Dr. Hashim's JofHappiness: Further Exploration of Beautiful and Clean Putrajaya on Bikes with the Grandchildren

Skyrides Festival Park is the starting and ending point of our Ride

First shot with Putra Mosque and Prime Minister's Office in the background

1. Introduction. I have cycled in Putrajaya a number of times. The first ride I had was when I joined a big group of cyclists quite a few years back, cycling from the Botanical Garden, then the Wetlands and around the periphery of this Federal capital, for an estimated distance of 60 km. It was an enjoyable ride going through the picturesque route with lots of trees and cool atmosphere with many water surfaces around. On another occasion I rode along the route by the lake. Another breathtaking experience and indeed Putrajaya is a beautiful, clean city. It is, therefore, not surprising that I have decided to invite my two grown-up grandchildren, Shazwan Adrin (19 years old) and Syafiq Aqmar (17 years) on this this biking trip to explore this beautiful capital. Both of them are studying in the UK and are presently back home with their parents for the long summer holiday. I have organised this trip so that I can interact with them and get enlightened as to their study life in a foreign country and and at the same time, perhaps share with them a little, a living style that is balanced, incorporating elements of spirituality, healthy living, environmental consciousness and community involvement.

2. The Ride. Shazwan and Syafique stayed overnight at my house in Bandar Baru Bangi and that night, after dinner of chicken satay which they relished, the bicycles were cleaned and oiled. Shazwan and Shafique brought the foldable version of the mountain bike, whereas I have an old horse, purchased in the late 1990, when I was actively mountain biking in Sabah. On the morning of Wednesday August 10, 2016, we left Bandar Baru Bangi at 6.45 am for the Skyrides Festival Park where we left our vehicle and at 7.30 am we were on our way, by the lake heading for the nearby Seri Wawasan Bridge and then the beautiful Putra Bridge where we had the awesome view of the pink Putra Mosque and the majestic Prime Minister's Office in the background. I took the opportunity to brief Shazwan and Syafique on the development of Putrajaya as the new Federal capital. It was conceptualised in the 1980s by the then Prime Minister, YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and development work started in the midst of 1995 on the 11 320 acres, which was previously Prang Besar Plantation with rubber, cocoa and oil palm. I recollected, in my working days as a research manager in MARDI responsible for agricultural commodity, I used to visit the cocoa research area of the Plantation. We proceeded further and arrived at Wawasan (Heritage) Park, one of the many green areas established. The Park was beautifully landscaped and provided with such facilities as benches that line by the fringe facing the lake and picnic areas with tables and benches. The pedestrian avenue are planted with shade trees, which among them, are the common rain tree. In the fringes of the lake I recognise weeping willow and 'putat' among the species planted. Slightly away from the lake, yellow palm are among the trees planted. I must confess that many of the shrubs and trees that adorn the landscape of the Park, their names slipped my mind - quite an embarrassment to Shazwan and Syafique- who were inquisitive to know these from their agriculturally trained grandpa. Even to the question as whether the Putrajaya Lake is man made or natural water bodies was something I was not sure of. I then decided to read more about the capital city.
The Park did impress the two young men. Shazwan expressed the beauty and peaceful feeling riding through it and that the Park is 'bersih giler', the Y Generation expression that the place is very clean. After the Park and the residential area by the lake we passed the Seri Gemilang Bridge with the impressive Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) nearby, then the Anjung Floria Exhibition ground, the incomplete monorail suspension bridge, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque (also known as the Iron Mosque), the Alaf Monument and finally Skyrides Festival Park where we started. The ride with many stops for photography ended at 9.30 am covering an estimated distance of 25 km. The exact distance was not known as the Garmin apparatus given as a birthday gift from my daughter, synchronised by Shazwan and for the first time worn on this Ride to record the details, was forgotten to be switched on. We had breakfast at the nearby restaurant by the lake and all the three riders going for the same dish of nasi lemak ayam berempah+telur mata, accompanied by our newly found kitty friend.

3. Putrajaya. The new capital, Putrajaya, was the vision of the then Prime Minister, YABhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who conceptualise its development on the 11 320 acre site as a garden and intelligent city, reserving 38% of the area for green spaces. Accordingly, the green spaces were developed as parks - Botanical, Wawasan and Agriculture Heritage. YABhg Tun also planned so that all processes in development of the city - planning, architecture, design of all structures are undertaken by Malaysians, and all construction, landscaping are done by Malaysian companies and materials are local. I understand only 10% of the materials used in the construction of the city is foreign. Development of the city started in 1995 and after 20 years, there are still many construction activities looking at the earth works and the cranes that are seen above structures that are coming up. The Putrajaya Lake that encircles the administrative capital was man made, covering an area of 650 acres, designed to hold water to cool the city, for recreational purposes with boating, fishing, transportation and eco-tourism. The many beautiful bridges that span the lake and add aestaticism to the capital, also have interesting history as to the architects responsible and the companies that constructed them. Putrajaya is a city that we Malaysians are truly proud of.