Many times expatriates have fallen in love with large gardens belonging to their rented homes as they represent the essence of a life in the tropics. Large trees with monkeys and squirrels, fruit trees and coconuts, butterflies and bees, the smell of the frangipani in a tropical night and the songs of the nightingale through the open windows can clinch their decision on a home. From many years of experience we can say: unless you are a born nature lover and unafraid of any creeping creature on earth, you need to be aware of what is tied to a life close to Asian's nature.
Monkeys and squirrels can be a nuisance, and their bites are dangerous. The fruit trees attract bats and squirrels and other animals in the food chain. Butterflies are nice but Asian bee stings hurt and may cause an allergic reaction unknown to you before. The bushes harbor cobras who pose a threat to your dog, spiders which bite your children when they recover their football out of the hedge, and last but not least: the open window without any mosquito screen is a tempting invitation to mosquitoes possibly transferring dengue fever.
It might sound a bit exaggerated, but you need to see the other side of the fence. As long as you train yourself, your family and your pet on how to deal with this abundance of mother nature so close to your doorstep, a tropical garden can be wonderful. Follow the advice of your maid and gardener as they are used to this world from early years onwards and have the clear advantage of being trained to survive in the tropical world.
The following preventive measures need to be taken around the house and garden to avoid dangerous and unpleasant contacts with insects/animals.
• Remove trapped water regularly. Avoid keeping saucers under plants, pet dishes, and buckets, etc. outside. (Mosquito breeding places.) • Change the water in flower vases and containers daily. • Keep the garden and yards free of rubbish, the grass cut and the bushes trimmed. • Fog regularly with pesticides against mosquitoes in the garden. • Cut back creepers, bushes and trees along the walls and windows. • Seal all crevices and cracks outside and inside the house. • Check potted plants regularly as they are ideal nesting places for snakes and other creatures. • Have wire mesh installed where drain pipes feed into open drains. • Cover all waste pipes and sink drains with sieves and buy drain covers. • Have good screens installed on doors and windows. • Small bees like to live in keyholes and wooden frames and are able to hollow them out completely just like termites. • Close the gaps between doors and floors. • Garbage is often placed in containers at the gate. The container should have a strong lid. Watch out for monkeys! • Have the water tank on the roof or the loft checked if it is properly sealed. • Animals under your roof can be identified by their droppings. Do not poison them as the stench of the dead animal will be unbearable. The same applies to rats! There are other remedies to get rid of them. Consult pest control. • Have a monthly contract with pest control for house and garden but get an explanation of the chemicals used. Mainly, they control the sewage, filter and drains and spray along the walls of the house. The garden will be fogged monthly. • Before you move in have all wooden parts of the house and garden checked thoroughly for termites. • Also, hollow trees pose a danger and may fall on the house during the next thunderstorm.
Jacqueline Reischel runs two online expatriate guides: enterShanghai.info is an award-winning Shanghai expat portal offering property search and also includes career information, immigration and other expat tips.
EnterSingapore.info is a step-by-step online relocation guide for expats. Search for houses, jobs and shopping and tips for living in Singapore.
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