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Putrajaya Flower & Garden Fest, FLORIA 2010 (Part 2)

Posted by shloke 17 July 2010 9 comments

Hi everyone! This is the second article in a three-part series on Putrajaya Flower and Garden Festival a.k.a FLORIA 2010. Yet another blockbuster trilogy in the making :) It's an article jam-packed with EXCLUSIVE floral pictures NEVER been seen before. FLORIA 2010 - the story continues below. Click HERE to read Part 1.

Putrajaya is a planned garden city that acts as a federal administrative hub of Malaysia. It is 46 km2 (17.8 sq mi) in size and covers 11 000 acres of land in Prang Besar, Selangor. This is one BIG place for civil servants! The federal buildings are ULTRA MODERN and ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!

I dare to say this is one of the most expensive, purpose-built cities in the world. We have our very own World Expo in Putrajaya. And it's a permanent fixture. LOL! Anyway I guess it's not that bad, after all. Putrajaya reflects the better part of our country (Islamic, beautiful and modern); a real representation of how much Malaysia has developed.

Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 is the one everyone is looking forward to and the one everyone had really high expectations for. Sadly though, it takes very little time to realize that FLORIA 2010 doesn't quite live up to expectations: it looks small and budgeted. I'm disappointed in this year's toned down event. Well people have been complaining about the same thing. Now don't get me wrong, it’s still great fun, but it doesn't quite have same wonderful randomness it used to.

Anyway Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 is still the PERFECT place for a photography retreat. The Floral Avenue is gorgeous and enchanting! The sideways are decorated elaborately with flowers of every color and fragrance. Visitors can't seem to pass up the opportunity to have their picture taken. The avenue was packed with people, and that meant long lines! It's very frustrating but I've learned to be patient and enjoy the process :) There's a saying, "If you can't lick 'em, join 'em".

After that, I visited the Garden Bazaar. There are over 50 stalls selling flowers and potted plants, packets and bottles of organic fertilizers, traditional arts and crafts and many more. The bazaar is a must-see attraction for Malaysia visitors and tourists alike. Sadly there are only a few tourists. There are a lot of factors to be blamed for this poor turnout. The prominent being the lack of creative marketing and global promotion.

Sigh...Tourism Malaysia and Perbadanan Putrajaya (translation: Putrajaya Holdings) need to wake up to a glaring reality! Please be more CREATIVE! In today’s challenging tourism environment it takes more than just throwing millions of ringgit into advertising. Just look at our Malaysia Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo 2010. Marketing Malaysia as a premier golfing destination? LOL!!! I rarely see tourist playing golf - not even once. I wonder whose idea it was. Yes, it's bizarre.

Next, I walked to Laman Seni (translation: Art Square). Perbadanan Putrajaya invited many talented artists and craftsmen to Putrajaya FLORIA 2010. Public are invited and encouraged to participate in the workshops, art and craft sessions, talks and other artist activities. The Art Square is a hive of activity. Children love the opportunity to be part of FLORIA 2010. The children’s art and craft workshops at the Art Square give them that artistic experience and more. Kudos to the volunteer professional artists and craftsmen! Keep it up! You all worked so hard and the event went off like a charm, well done!

By midafternoon, it was HOT like FIRE! I quickly ran to the Floral Pavilion. It seems like everyone is waiting to enter the indoor air-conditioned building. This year’s floral festival has attracted ten participants from Britain, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Serbia, Australia, Japan and Taiwan. Some from Britain are coming fresh from the Chelsea Flower Show.

I was expecting to see top notch floral design from international award winning master gardener and floral experts. They did not disappoint believe me, there was some wonderful, creative and fun creations and I would like to thank all those who came to participate.

That's all folks! Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 is a small festival but still worth the visit. If you want to avoid the crowds, explore FLORIA 2010 early in the morning. This event runs until Sunday July 18 2010 (10 p.m.). Next, Putrajaya FLORIA Part 3 - End with a BANG! Stay tuned peeps!

FLORIA Garden Bazaar

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 11:15 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 [18mm f/5.6 manual 100 ISO 1/125 sec]

There are plenty of makeshift stalls in FLORIA 2010 Garden Bazaar. The bazaar is a farmer's and wholesaler's market that set up daily along the eastern end of the avenue. This is the BEST place to buy dirt cheap fresh-cut flowers and potted plants.

The man in black (in this picture) is the boss of this orchid shop. This stall is a must visit for orchid lovers as it's one of the best places to buy award winning orchid plants. Look out for the shop covered with black colored mesh.

Oops!...I Did It Again!

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 12:49 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 [32mm f/6.4 manual 100 ISO 1/160 sec]

Look at those brush strokes on the table. I guess the boy was trying to get the correct color for his stone painting. I should have auctioned off the white cloth at Christie's as a piece of Random Strokes by Picasso. LOL!

It's harvest time

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 12:49 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 [32mm f/9.0 manual 100 ISO 1/320 sec]

Some exhibits by Lembaga Pemasaran Pertanian Persekutuan, FAMA (translation: The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority). This is one of the many Special Garden Showcase at FLORIA 2010.

This paddy showcase by FAMA is rather lame and boring. The lack of interactivity to encourage greater public participation in these displays was a particular disappointment. The least they could do was to add more details.

A family affair

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 11:54 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 [24mm f/5.6 manual 160 ISO 1/125 sec]

As we celebrate, let us bring our people closer together in unity, regardless of race, colour and religion. The floral festival is a wonderful way of bringing the family closer together; it's the perfect chance to meet many new interesting people. By the way, I ran into into PM Najib :) You really need to come to this festival!

Congkak, anyone?

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 12:41 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 [45mm f/7.1 manual 100 ISO 1/200 sec]

According to Wikipedia, Congkak (a type of mancala game) is believed to originate from the word ‘congak’ which in old Malay Language means mental calculation (without writing it down). It is believed that the game originated in Malacca Kingdom where it became very popular and spread to the South East Asia region. The objective of the game is to capture more seeds than one's opponent.

Seven seeds are placed in each hole except the stores, which remain empty. The objective of the game is to capture more seeds than one's opponent.

Traditional woven basket

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 11:36 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 [22mm f/8.0 manual 100 ISO 1/250 sec]

A makeshift stall selling hand woven basket and massage shoes. These baskets, hand-woven of rattan fibre, are a loose weave to allow water or air to pass through the basket and around its contents. Most of these items were made by Orang Asli (translation: aboriginal peoples) found in Peninsular Malaysia.

Big Bird

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 1:04 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 [45mm f/5.3 automatic 100 ISO 1/25 sec]

The famous yellow colored cartoon character from Sesame Street made an appearance at FLORIA 2010. A floral Big Bird, you gotta LOVE IT! Manggis Garcinia mangostana eyes, ice cream cone-like beak and chrysanthemum feathers. Big Bird smells so good! There's a lot of hugging going on. Kids everywhere love the Sesame Street character :)

Floral batik

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 12:41 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 [26mm f/6.3 manual 100 ISO 1/160 sec]

A beautiful piece of batik cloth created by an experienced artist at Laman Seni (translation: Art Sqaure). Batik is a cloth that traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique. The batik workshop is a favorite among parents of all age groups.

According to Wikipedia, Malaysian batik can be found on the east coast of Malaysia such as Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, while batik in Johor clearly shows Javanese and Sumatran influences since there is a lot of Javanese and Sumatran immigrants in southern Malaysia. The most popular motifs are leaves and flowers. Malaysian batik never depicting humans or animals because Islamic norms forbid anthropomorph and animal images as decoration. However, the butterfly theme is a common exception. The colors also tends to be more light and vibrant than deep colored Javanese batik.

The white chick

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 1:07 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 [30mm f/4.8 automatic 1250 ISO 1/30 sec]

Another cute looking cartoon character created with floral materials. Head shaped like a gigantic golf ball. LOL!

Gimme light

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 10:57 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 [55mm f/8.0 manual 100 ISO 1/250 sec]

Existing light photography a.k.a available or natural light photography is the BEST! Natural light qualities such as direction, intensity, color, and harshness can change dramatically, not only depending on the time of day, but also the weather conditions.

Natural light is at its most beautiful and flattering in the couple of hours after sunrise and before sunset. Here is one of my favorite natural light shots taken during the recent Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. Click HERE.

The beehive scepter

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 10:51 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 [48mm f/8.0 manual 100 ISO 1/250 sec]

Beautiful and exotic flowers! The flower looks like the first man-portable and non-lethal deterrent weapon. LOL!

According to montosgardens, Beehive Ginger - Zingiber spectabile (Zingiberaceae) is erect, from 6-8 feet tall, and the inflorescences are basal. The bracts are pale yellow in a young inflorescence, becoming red as it matures, especially if it gets some full sun. All parts of the plant have a strong gingery fragrance. Attractive in the garden and as a cut flower. Blooms from July through November. Propagated by division, stem cuttings and seeds.

Bromeliad, the red star

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 11:26 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 [55mm f/7.1 manual 100 ISO 1/200 sec]

A flower with star-burst red petals. I love the randomness of the petal size and directions. Simply GORGEOUS!

The lost garden

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 12:29 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 [18mm f/8.0 manual 100 ISO 1/250 sec]

A man-made tropical garden featuring plants with very large leaves (such as banana and Bird of Paradise).

Plastic garden

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 12:16 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 [22mm f/7.1 manual 100 ISO 1/200 sec]

A creative garden by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). Billed as a unique fusion garden with a harmonious combination of natural plants and recylced plastic materials. One of the many university gardens in Putrajaya FLORIA 2010.

Last updated July 21 2010 (12:03 a.m.)

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Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 - Directions, Getting There & Maps:

This is a thumbnail screenshot. Click link to download.

FLORIA 2010 - Venue Overall Layout (1 page, JPG File, 568kb)

Note: File is hosted in MediaFire. Map courtesy of Perbadanan Putrajaya, PPJ.

By Bus

1) Take Rapid KL bus number U82 from KL Sentral to Bandar Utama

2) From Bandar Utama, change to Bus U43 to Putrajaya Sentral.

Putrajaya Sentral is the main public transportation hub of Putrajaya.

Two major bus companies are operating in Putrajaya Sentral - both Rapid KL and Nadi Putra. Rapid KL take passengers from outside of Putrajaya from places such as Bandar Utama, Serdang and Cyberjaya whereas Nadi Putra routes are confined to within Putrajaya.

By Taxis

Coupon taxis from KL Sentral to Putrajaya cost a fixed RM35. For more information, please refer to the following links:

http://tinyurl.com/ykjovmv (Putrajaya Sentral, main transportation hub of Putrajaya)
http://wikitravel.org/en/Putrajaya (Wikitravel article about Putrajaya)

Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 - Google Satellite Maps:

View Floria Putrajaya in a larger map

Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 - My YouTube Videos:

Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 - Contact Details, Opening Hours & Itineraries:

FLORIA is located on a 25 hectares land along the Waterfront, Precinct 2, Putrajaya. It is located directly opposite the National Registration Department or Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara building. FREE entrance.

Opening Hours & Dates:

Start Time:

Saturday, July 10, 2010 at 8:00am

End Time:

Sunday, July 18, 2010 at 10:00pm

9am – 10pm

(Monday-Thursday)

9am – 12midnight

(Friday-Sunday)

Organizer Contact Details:

Perbadanan Putrajaya,

Kompleks Perbadanan Putrajaya,

24, Persiaran Perdana, Presint 3,

62675 Putrajaya

Malaysia.

Telephone : 603 8887 7137

Fax : 603 8887 5034

Official portal: http://www.ppj.gov.my/putrajayafloria/floria.html

FLORIA 2010 - Complete schedule of activities and programmes (15 pages, PDF File, 142kb)

Note: Itineraries are obtained from Putrajaya FLORIA 2010. PDF file is hosted in MediaFire.

Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 - Things To Do/See (180 Activities):

Society and growers of heliconia, orchid, bonsai (annual showcase garden)
Corporate, PBT & NGO showcase garden
International showcase garden (Japan, Taiwan, Britain and others)
School and university garden
Floral Pavilion
Garden bazaar
Exhibition and garden talks
Nature photography contest
Watercolour competition
Batik and wau making workshops
Wayang kuilit (shadow puppet theater) performances
Cultural shows (including dikir barat)
Graffiti demonstration
Laman Seni featuring arts and crafts
Garden design competition
Garden talks and demonstrations

Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 - Read More/Useful Links:

http://tinyurl.com/2ar4zgl (All my articles on Putrajaya FLORIA 2010)
http://www.ppj.gov.my/putrajayafloria/floria.html (Official portal of FLORIA 2010)
http://tinyurl.com/2dakseb (Floral creations in Putrajaya a feast for the eyes, TheStar)
http://tinyurl.com/29agzoj (More than 500,000 visitors expected at Floria Putrajaya 2010, The Star)
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/5flora/Article/ (Floral festival blossoms in Putrajaya, NST)
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/People_Passionforflora/Article/ (People: Passion for flora, NST)

Putrajaya Flower & Garden Fest, FLORIA 2010 (Part 1)

Posted by shloke 12 July 2010 15 comments

Gosh, I'm so tired! I've been yawning nonstop for the last few hours. LOL! I slept late the night before and woke up bright and early. I wanted to arrive on time as soon as possible. WHY??? I hate weekends and holidays because it’s just so full and busy with people darting about in a random manner. There were so many people here, that it was almost impossible to take a decent picture without people walking in front of you. I guess it's best to go much later in the day during the week or maybe very early in the morning.

Thankfully it was a smooth drive all the way to Putrajaya. It was a beautiful day as well. Deep blue sky, with only a handful of cotton white clouds floating ever so gently up in the stratosphere. The wafting fragrance of flowers can be smelled from afar. I was thrilled and excited. I cannot wait anymore! I ran all the way to the main entrance. My goodness...I'm so kiasu 怕輸!

I spent an uplifting two hours exploring Putrajaya Flower and Garden Festival a.k.a FLORIA 2010. I have no qualms about walking all over Precinct 2. But I cannot stand the HEAT from the SUN! The temperature goes over 38 °C, and you seriously cannot move or go outside for more than a few minutes without feeling the sun burning you. I got a stinging crimson dose of sunburn! My neck and face is still 'burning red'...after effects of acute sunburn. LOL! Words of advice for visitors: Bring along an umbrella.

I was lucky enough to randomly bump into PM Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak on the floral avenue in FLORIA 2010. I mean it wasn't like I expected to see him again...up close and personal. I had initially wanted to explore the 1 Malaysia themed garden. But I was stopped abruptly by two burly men with those cheap party sunglasses in Men in Black style.

With a stern voice he said:

"Tak boleh masuk sekarang. Kena tunggu Perdana Menteri tengok dulu"

(Translation: "Do not enter now. We're expecting PM")

Oh well. I proceeded to the next themed garden - the Bonsai Paradise. Halfway, I saw a big group of photographers. I know everyone will be incredibly excited to see our PM. Suddenly people started emerging from everywhere! It was packed like HELL. CRAZY!

Next, PM Najib and his entourage moved to the bonsai garden. The security personnel restrained people from pouring into the garden. I was the only guy there! So, I grabbed my camera and snapped nonstop. Note: I do not move a bit and he was just a foot away. I wanted to shake his hand but I do not want to be mistaken as one of those crazy fanatics. Looking back, I think it was kind of surreal. Imagine standing right next to The Most Powerful Man in Malaysia :)

Overall, I still prefer the inaugural floral fest in Kuala Lumpur (KL) Lake Garden - BIGGER and BETTER. FLORIA 2010 only attracted a few states, a far cry from the original event. Nevertheless, the Putrajaya Flower & Garden Festival 2010 was a sparkling, exhilarating and fun event.

Stay tuned for Part 2 - More exclusive Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 pictures!

Golden Scepter a.k.a Beehive Ginger

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 10:52 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

This is my favorite picture so far. I was squatting under the hot sun to capture this shot. There were plenty of people walking and darting randomly. As it turns out, it is somewhat difficult to take a good picture under these circumstances. Luckily the picture turned out great! WOHOO!

Does anyone know the name of this flower? I've seen 'orang asli' (translation: aboriginal people) selling it in Cameron Highlands. It looks like a blooming Olympic torch :) Updates: Thanks to Kayelmiumiu for helping me identify this flower.

The PM and his entourage

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 10:44 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

I didn't expect to see PM Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak up close and personal again. My first encounter with PM came a few months ago during National Wesak Day celebration at Buddhist Maha Vihara temple. Meeting the Prime Minister is a surreal experience that I will never forget. Definitely too good to be true!

In this picture: From left, tauke Bonsai, PM Najib, Datuk M. Saravanan (Federal Territories Deputy Minister), Tan Sri Samsudin Osman (President of Perbadanan Putrajaya) + secret service officer.

He's the one!

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 10:44 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

I wonder what PM Najib's thinking about in this picture?

Up close and personal

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 10:30 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

I was one of the few visitors at the bonsai themed garden. At first, the PM officiates the 1 Malaysia themed garden. After that, he walked to this bonsai garden with his entourage. His security personnel (dressed in blue and pink) were looking for potential trouble makers. I was just a foot away from PM Najib. I snapped like a madman. LOL!

Later, another security officer (Chinese man, not visible in this picture) warned me discreetly not to move any closer. WHAT the H***???! I was not even moving...AT ALL! LOL!

Under my umbrella

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 10:55 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

It's HOT HOT HOT here! Putrajaya apparently got up to 38 °C yesterday. I'm still suffering from the sting of the sun and till this moment the marks from the burns are still on my body. YIKES!

I should have brought an umbrella. But I find it very sissy to see any guy holding it :)

Hello Kitty

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 1:05 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.2, ISO Equiv.: 1250

A Hello Kitty made entirely with cotton. One of the many CREATIVE & CUTE cartoon characters built from flora materials. Check out my YouTube videos for more.

Orange bloom

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 10:58 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

I stumbled upon rows and rows of beautiful flowers at the Floral Avenue. If you are obsessed with beautiful flowers and decorative plants, this is the festival for you.

Among the festival's most popular events are the heliconia showcase (largest number of heliconias on exhibit), international showcase gardens (Japan, Taiwan, Britain and others), Floral Pavilion, garden bazaar, nature photography contest and batik workshops.

Picasso in the making?

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 11:46 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 200

A school children painting his floral artwork.

The Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 workshop brings together artist from around Malaysia to share their creativity and technical skills with the public. An effective way to increase public awareness and appreciation of artistic practices in Malaysia. Kudos for a job well done.

Budding artist

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 11:46 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 360

A close-up shot on a young lefty. Many believe left-handed people are creative and good at art. As a left-handed person I have to concur with that. LOL!

WOW! It's a Wau!

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 11:56 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 800

A 'wau' master from Kelantan demonstrating how to make a paper wau. He used a piece of pencil to poke some holes.

According to Go2travelMalaysia, Wau or Kite in Malay is a uniquely designed Malaysian kite that has flown since times past. It is called 'Wau' because the shape of its wing is similar to an Arabic letter (pronounced "wow"). It is a marvelous tradition inherent to the culture of the people, especially in the Eastern States of the Malaysia Peninsula. Today, the kite is still widely found in the traditionally rich states of Kelantan and Terengganu, especially during harvest time.

My masterpiece!

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 11:43 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100

A kid busy making his very own 'wau' (translation: kite) from scratch. The kite-making workshop was a huge crowd puller and a favorite among kids.

Goodbye FLORIA!

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 10:30 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

A couple walking along the Floral Avenue. The big white tent is the Floral Pavilion with exhibits and design from across the world.

Orchids galore

Location: FLORIA 2010, Precinct 2 Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday), 10:39 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100

There are plenty of exotic tropical orchids in FLORIA 2010. The good news is you can get dirt cheap orchids from the garden bazaar. There is a specialty shop specializes in selling award winning orchid plants with gigantic blooms. AWESOME!

Last updated July 19th 2010 (6:09 p.m.)

Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 - Directions, Getting There & Maps:

This is a thumbnail screenshot. Click link to download.

FLORIA 2010 - Venue Overall Layout (1 page, JPG File, 568kb)

Note: File is hosted in MediaFire. Map courtesy of Perbadanan Putrajaya, PPJ.

By Bus

1) Take Rapid KL bus number U82 from KL Sentral to Bandar Utama

2) From Bandar Utama, change to Bus U43 to Putrajaya Sentral.

Putrajaya Sentral is the main public transportation hub of Putrajaya.

By Taxis

Coupon taxis from KL Sentral to Putrajaya cost a fixed RM35. For more information, please refer to the following links:

http://tinyurl.com/ykjovmv (Putrajaya Sentral, main transportation hub of Putrajaya)
http://wikitravel.org/en/Putrajaya (Wikitravel article about Putrajaya)

Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 - Google Satellite Maps:

View Floria Putrajaya in a larger map

Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 - My YouTube Videos:

Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 - Contact Details, Opening Hours & Itineraries:

Opening Hours & Dates:

Start Time:

Saturday, July 10, 2010 at 8:00am

End Time:

Sunday, July 18, 2010 at 10:00pm

9am – 10pm

(Monday-Thursday)

9am – 12midnight

(Friday-Sunday)

Organizer Contact Details:

Perbadanan Putrajaya,

Kompleks Perbadanan Putrajaya,

24, Persiaran Perdana, Presint 3,

62675 Putrajaya

Malaysia.

Telephone : 603 8887 7137

Fax : 603 8887 5034

Official portal: http://www.ppj.gov.my/putrajayafloria/floria.html

FLORIA 2010 - Complete schedule of activities and programmes (15 pages, PDF File, 142kb)

Note: Itineraries are obtained from Putrajaya FLORIA 2010. PDF file is hosted in MediaFire.

Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 - Things To Do/See (180 Activities):

Society and growers of heliconia, orchid, bonsai (annual showcase garden)
Corporate, PBT & NGO showcase garden
International showcase garden (Japan, Taiwan, Britain and others)
School and university garden
Floral Pavilion
Garden bazaar
Exhibition and garden talks
Nature photography contest
Watercolour competition
Batik and wau making workshops
Wayang kuilit (shadow puppet theater) performances
Cultural shows (including dikir barat)
Graffiti demonstration
Laman Seni featuring arts and crafts
Garden design competition
Garden talks and demonstrations

Putrajaya FLORIA 2010 - Read More/Useful Links:

http://tinyurl.com/2ar4zgl (All my articles on Putrajaya FLORIA 2010)
http://www.ppj.gov.my/putrajayafloria/floria.html (Official portal of FLORIA 2010)
http://tinyurl.com/2dakseb (Floral creations in Putrajaya a feast for the eyes, TheStar)
http://tinyurl.com/29agzoj (More than 500,000 visitors expected at Floria Putrajaya 2010, The Star)
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/5flora/Article/ (Floral festival blossoms in Putrajaya, NST)
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/People_Passionforflora/Article/ (People: Passion for flora, NST)

[FEDERAL TERRITORY], [Putrajaya] ALL POSTS, [Putrajaya] Putrajaya Flower And Garden Festival - FLORIA 2010, [Selangor] ALL POSTS

Fruity Galore - A Celebration of Sight, Smell & Taste

Posted by shloke 09 May 2010 5 comments

Article Preview

Coffea liberica

Location: Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park, Precinct 16, Malaysia

Date: 6th May 2010 (Thursday), 12:44 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

Coffea liberica is a species of coffee that originated in Liberia, West Africa.

According to Tradewindsfruit, coffee fruits contain little flesh and are usually discarded, the seed however undergoes a processing procedure that yields the coffee bean of commerce.

Dragon fruit

Location: Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park, Precinct 16, Malaysia

Date: 6th May 2010 (Thursday), 12:55 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

A ripening pinkish red dragonfruit. Honestly, I wanted to yank out this fruit, peeled it and eat it straightaway. The park management needs to introduce 'eat on the spot' promotion! I cannot 'tahan' (English: stand) seeing these delicious fruits!

Black palm fruit

Location: Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park, Precinct 16, Malaysia

Date: 6th May 2010 (Thursday), 12:15 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.0, ISO Equiv.: 360

Looks like a bunch of rotten grapes :)

Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit, while palm kernel oil is derived from the kernel (seed) of the oil palm. They should not be confused with coconut oil, which is derived from the kernel of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). Palm oil is naturally reddish because it contains a high amount of beta-carotene (though boiling palm oil destroys the beta-carotene, rendering the oil colourless).

In 2008, Malaysia produced 17.7 million tonnes of palm oil on 4.5 million hectares of land, and was the second largest producer of palm oil, employing more than 570,000 people. Malaysia is the largest exporter of palm oil in the world. About 60% of palm oil exports from Malaysia are shipped to China, the European Union, Pakistan, United States and India. They are mostly made into cooking oil, margarine, specialty fats and oleochemicals. Source: Wikipedia

What is this?

Location: Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park, Precinct 16, Malaysia

Date: 6th May 2010 (Thursday), 12:00 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

Try to guess the name of this fruit. Here's a hint - sticky yellow colored fruit. Answer in Picture 8.

Papa pomelo

Location: Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park, Precinct 16, Malaysia

Date: 6th May 2010 (Thursday), 12:09 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100

Holding a bigger pomelo.

Baby Pomelos

Location: Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park, Precinct 16, Malaysia

Date: 6th May 2010 (Thursday), 12:11 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100

Holding four baby pomelos. The green skin feels hairy and soft - really nice :)

The pomelo (Citrus maxima or Citrus grandis) is a citrus fruit native to South East Asia. It is usually pale green to yellow when ripe, with sweet white (or, more rarely, pink or red) flesh and very thick pudgy rind. It is the largest citrus fruit, 15–25 cm in diameter, and usually weighing 1–2 kg.

The pomelo tastes like a sweet, mild grapefruit, though the typical pomelo is much larger in size than the grapefruit. It has very little, or none, of the common grapefruit's bitterness, but the enveloping membranous material around the segments is bitter, considered inedible, and thus usually discarded.

The peel is sometimes used to make marmalade, or candied, then (sometimes) dipped in chocolate. The peel of the pomelo is also used in Chinese cooking. In general, citrus peel is often used in southern Chinese cuisine for flavouring, especially in sweet soup desserts. Source: Wikipedia

Water Apples

Location: Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park, Precinct 16, Malaysia

Date: 6th May 2010 (Thursday), 11:42 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

During my first visit, a Bangladeshi worker yanked out a bunch of water apples and asked me to eat it on the spot. I was reluctant at first (visitors are not allowed to do that). Anyway, I decided to taste it (curi-curi makan). It was sweet, crunchy, juicy and delicious!

Young rambutans

Location: Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park, Precinct 16, Malaysia

Date: 6th May 2010 (Thursday), 12:26 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

Holding a young rambutan. Matured rambutans are either red or yellow colored. One of my favorite fruit.

Rambutan in Indonesian, Filipino and Malay literally means hairy caused by the 'hair' that covers this fruit. The outer skin is peeled exposing the fleshy fruit inside which is then eaten. It is sweet, sour and slightly grape like to the taste. Source: Wikipedia

It's a jackfruit!

Location: Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park, Precinct 16, Malaysia

Date: 6th May 2010 (Thursday), 11:55 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100

This is pretty interesting! One of the jackfruit was wrapped with a transparent plastic bag, another with a weaved leaf.

The jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus or A. heterophylla) is a species of tree in the mulberry family (Moraceae), which is native to parts of Southern and Southeast Asia. It is the national fruit of Bangladesh.

It is well suited to tropical lowlands. Its fruit is the largest tree borne fruit in the world, Reaching 80 pounds in weight and up to 36 inches long and 20 inches in diameter. Source: Wikipedia

Rubber seed

Location: Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park, Precinct 16, Malaysia

Date: 6th May 2010 (Thursday), 1:51 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

The fruits are capsules of three lobes, each containing a hard and shiny seed. Rubber seeds are dispersed with a loud explosion of the capsules.

Harvest of latex

Location: Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park, Precinct 16, Malaysia

Date: 6th May 2010 (Thursday), 2:10 p.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 200

The latex smells like typical white colored art glue. Quite sticky.

Once the trees are 5–6 years old, harvesting can begin: incisions are made orthogonally to the latex vessels, just deep enough to tap the vessels without harming the tree's growth, and the sap is collected in small buckets. This process is known as rubber tapping. Older trees yield more latex. Source: Wikipedia

This is my second trip to Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park (Malay: Taman Warisan Pertanian Putrajaya). Currently, I'm stuck in Kuala Lumpur (KL) and Selangor. So here I am...back to this intelligent city - the federal administrative centre of Malaysia.

It was a smooth drive all the way. Unfortunately, I lost my way and ended up in Deputy Prime Minister's (DPM) official residence! At first, I was worried sick. Armed policemen were alerted upon seeing my car approaching the DPM's majestic gates. I was scared like hell! These law enforcement officers were armed with automatic weapons.

I did a casual U-turn back to the main road. Note: I drove slowly to avoid suspicion. I do not want to be mistaken as a suicide bomber crashing his car laden with lethal explosives nor do I want to be shot into a pulp. I've got a major phobia whenever I see a local policeman. Recently, I had a nightmarish experience during a roadblock in the city.

After awhile, I finally arrived at Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park. Entrance fee is RM 2 per adult. I tried to hide my camera bag. Photography in the park cost a whooping RM 100 per hour! What an asshole policy! Luckily the cashier didn't say anything. It reminds me of a US policy "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT). LOL!

It was a damn hot afternoon. I was sweating like a pig! Looking back, I rather use vulgar words to describe the extreme weather. It was F***ING HOT!

This agriculture park is pretty much the same as yesterday. Over 100 ++ tropical fruit trees. During my latest visit, I've seen honey jackfruit, pomelo, bananas, longan 龙眼, pineapple, dragon fruit, cocoa, rubber, China ruby pears, mangoes, rambutans, spices and many more. It's impossible to explore the entire place in one afternoon. You'll need one whole day to truly explore this place. It is HUGE! You may hire a buggy. But I prefer to walk.

Overall, this is the BEST place in Putrajaya. A hidden gem. This is an A-list tourist destination. Sadly, few visitors knew the existence of this place. What a waste!

Nonetheless, there is always room for improvement. I was tempted to yank out some fruits and taste them on the spot. Foreign workers even encouraged me to do so. The management should have promoted 'eat on the spot' activity in this park. I don't mind paying a fee (less than RM50) to taste these delicious tropical goodies. I wonder what happened when the fruits are ripened. Throw it away or share among the workers??? The entire experience is incomplete without the tasting session.

By the way, I've embedded a full length Youtube Video from Nova PBS (Public Broadcasting Service). All about The Lost Treasures of Tibet. This is an exotic and beautiful video about Himalayan Kingdom of Mustang. I was impressed with the restoration work to preserve the Tibetan culture. A MUST - SEE video for all travellers!!! This is one of the many places to see before I die. Check out the video at the bottom of the page.

Last updated 9th May 2010 (11:58 p.m.)

A MUST-SEE documentary for travelers like us! Right click to watch in YouTube.

Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park - Download Brochures & Map:

Brochure 1 (English, 324kb, PDF file, 1 page)
Brochure 2 (Malay, 1.2MB, PDF file, 2 pages)
Brochure 3 (Malay, 2.4MB, PDF file, 4 pages)
Map (711kb, PDF file, 1 page)

Note: Files are hosted in MediaFire.

Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park - Contact Details:

The park opens from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.

Visitors complex opens from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Taman Warisan Pertanian Putrajaya (Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park),

No 7, Jalan P16,

Presint 16,

62150 Putrajaya.

Tel 03-8887 7772

Faks 03-8887 5038

Email twp@ppj.gov.my

Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park - 2010 Agro Bazaar:

(26th - 30th May 2010, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.)
(23rd - 27th June 2010, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.)
(21st - 25th July 2010, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.)
(22nd - 26th September 2010, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.)
(27th - 31st October 2010, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.)
(24th - 28th November 2010, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.)

Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park - Getting There:

By plane

The nearest airport is Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). A coupon or metered budget taxi to or from KLIA will take 30 minutes and cost around RM60. Alternatively, you can take the KLIA Transit from the airport to Putrajaya station and transfer to a taxi. Official portal of KLIA http://www.klia.com.my/

By train

For public transport the fastest choice is the KLIA Transit connecting Kuala Lumpur's Sentral train station to its airport, which stops halfway in between at Putrajaya. Trains run every 30 minutes, take 20 minutes and the list price is RM 9.50 one-way, but the RM15 Putrajaya return ticket (valid for one month) is better value. Official portal of KLIA Ekspress:http://www.kliaekspres.com/

Note: KLIA Ekspres services do not stop at Putrajaya.

By taxi

Coupon taxis from Kuala Lumpur's KL Sentral cost a fixed RM35, but otherwise you'll have to try out your bargaining skills - figure on RM30-50, and expect to pay more at night.

By Bus

1) Take Rapid KL bus number U82 from KL Sentral to Bandar Utama

2) From Bandar Utama, change to Bus U43 to Putrajaya Sentral.

Putrajaya Sentral is the main public tranportation hub of Putrajaya.

By Taxis

Coupon taxis from KL Sentral to Putrajaya cost a fixed RM35

For more information, please refer to the following link:

http://tinyurl.com/ykjovmv

Putrajaya Wikitravel:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Putrajaya

Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park - Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park - Things To Do/See:

Rubber Plot & Processing Gallery
Fruit Orchard
Agriculture Farms
Herbs and Spices Track
Observation Deck/Platform
Eco Learning Activities

Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park - Read More/Useful Links:

a) http://tinyurl.com/ylsla8v (Official Webpage of Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park)

b) http://www.ppj.gov.my/ (Official Portal of Putrajaya)

c) http://tinyurl.com/ykcgbp3 (My first trip to Putrajaya Agriculture Heritage Park)

[Putrajaya] Agriculture Heritage Park, [Putrajaya] ALL POSTS, [Selangor] ALL POSTS

Putrajaya Balloon Fiesta - A Family Event (Part 2)

Posted by shloke 26 March 2010 9 comments

Say CHEESE!

Location: Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 9:54 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.8, ISO Equiv.: 200

You gotta love her smile!

I was standing under the hot sun looking for the perfect photo moment. This girl was circling around me. Her mom noticed my presence. She asked her daughter to smile for mylo. WOW! Thanks mom!

This is FUN!!!

Location: Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 9:57 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 200

This boy is a pro! He was speeding with his 'three wheeled tricycle'. It looks like a movable OSIM massage chair. LOL!

Okay...does anyone know the name of this vehicle?

Updated: Thanks to 1ondoncaller for the heads up. This is a type of recumbent bike. Popularly known as KMX bike.

"KMX is a cool fusion of go-kart, BMX and mountain bike which puts more fun into cycling. A KMX is a pedal powered trike - comfortable to ride, safe on or off road and easy to handle. Its natural stability makes it cruise with ease. Race down a track or up a steep hill, try a few stunts, pedal through the countryside or commute to work". Source: http://www.kmxkarts.co.uk/

I'm Lovin' It

Location: Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 9:57 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 200

An up close and personal shot.

Let Me TRY!

Location: Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 10:01 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

Look at this CUTE little fella :)

This kiddo was asked by his parents to climbed into the Go-kart. Parents wanted to take some pictures. Moments later, daddy asked him to get out. Junior was reluctant. He wanted play the real Go-kart!

VROOM! VROOM!

Location: Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 10:01 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

A young driver adjusting himself to extra large wheel and break pedals.

He! He! My Kind of Kiddie Ride :)

Location: Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 10:02 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

I LOVE seeing happy kids! I think he was reversing his new found vehicle. LOL!

My Masterpiece

Location: Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 9:33 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 200

Happy siblings working on their masterpiece.

We Are Family

Location: Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 9:29 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 200

A father registering his daughters for drawing and coloring competition. Truly 1 Malaysia event :)

Sneak Peek

Location: Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 9:31 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 200

This big guy reminds me of Dato' Lat (Malaysia's favourite cartoonist).

Hurry Up DAD!

Location: Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 9:29 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 200

I think the eldest son was thinking "I can do BETTER! Let me add Dragon Ball & Naruto"

How Do I Look???

Location: Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 9:53 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/3.8, ISO Equiv.: 200

Another satisfied customer.

The Bikers Siblings

Location: Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 9:59 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

The little girl on the right looks adorable :)

READY, GET SET, GO!

Location: Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

A young driver evaluating his opponent.

Sphere Madness

Location: Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 9:49 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

I wanted to give it a try. But it's expensive!

The Super Dive!

Location: Precinct 2 - Putrajaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Time: 11:04 a.m.

Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

I think the fella was saying "GET ME OUT! I'M PINNED DOWN...FLAT!!!" LOL!

Earlier, I've written about Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta - Behind The Scenes. I spent almost 90 minutes up close and personal with the hot air balloons. Later, I decided to explore the side events at the fiesta. I got myself a very informative brochure from the organizer booth. This brochure has detailed information about the type of side events and also its location (downloadable at the bottom of this post).

At first, I wanted to explore Putrajaya Millennium Monument (Malay: Monumen Alaf Baru Putrajaya). Halfway there, I stumbled upon an interesting side event. On the main stage, an MC announced the starting of drawing and coloring competition.

This guy was reading out aloud the competition T's & C's. Parents draw pictures and children colors. I LOVE seeing family members working together to produce a masterpiece. I was walking all over the place...from one family to another. I noticed most adults (grown up daddies and mommies) were struggling to sketch out their pictures. LOL!!!

After that, I saw a group of kiddos riding weird looking three wheeled bicycles. I'm gonna call it mini tricycle. It does look fun and silly to me. Everyone was beaming with laughter at their funny antics. I LOVE seeing those happy faces. It would be great if I could go back to more innocent and carefree days as children when I lived from moment to moment unburdened by nothing except perhaps a scrapped knee.

Some of the kids grabbed the bike without even asking or paying the vendor. The big boss was kind enough to remind the kids and parents that these are paid rides.

Later, I visited another side event. This event has a medium sized racing track - about 1/4 of a football field. Parents were busy registering their eager kids for Go-kart and mini motorbike racing.

One of the parents was grumbling and voicing out his dissatisfaction. He was questioning the crew members about the need to sign an official Letter of Undertaking and Indemnity. I walked closer and managed to read a few lines.

I chatted with a senior crew member. He said 'things' can happen during the race - minor burn due to accidental exposure to exhaust pipe and face-to-face crash. Halfway chatting, he asked:

"Saya kenal you ke?"

(Translation: "Do I know you?")

I answered:

"Saya tak pasti"

(Translation: "I'm not sure")

He added:

"Macam pernah nampak ni"

(Translation: "Where have I seen you before?")

LOL! Do I look like a photographer? or a famous pop star??? I'm just a regular avid photographic hobbyist. After chatting with him, I proceeded to get some candid shots at the racing track. Eager kids were posing with mini motorbike and Go-kart racing cars. The crew members reminded them again that these are paid event. The kids frowned and showed their sulky face. LOL!

Next, I walked to the lakeside and saw two other side events - shpere rides and waterball rides. Many visitors were not brave enough to try it out wholeheartedly.

By mid afternoon, it was scorching hot!!! I cannot 'tahan' (stand) anymore. My face, neck and hands were 'burning'. Also my two legs were cramp...after hours of walking and squatting non-stop.

Last updated March 18th, 2011 (8.00 p.m)

Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta - YouTube Videos:

Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta - Directions, Getting There & Maps:

By Bus

1) Take Rapid KL bus number U82 from KL Sentral to Bandar Utama

2) From Bandar Utama, change to Bus U43 to Putrajaya Sentral.

Putrajaya Sentral is the main public transportation hub of Putrajaya.

By Taxis

Coupon taxis from KL Sentral to Putrajaya cost a fixed RM35

For more information, please refer to the following link:

http://tinyurl.com/ykjovmv

Putrajaya Wikitravel:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Putrajaya

Putrajaya Balloon Fiesta - Contact Details, Opening Hours & Itineraries:

Entrance is FOC.

Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

No. 50, Jalan 3/108, Taman Salak Jaya, Salak Selatan,

57100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Phone: +6 03 7981 8769 / 7981 8712

Fax: +6 03 7981 8697

Official Portal: http://www.myballoonfiesta.com

Email: info@myballoonfiesta.com

These thumbnails are screenshots. Click link to download.

Putrajaya Balloon Fiesta 2011 - Four Days Itinerary (4 Pages, PDF File, 104kb)

Note: Itineraries are obtained from myballonfiesta. PDF file is hosted in MediaFire.

About Tethered Hot Air Balloon Rides:

5 hot air balloons for tethered rides for the public
Operating hours from 8am – 11am and 6pm – 9pm
Tickets: RM10 for adults and RM5 for children
The maximum quantity an individual can purchase is 4 tickets
Pre Booking Arrangement is NOT ALLOWED due to limited tickets
Ticket counter opens from 7.30 am for morning session & 5.30 pm for evening session
Kids only available more than 4 feet
Tethered Hot Air Balloons Rides will be subjected to weather condition

Helicopter Rides:

RM120, 3 passengers per ride

Putrajaya Balloon Fiesta - Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Putrajaya Balloon Fiesta - Thing To Do/See: