Being the First Residents of Casa Desa

Here we are finally in our new home; the first step in our path to a new life as a married couple. Two years ago, all these seemed so far away. Yet now, looking at the old familiar furniture within our newly painted walls, everything looks like it has fallen into place. Well, most everything.

Casa Desa is not without its flaws and being the very first occupants has its plus and minuses.

Here’s my rating of what’s God and what’s Not about this new experience.


#1 What’s God: Total Peace & Quiet
Being the only occupant in a six-block condominium means there’s absolutely not a single soul around except the two of you. No cute but noisy kids running around to wake up the neighbours. No cars clogging up at the guardhouse when coming or leaving (KL traffic is bad enough as it is, the least anyone needs is a jam right at their doorstep).

For someone who writes for a living, the peace and quiet is absolute bliss. As I type this, I’m playing a Kenny G CD at top volume on our humble but efficient Altec Lansing speaker system and I don’t worry about anyone complaining.

I can walk around naked (key word: can) past the windows and not have to look out first for passer bys. We can walk around freely and not worry about having those awkward condo moments; you know, the one where you enter into a lift with someone you know to be a fellow neighbour but stare blankly at the floor number because you don’t know how to address the moment.

To cut things short, I’ve always been a private person so this time has been nothing but pure bliss.


#1 What’s Not: Total Peace & Quiet
…well, okay, I admit, not all the times. Being the only occupant in a six-block condominium means there’s absolutely not a single soul around except the two of you. That means taking that long path down to your door with nothing but the click clack of your high heels accompanying you when you come home late at night.

It’s a bit freaky sometimes knowing there’s no one around but the guards (all the way down at the car park entrance at nearest) should there be an emergency. That’s why my husband, the darling, has gotten us extra locks and peep hole installed to ensure my safety but still, the creepy feelings abound sometimes…

#2 What’s Great: Everything’s Brand New!
The first thing I spied when Michael and I did our tour of Casa Desa was the freshly set up gymnasium with equipments still wrapped up! Being gym junkies, we couldn’t help but ogle at the spartan room with adequate machines through the glass doors like children through a candy shop – or like girls at a window display of Guess. If they came with weights, I think we’d both seriously reconsider our gym memberships.

#2 What’s Late: Everything’s Damn Slow!
I think we are the legends of Casa Desa already, having moved in before the water supply was connected. It was a full four days before we had any of that stuff – and it sure was a strong lesson in the importance of H2O in our daily lives. Another water factor that got me less than thrilled is the swimming pool. I had been looking forward to taking a dip with a free mind – seeing as there won’t be any neighbours prying down from balconies silently judging what I looked like in a bikini – but the water hasn’t even been pumped in yet.

The other reason is the lack of Wifi. Our old place has Wifi. Our local mamak, Vithya’s, has Wifi. But (supposedly) upper middle class Casa Desa doesn’t. How advanced is that?


#3 What’s Cool: The Sunrises
This has nothing to do with being new but I just have to say, one of the best things about Casa Desa is the airy environment the windows allow. Made of glass panels, they are so wide and placed generously around the unit that we get a good view, and a good breeze in every room. This factor has been seriously lacking in most condos, where the windows face out to a blank wall or other people’s units. Our hall faces out to the green hills of the next suburbs and then some. And when we wake up in the morning, it’s to the bright rays of that burning diamond in the sky which doubles up as our alarm clock. Simply perfect.


#3 What’s Bull:The Surprises
We’re residents in our own condo and we still have to pay for using the Barbeque Pitt, Community Halls and etc?! The biggest bullshit I came across is the signboard down at the BBQ Pitt. It read something like “Only a maximum of 10 people are allowed to use it and must pay so on and so forth”. This is the first time I’ve been to a condo where the resident has to put out extra money for stuff, in his residence, that he’s supposed to be entitled to use.

Tell me, am I a jakun for saying this or is the system really flawed?


Well, that’s all I can think of for now. Right now we are still busy with renovations and other works to complete the picture. But that’s another story.