City of Wonder

“Bring your passports.”

CEBU, Philippines - That was the constant but gentle reminder of the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board. They insisted that we carry our official document, and yet they assured us that we weren’t leaving the country. Intrigued, I stuffed the travel ID in my handy, black traveling bag and joined the rest of the international media for our undercover, much-talked-about, afternoon-to-night tour of Putrajaya in Kuala Lumpur.

   We drove some 30 kilometers south from the capital city, and as we approached our final destination, a rolling landscape of gardens appeared—small patches of green and flowering islands. There were several pockets of water, most prominent of which was the over 400-hectare Putrajaya Lake that spanned the entire territory, as well. In between the greens of plants and the blues of water, there were wide multi-lane avenues which were dotted with lamp posts at close intervals, and unique bridges that linked the different districts. This amazing play on man-made nature and huge open areas formed a pretty picture of the awesome master-planned city.

   Dubbed as the Intelligent Garden City, the almost 5,000-hectare Putrajaya—a name that meant “princes’ success”—is the federal administrative capital of Malaysia. “It is a proud symbol of Malaysia’s aspiration to be a developed nation,” proclaimed our excursion guide.

   The tour passed by Putra Square, whose configuration of two concentric plazas, was what you would see from a bird’s eye view. The 300-square-meter park, used for parades and festivals, featured an 11-pointed star to represent the 11 states of old Malaya, an inner 13-pointed star to symbolize the 13 states of the country today, and a 14-pointed star to depict the new federal capital. The circle that encompassed everything expressed unity in old and new Malaysia.

   We finally made it to our first stop, Seri Perdana, the residence of the Prime Ministers of Malaysia. Here, my passport came in handy. It served as my ticket into the complex, which had three main blocks: the Main Reception and Protocol Block, the Banquet Facilities Block, and the living quarters.

   As it is home to the top leader of the country, the very modern Seri Perdana is comparable to our historic Malacañang Palace. A large ceremonial hall reminded me of our Heroes Hall, where coveted national awards are bestowed. The smaller salons, which served as venues for courtesy calls with guests or for dialogues with more intimate groups, are akin to our State Dining Room or even perhaps our Music Room.

   The Malaysian leaders appeared to be lovers of photographs. There were numerous large portraits of Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak and spouse Rosmah Mansor and other members of Malaysian officialdom and their wives. There were also images with many of the visiting VIPs from all over the globe.

   We moved on to the Sri Perdana Gallery, a museum-like space that showcased over 2,500 gifts and souvenirs presented to the Prime Ministers by foreign and local dignitaries. I spotted two gifts from the Philippines—a small glass sculpture of a carabao pulling a cart and a painting of a colorful jeepney from a top brass in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

   After touring the rest of the estate, high tea was served, and we loitered in the conservatory.

   We found ourselves at the Taman Botani next. The oasis, the largest botanical garden in the country, was a sanctuary for plants and a center for its education and research. The 92-hectare park featured over 700 species of plants from Malaysia, Asia Pacific, and Africa. One of its crowd drawer, the Brunfelsia bloom, which changes color from purple to pink, was found in the Sun Garden.

   Also in this zone, the Moroccan Pavilion is believed to be the first example of contemporary Moroccan Islamic craftsmanship in the region. The exhibit of Moorish art and architecture showcased, for example, marble fountains with zellij tile work, carpets with floral and geometric designs, table chests that store food for high tea, brass trays, and even silver daggers.

   I must mention the many marvelous bridges that we encountered during our tour. We crossed one bridge and, before long, came upon another that was more captivating than the one before. This went on and on like the crescendo of song, with each passage becoming more intricate, more fabulous, more alluring, more beautiful. Amen!

   Here are a few of my favorites: The Seri Wawasan Bridge appeared like a sail frozen in the wind. The futuristic creation was made up of a cable backstays and steel ties and had three-lane carriageways. The Seri Bakti Bridge, also known as the Bridge of Dignified Elegance, derived its streamlined design from Islamic architecture. Minaret-like pavilions, lamp posts, and guard rails, all of which matched the architecture of the promenade, were found along the nine-span crossing. 

   Considered as the jewel in the crown of the Putrajaya bridges, the Putra Bridge— with geometric designs spread on large walls—had four tower-type piers that housed fine dining restaurants and formed part of the Putrajaya Boulevard.

   Finally, the group headed for the Putrajaya Lake Cruise. While delighting in our gourmet dinner, the evening boat ride wended its way across the meandering man-made lake, offering more of the sights and landmarks of the magnificent city. Night fall provided a breathtaking perspective as Putrajaya was bathed in lights. As beacons were turned on in the street lamps, bridges, and buildings, near or far, Putrajaya appeared as a shining city of the future that you can enjoy today.

The preferred dress code in Putrajaya, Malaysia is smart casual. Short pants, jeans, and sleeveless tops are not encouraged. For more information, call the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board at +603 8891 8000 and +603 8891 8999 or visit www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my.