How Green is Green? – Property in Indonesia

Have you ever wondered how true are the claims by the various property developers that their properties are green as claimed in their ads? Or, is it just because they plant a few trees here and there and hence it’s green? Or better still, get their in-house graphic designers or ad agencies to ‘touch-up’ on the images with more trees and using green color fonts for their headline and there you have it, it’s green. Hmm… I wonder!

From what I gather, all the talk of going green amongst the property developer started feverishly after the UNFCCC talk in Bali back in Dec 2007 on climate change.

So I wonder on. Is there any property developer in Indonesia taking up this initiative of building really green homes? How much will it cost to build such a home? Can a single green home stand alone or it need to be built in clusters? Will there be any takers for such a green home? Is there a standards set by the authorities to classify such a home? What about harvesting the wind and sun energy in a hybrid home system? And the question goes on and on.

So far, I failed to find any information pertaining to green homes in Indonesia. The nearest would be in Singapore followed by Australia and New Zealand. Even so, it is not widespread. Nevertheless, there are a lot more information and green initiatives in the US.

At the end of the day, I suppose it will be more of a business decision to make more profit than to go about in building green homes. Unless and of course, if there is demand for such green homes selling at a reasonable price.

Is there any property developer out there that can build really green homes in Indonesia?

“My strategic proposal to this effect has now been adopted by my client and it is with the hope that the proposal is taken in full and not just on a meet me halfway tune” David Ho

The reason by Amelia Ho

I post this in conjuction with Amelia having her new blog.


Written with the thought of a group of three orphans in mind [ with no specific reason ].

‘The tide waits for no man’, as they say

I stand by the ocean and

Wonder

‘Why do these waves sound

The same…

Yet…

So completely different from the ones I know?’

But no answer comes

And I figured…

If I keep falling into

The darkness of the sea…

…Why keep trying…?

Then a voice

‘Stop mopping, you silly!’

With a bob to my head

I look at them – one frowning

Reprimanding and the other

Grinning, amused

I smile again

‘It’s nothing,’ I hear myself reply

But at the same time

The latter that has yet to talk

Grinned, as if

Understanding my dilemma

And I realized…

My friends…

They are all I live for…

Also…

They are the one I keep trying for.

~ © Amelia, 3rd April, 2007.

1 year service in MCJ EXCO

May 10, 2008 is the final day for me as one of the EXCO member in Malaysia Club Jakarta (MCJ) for the year 2007/2008. Although I was nominated to stay on for another term, I politely decline as I felt that a yearly change of the EXCO members is good for the Malaysian community. More so, for the club to be more vibrant and relevant with fresh ideas full of zest and life for the benefit of the community at large. Nevertheless, it wasn’t easy to serve in a non-profit organization on a voluntary basis. Granted that everybody have their work, business and personal matters to take care, but I suppose, with a little bit of passion here and there, the new EXCO will try to do their best for MCJ members.

I would not delve into what has been achieved or otherwise as the out-going President Mr. Ch’ng Chin Hon have given a full account which was adopted by the members at the AGM. What I would like to say here is to express my heartfelt appreciation to the previous EXCO that I’ve worked with. It’s been a joy and fun year doing my part as a Malaysian in serving the MCJ community. Thanks guys.

As an afterthought, if more Malaysian were to make themselves available and show just a little “Malaysianess” in them (obviously the more caring, concern and a sense of community living Malaysian minus the ahem... politics), I personally think MCJ will be a very much better club. After all, MCJ is for Malaysian by Malaysian.

With this, I wish the 2008/2009 MCJ EXCO all the best and success in their undertakings for the year ahead. You guys will have my full support whenever possible.

Annoyance - by Amelia Ho

Annoyance,

A stupid feeling,

That makes you mad,

For some silly reason.

Getting rid of this feeling,

Is a dreaded task,

For it just comes back

When you thought it’s gone.

Time and time again,

The same sentence is repeated,

‘Shut up!’ or ‘Get lost!’ or something like that,

and you then realize, ‘It’s too quiet now’.

Therefore, annoyance

To me, a strange feeling.

What about you?

What do you think?

© Amelia Ho, 2005

Friend in Need is a friend in Deed (corrected)

Saturday, April 26, 2008

It was definitely one of the most satisfying moments of my life this day when Chin Hon, Joey, Ben, Soo & spouse (son too, Denise) make a trip to Pegadungan. Credit is due to Chin Hon’s driver for bringing this up.

In our very first attempt, without knowing what to expect, we managed to collect some money to buy 5 x 10kg rice, KFC lunches for all the kids and sponsorship of 640 packs of snacks and 80 soft toys from David Chan of Pacific Food Indonesia.

We visited a welfare home “Panti Social Bina Grahita Belaian Kasih Pegadungan” catering for the mentally retarded and handicapped children in Jakarta. These kids were mainly picked-up from the streets in Jakarta by the City Council and placed in the care of the dedicated staff of the welfare homes.

Abandoned by their parents, of all ages (7 to 25 years old), of both sexes, mostly handicapped, mentally retarded and homeless. But, these kids found love, compassion, care and most importantly a shelter.

What was most heartfelt is the exuberance in the faces and smile of some of these kids when we unloaded the goods from the car while others extended their arms to shake our hands and one could feel their gratitude and appreciation without having to speak (mind you, being retarded, most have speech problems). Words can’t describe these feeling, it’s just that one have to be there to feel it. In my heart, I felt that this is one of the best thing I’ve ever done in Jakarta.

This center certainly needs more support and donations in the form of toiletries products like toothpaste, toothbrush, body soap, talcum powder and the list goes on. If you are reading this and would like to help; Jl. Peta Utara No.29A Pegadungan. Jakarta barat 11830. Tel & Fax : +6221 5445611

"Welcome" by Amelia Ho

Welcome to my humble abode,
Where everything's not as you are told,
Where Light could be Dark and Dark could be Light,
Where Shadows form their wicked souls.

Welcome to my humble world,
Of fantasies and of reality,
Of ups and downs and downs and ups,
Of safety or of emergency.

Welcome to my humble thoughts,
Of how naive people could actually be,
Of how stupid they could do their minds,
It's not like God let them be

Welcome again to my humble abode,
Where everything's not as you are told,
Where people could rest oh-so peacefully,
Sweet dreams, dear child, and awaken no more

Welcome Home by Amelia

This is one poem my youngest daughter wrote for me back in 2001. It was early days when I came to Jakarta to pursue my career.

WELCOME HOME, DAD!!

Dearest father, welcome home!
How nice it is whey you
Yes, you are back,

Dearest father,
You have a special place in…
My heart forever!!!
(Together with mum of course)

Dearest father,
What and where will
Yes, where will I be
Without you….

Without you,
There won’t be me
There won’t be amy
There will be only you & mum
Alone and sad….
Without children & a family
To love and care for….

Because….
Most fathers aren’t like you.
You work hard and care for
Yes, you care for your family.

The moment you left,
Emptiness fell in our hearts
So… we are happy that you are home
Even for a day or two
Our emptiness will not come so often
Thinking of the happy times
We’ve been together


Written especially for you by: Amelia Ho