Considering it is already the end of the week and I am suppose to write 3 post minimum per week, I'll just have to get back with Cik Azura about the questions and problems I face.

I haven't had time to update my blog because I have been away for the weekend. My family and I just came back from our weekend home in Janda Baik, Pahang. Last year, we usually go there every weekend. This weekend I managed to finish my Commonwealth Essay that's due on this coming friday. Speaking of Commonwealth Essays, I wrote one last year about Janda Baik. :) So here it is.

Name: Farah Zahidah bt. Mohd Azhari
Class: Form 3 Cempaka
Topic: 3. EITHER This is where I live OR These are the things which make me who I am. 

I wake up in the morning, draw open curtains, and push the windows wide to let in the crisp fresh air. A bald-headed eagle swoops down through the sky and lands onto a meranti tree near by. No, I am not on a holiday. Neither am I on a safari trip. This is my home, and this is where our family live, besides at our home in the city.

Our house is nestled in a secluded area of the Titiwangsa highland range in the Malaysian state of Pahang. Although located next to a forest reserve, our nearest village called Janda Baik, is just half an hour away from the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur.

The house, positioned on a steep slope, overlooks a 270 degree angle of the amazingly green scenery. It is a wonderful retreat to go to after five days of a hectic schedule as a student. The refreshingly natural environment is also a nice place to recharge ourselves before facing the stressful routine of the week.

Our home, which we call Pondok Rimba, is the habitat of a myriad of wildlife. Troops of baboons consisting 10 to 20 members, continually intrude into our compound, stealing any source of food they can find. Without any notice, precious durian fruit from our trees would gradually decrease one by one. Female wild boars, another frequent visitor, often bring their young to wander around the edge of the river, hoping to find food. Various species of frogs are heard every night croaking loudly depriving me from peaceful sleep.

A 3 meter wide river in front of our house gushes with clear water from the mountain. A dip in its strong current sends shivers up my spine, yet it is an undeniably refreshing experience on a hot afternoon. Our free time is also spent fishing at our man-made lake which is conveniently positioned at the side of our compound. The lake, which draws water from an uphill stream, is full of various fresh water fish which often end up as tasty dishes for lunch. Recently, painting has also been a favourite past time here, with the beautiful scenic landscapes becoming the subject of my paintings. The blank spaces of our corridor walls have now been decorated by creative works of art which have been proudly done by my mother and I.

Every night spent in this home, I retire to a room where I can imagine myself as being in another world; a Moroccan paradise, where I can sleep in a four-poster bed draped with white linen all around the beams. A luscious dark purple colored duvet with lots of cushions decorates my queen sized bed. Richly coloured curtains hang from the windows, through which the tropical sunlight is diffused, adding to the romantic ambience. Arabian brass lights hanging from the ceiling give my room another touch of the mystical Moroccan style. It is a simply delightful room that harks back to another era.

The interior of the master bedroom has been inspired by a traditional Asian cultural perspective. The headboard of the king-sized bed, a Balinese carved wooden screen, separates the sleeping area and the walk-in wardrobe. Wooden floor boards have also played a part in making the room feel more serene. Built in front of the bedroom, and in front of the living and dining areas, is an open deck providing us with a relaxing place to take in the views of the tropical surroundings.

With temperatures approximately eight to ten degrees cooler than in the city, my father had strong intentions that we were to live with the cool breeze and without the use of any air conditioning. His decision of having an eco-friendly home was even extended to the usage of river water instead of piped water for our supply. In addition, our own organic vegetables are grown on the slopes, and because we have no rubbish collection system, we have had to become smart in our recycling and disposal of rubbish.

The grand entrance is the heart and soul of the house. Beginning at the bottom of the slope, blocks of granite and cement, create the first few steps of the long climb uphill. It is then gradually followed by steep wooden ones as you get to the top. The doorway, an ornately carved archway, leads you to the centre of the house where the man-made river flows from the pond and cascades down the front of the house. The bedrooms of the house lie along the left of the hill slope, while the living room and kitchen lie on the opposite side. Both the living and kitchen areas have their ceilings exposed showing the clay tiles and allowing good ventilation. An eight feet long teak table, made from recycled old wooden beams, fills the dining room and is the centre of many of our close family meals and discussions. The kitchen is also one of my mothers favourite spaces, where much of the time is spent making up delicious meals for us to enjoy.

My father has been the rock behind the idea and design of our house . He has been particularly intrigued by the old architectural elements of traditional Southeast Asian houses. Together as a family we have passionately made this as a hobby, to preserve and appreciate this rapidly disappearing heritage. For that reason, our house was designed to incorporate old artifacts. Dismantled beams and walls which have been restored from century old malay houses have widely been used in the construction of the house. My father who has also been avidly collecting antiques for the past few years, has adorned the house with lots of interesting treasures. Our house is an interesting combination of old and new.

With all these wonders around me, both with the beautiful natural environment and with the lovely house itself, I often feel overwhelmingly grateful and do truly appreciate the precious gifts that surround us. This is where I live, and it truly is, for me and my family, heaven on earth.

No copywrights. Cik Azura, if by any chance you're reading this, please take the time to grade my essay. Thank you.