hiew Piow; Kampung Baru China Semenyih; Taman Gembira; Taman Desa Semenyih; Taman Baiduri Jaya; Taman Semenyih; Taman Paling Jaya; Taman Manikavasagam; Pekan Semenyih; Kampung Sungai Buluh; seluruh Taman Sri Haneco; seluruh Industri Villa Raya; seluruh Taman Desa Mewah; seluruh Sunway Semenyih; seluruh Industri Kajang Jaya; seluruh Tasik Kesuma; PKNS Beranang; seluruh Taman Pelangi Semenyih; seluruh Beranang; Universiti Nottingham; seluruh Pekan Beroga.

Puspel Twitter update at 10:29am
@Hiphog Now water resume by stages and expect will fully recover by 12am (3/6). Thank you.

Christmas At The Gardens Mall 2009

The Christmas decor at The Gardens Mall is up. Wuan and I spent some time at the concourse area taking photographs and basking in the festive atmosphere yesterday. The pine trees were gaily decorated with baubles, butterfly cutouts, snow flakes, garlands of ice drops and fairy lights. The colour theme was generally white with the exception of the trees and poinsettias that added splashes of red to break the monotony.

Christmas trees at The Gardens Mall
Christmas trees at The Gardens Mall.

Christmas trees at The Gardens Mall
Christmas trees at The Gardens Mall.

Poinsettia at The Gardens Mall
Poinsettias to brighten up the atmosphere.

Close-up of the Christmas tree decor
Close-up of the Christmas tree decor – butterfly cutouts, baubles and fairy lights.