Swiss Garden Beach Resort - 22nd August,2016

Left Putrajaya yesterday about 9.30am, and got a taxi up to KL Central to pick up our Rental Car. Took us about 30mins. Still very misty.

After we sorted out our car, and picked up our "tap and go" card  for the highway tolls we were on our way to the East coast by 11.30am. Once out of central we got on to highway E8. Very good six lane highway. Not a lot of traffic at all. Very easy driving.

But then about half way the GPS said to leave the highway and it put us on to a secondary road probably the old main road to the coast.. Our instinct was to stay on E8 but thought better do as the GPS says. Bad move ended up going along this two lane road which took us through Kuantan town, just inland on the East coast. So slow going through all the stop start traffic lights but eventually ended up at our destination about 45mins later than we should have. But looking at the positive side we went through all the little towns and saw life how it is.

Went through our first rain which was quite nice as it cooled things down a little to 26 degrees.
Arrived at our destination Swiss Garden Beach Resort at Sungai Karang about 15 mins north of Kuantan.

Today it is getting up to 34 degrees and 100% humidity. How will I survive as we are going back into Kuantan town to have a better look around.

Des you were in a panic about us driving in this country but just look at the six lane highways. One car in front and probably about two coming towards us. The highways are great just have to watch the motor bikes passing you on the left side in the towns.

The machine, Hyundai I40, got slightly upgraded.

Swiss Gardens Beach Resort. We had upgraded ourselves to a room on a high floor with close sea views before we left home. I didn't feel we got the room we paid for so went and told them and they upgraded us again to a one bedroom suite right out at the end of the wing nearest to the beach on the top floor. ;-) 

We are on the end top floor and our suite covers the four ranch sliders across the front.

View from balcony, still very hazy out at sea but plenty of hot sun coming through. 

Beach down in front of resort.

Looking down the other way from our balcony.

Big bedroom, large ensuite and separate living area.

Went back into Kuantan today to have a drive round to see the place better and mainly to see this magnificent State Mosque.

Went for a drive out to the  mouth of the Kuantan river which flows into the China sea on the East coast.  The town is just inland from the coast along the river.

Next stop was a place called Teluk Campedak five Km north of Kuantan which is very nice beach with facilities for water sports including boating and kayaking. It seems to be a place were everyone flocks to to get out of the city. The Kuantan Hyatt hotel (Up in behind the trees.) is located at this beach but is closed at the moment as they are doing major upgrades. Should be a very nice place to stay when they have finished. 

On the left side of this beach is a long boardwalk (built over rocks and boulders) that connects to a Missionary Beach. We are going back there tomorrow to do that walk.

At the same beach.  In the background is the other end of the beach where we are going to walk tomorrow. 

 Typical of the old shops we see when we are driving through these small  towns.

Tonight we  went down to the Restaurant for a seafood BBQ although they had all sorts of dishes as well .More yummy satays beef and chicken with peanut sauce.

Bit dark flash didn't go.

Dad caught me getting stuck into a crab.

After we came back from town we went down to the pool for a swim which was very much needed. The breeze came off the sea a little this afternoon which gave us some relief from the heat but still very hot and humid. Although the haze is still around the sun still comes through strong.



Putrajaya Malaysia 20th August 2016

Last full day in Putrajaya. Leaving tomorrow morning to pick up our car in KL then driving straight over to the East Coast. Staying fifteen minutes north of Kuantan at the Swiss Garden Beach Resort.

Going back to last night went down to dinner at the Hotel Restaurant. The above photo was the desert table and we were fascinated  by the lights on the table and the larger ones outside in the courtyard. They keep changing colours. as you will see below.

This was our dinner 12 Satays half beef and half chicken delicious.

  

The lights outside in the courtyard. Changing colours all the time.

This is a table and two stools

The courtyard clock at night.

Gardens in the courtyard.

From our deck.

Getting back to today we got a taxi up to the heart of  Putrajaya and started at the Botanical Gardens. Not that impressive but we had a walk around. The long bridge to cross to enter the gardens then you wind down into the gardens and walk below the bridge.

Being Saturday lots of the locals come and hire bikes and ride around the gardens. I think that they must have thought that we were mad walking in this heat when they all ride. It was so hot no wind at all.

Wedding taken in grounds by the lake.

We then went on a lake cruise under some of the spectacular bridges. Above is the Seri Wawasan Bridge one of the main bridges. The design of this able -stayed bridge resembles a futuristic ship.. It has become one of the beautiful icons of Putrajaya.

This place is amazing such a new city. Flash large hotels, wide six lane roads so modern all built around this man made lake as I explained yesterday. When I found this area on the web I thought then what a great place to have three nights to adjust.



This is a very modern Mosque only built in 2010. The Mosque employs "architectural wire mesh" in fine glass to create the illusion of a silvery white metallic structure.

Seri Saujana Bridge. This is another premier bridge in Putrajaya. This cable stayed arch bridge has been designed to reflect a transparent elegant and futuristic structure with an overall single span of 3 km. It is an awesome sight both day and night. This is the one we look out to from our balcony and it is all light up at night as you will see in our night photo from the balcony above right of photo.
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Taken from the back of the boat.

This is the same bridge taken later in the afternoon zoomed in from our hotel. You can see the pink Mosque through it in the distance.

 Our cute little captain and his assistant.

Masjid Putra  ( Putra Mosque) . This is the principal Mosque in Putrajaya. Built with rose-tinted granite that gives it its distinctive colour. Known as the pink Mosque.

Standing down in front of the pink Mosque by the lake.

Perdana Putra with its distinctive green dome is the Prime Ministers Department complex has become an icon in Putrajaya. Built in 1997, This is when Malaysia brought the government departments down from Kuala Lumpur to this purpose built city. The complex houses the offices of the Prime Minister, his deputy as well as several other government departments and agencies. The complex incorporates various architectural influences, including European, islamic and traditional Malay.

Dataran Putra ( Putra Square). In the back ground is the Prime Ministers  Department Complex.

PT standing in the middle of the square.

Bathing beauty. Just to finish off the day came back for a swim. So hot.

Looking out from the pool area up on the hill is  Putrajaya's International convention centre.

The Seri Gemilang Bridge which we crossed over today to go on to the island in the centre of the lake. We can just see it from the hotel where this was taken from.

Unfortunately the haze was over the lake again today which wasn't so good for clear photos as you can see. By the time we got back to the hotel the wind came up a bit and cleared it .. Typical..

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We have really enjoyed Putrajaya slow pace city not too crowded. Nice place to relax a little when you arrive into KL before one starts their travel. It is a 20 min taxi drive north of the International Airport.

Not sure re wi fi connections once we are over on the east coast tomorrow. All the hotels say they have it but the reviews say in places its so slow or you have to sit in lobbies to access it. Won't be doing blog in a Hotel lobby but will make contact by e mail if we can. 

Putrajaya Malaysia 19th August 2016

Finally arrived at our Hotel (Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside room 3219) in KL at about  9.00pm local which was  about fourteen hours from home to here. We travelled on three different flights , Auck to Sydney, to Singapore to KL. Arrived very tired and finally got to bed at about 11.00 pm local. Slept  until five then went back to sleep until eight. Felt much better after that.
Today we decided  to take it quiet and just stay near the hotel before we venture out tomorrow and have a look around.

PUTRAJAYA. Putrajaya serves as the federal administration centre of Maylaysia. The seat of government was shifted in 1999 from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya due to over crowding and congestion in the K.L area. Nevertheless KL remains Malaysia national Capital, It is a purpose built city to cater for the overflow of Kuala Lumpur.
Covering 4932 hectares of former rubber and palm oil plantations it is now an array of monumental architectures amongst  lush manicured greenery 25 Km south of Kuala Lumpur.
Its heart is a 600 hectare artificial lake fringed by landscaped parks with a great mix of buildings and bridges. There are nine bridges in all, The longest, at 435m, is the Putra  Bridge. Probably the most popular one for photos is the  sail-like Wawasan Bridge, The Bridges and Buildings look their  best viewed from the lake by boat Cruise Tasik Putrajaya.

As we were arriving into Singapore.

Roadside of our  Hotel.

The room to the right is a closed in porch then off that a balcony but far to hot to sit out there although there is this low mist hanging over the lake this morning  with the sun trying to filter through.

Showing the very high ceilings .

View from our balcony.  In the distance is the first bridge we can see  that crosses over the lake. Hopefully tomorrow we will get closer to them as we are planing to do the lake cruise.

This morning the view over the lake was very hazy but by afternoon it had lifted.

The clock tower in the courtyard of the hotel.

Looking from our back door.

Courtyard in the block of our room. We are up on the second floor.



Went for a walk along the lake edge this morning a bit hazy over the lake.

Looking back to the hotel. Our room is in the right hand block second floor.

Looking back across to the Hotel still hazy when this was taken this morning.
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Closer view looking up to our room right hand building 2nd floor room on left corner.

Walking out from the hotel. Nice shady area.

Went for a swim this arvo sooo great made me feel sooo good.

It was all about the Hotel and its surrounds today just trying to adjust our body clocks and now feel good tonight after a relaxing day.