Hidden costs renting landed?

[x9200]

As it turns, scorpions are actually more common than we all thought (at least that's what my arachnologist friends tell me). But they are mostly active at night and during day they often hide in crevices or bifurcations of trees or cements.

If you wanna see them, you can bring out your UV torch light at night and aim at those areas. You will like what you see

...than you thought. But maybe because of a great interest in insects/arachnids as a student, I remembered these things and often looked for them even today. (I don't mess with salamanders anymore though!)

That's why one has to be careful moving wood stacks in dark places as they like to hide during daylight hours. You can also find them in crevices in stone wall where chinks have fallen out or are loose. Same with stacked bricks, etc.

The black one I have seen in Cambodia some years ago, here nothing. Anyway, ordered an UV torch from ebay already

[nakatago]

As it turns, scorpions are actually more common than we all thought (at least that's what my arachnologist friends tell me). But they are mostly active at night and during day they often hide in crevices or bifurcations of trees or cements.

If you wanna see them, you can bring out your UV torch light at night and aim at those areas. You will like what you see

...than you thought. But maybe because of a great interest in insects/arachnids as a student, I remembered these things and often looked for them even today. (I don't mess with salamanders anymore though!)

That's why one has to be careful moving wood stacks in dark places as they like to hide during daylight hours. You can also find them in crevices in stone wall where chinks have fallen out or are loose. Same with stacked bricks, etc.

The black one I have seen in Cambodia some years ago, here nothing. Anyway, ordered an UV torch from ebay already

You ordered after knowing about scorpions or you just happened to need it for something else? Also, could you pass me the link

[x9200]

I ordered after knowing about the scorpions. For 20 bucks plus 8 for the batteries and charger it is worth to explore.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dl ... 0912777903

[Strong Eagle]

Thanks! But with a 7 month old baby I'm not getting sold on the idea perhaps we'll stick to a condo to begin with

Don't let all the stories dissuade you. Hundreds of thousands of children have been raised in landed properties... and close to my home... children in landed properties... 3 on one side... 3 more down at the end of the block.

I came from southern Texas. There are at least as many creepy crawlies there as here, and definitely more poisonous snakes, and cockroaches big enough to fly away with a VW.

I've got a very nice yard here in Singapore, chock full of trees, bushes, shrubs, flowerpots. One uses common sense before sticking one's hand into a pile of timbers... no standing water to keep the mosquitoes away... but...

I have never had scorpions, lizards, spiders, or any other interesting fauna in my house... and I have a large gated patio window that stays open 24 hours per day.

I do have the usual assortment of geckos... and frying them in the toaster is getting annoying... but you'll get that in a condo as well. My second biggest problem is a squirrel that sneaks in the open kitchen window and partakes of whatever might be on the counter.

Summary: It's not really a jungle out there.

[sundaymorningstaple]

It's true. I had squirrels that used to rob my honey mango tree in the front yard down below where you are many years ago 88~91 when I was living there. That and a old woman who was a MD in some company on Scotts road the would come at 3 am in the morning in a white mercedes and use a long pole with a small net on the end to steal them as well.

As far as moving wood or bricks, I alway used gloves anyway. Just in case.

[x9200]

Lets not forget about myna birds and the vicious tailless stray cats.
More seriously, SE is right, it is not that bad and far from a living jungle. On the other hand if you are not sure I would suggest to look for a cluster house so you will have a bit of both options under one roof.

[Strong Eagle]

Lets not forget about myna birds and the vicious tailless stray cats.
More seriously, SE is right, it is not that bad and far from a living jungle. On the other hand if you are not sure I would suggest to look for a cluster house so you will have a bit of both options under one roof.

Yes! Mynas walking in pairs all day long... can be squawky buggers at times. Then there are the doves that nest in my tree at night... and poop all over the driveway... the bugga's! The many songbirds... I don't know the names of them all... harrumph! And the crickets and frogs... evening serenade? However am I supposed to watch ESPN.

I'd be so hard pressed to live in a condo... I love the green space... and at least a bit of separation from the neighbors. I'm lucky... a great yard, with a great view... breakfast on the patio.

As a matter of fact, guyg, you should drop me a note. My good friend and neighbor 2 doors down is moving out... another nice place... you might like it.

[zzm9980]

Lets not forget about myna birds and the vicious tailless stray cats.

What the hell is the deal with the tail-less or half-tailed stray cats?

[sundaymorningstaple]

I was told once that malays break the tails so they would not be perfect animals. I think it a genetic aberration after so many generations, frankly.

I had a cute little calico cat for many years whose tail was shaped like a squared "J". You should see her when she passes too close to a dining room chair and gets "caught".

[JR8]

Lets not forget about myna birds and the vicious tailless stray cats.

What the hell is the deal with the tail-less or half-tailed stray cats?

In-breeding. They're the same in Tioman, Malaysia!

[x9200]

Result of shark fin deficit and raising prices affecting less wealthy parts of Singapore. Cat's tail if cooked just with a pinch of garam masala and few leaves of fresh basil is practically indistinguishable from shark fins.

[the lynx]

Thanks! But with a 7 month old baby I'm not getting sold on the idea perhaps we'll stick to a condo to begin with

Don't let all the stories dissuade you. Hundreds of thousands of children have been raised in landed properties... and close to my home... children in landed properties... 3 on one side... 3 more down at the end of the block.

I came from southern Texas. There are at least as many creepy crawlies there as here, and definitely more poisonous snakes, and cockroaches big enough to fly away with a VW.

I've got a very nice yard here in Singapore, chock full of trees, bushes, shrubs, flowerpots. One uses common sense before sticking one's hand into a pile of timbers... no standing water to keep the mosquitoes away... but...

I have never had scorpions, lizards, spiders, or any other interesting fauna in my house... and I have a large gated patio window that stays open 24 hours per day.

I do have the usual assortment of geckos... and frying them in the toaster is getting annoying... but you'll get that in a condo as well. My second biggest problem is a squirrel that sneaks in the open kitchen window and partakes of whatever might be on the counter.

Summary: It's not really a jungle out there.

I actually have to agree with SE in this. We tend to hijack threads in exponential comical pace.

Despite of what we described here, it is pretty common to come across small critters. But the same goes to all other parts of the world. Different places have different set of critters, though

With due diligence in house keeping and trash management, you should be able to get by with very occasional visitors from nature. Remember, they come because of food so just do not give these critters any reason to.

Given a chance and moolah, I also would like to stay in landed property with own garden

[zzm9980]

Interesting. When I first got here, i assume it was just animal cruelty to strays. Or maybe a very 'crude' way of marking the animals that might have been vaccinated or fixed.

[nakatago]

I wouldn't mind koala bears straying into my hypothetical yard. It'll be like, I step out in the patio and then koala bears scurry away. And I'll be saying "Hey, don't run away. I wanna hold one of you and feed you a leaf." It will be cutest infestation ever.

[JR8]

Interesting. When I first got here, i assume it was just animal cruelty to strays. Or maybe a very 'crude' way of marking the animals that might have been vaccinated or fixed.

Nope, it really is in-breeding.

Cats that have been spayed have the tip of one ear cut off.