As the administrative capital of Malaysia, the Federal Territory of Putrajaya teems with grand government buildings – including the Prime Minister’s Office, the Malaysian Palace of Justice, and the Ministry of Finance Complex. There are also two beautiful mosques, manmade lakes, seven bridges that boast beautiful architecture, as well as myriad landscaped parks. In fact, 38% of the area comprises of green spaces!

The Hubs and I thought to do some jogging (much needed, seeing as how we’ve been piling on the pounds over the holiday season), and the Anjung Floria area seemed like the perfect spot. Nestled next to the lake in Precinct 4, you can find well maintained facilities and attractions here, including shady, well-paved walkways lined with lush vegetation, immaculately manicured lawns, a children’s playground, a China-Malaysia Friendship Garden, as well as a mini man-made beach where you can enjoy picnics.

The pathways have been designed to connect different areas along the lakeside, so you can walk all the way from Anjung Floria to Monumen Alaf Baru, about a kilometre away. Along the way we enjoyed scenic views of the Seri Saujana Bridge, which connects Precinct 4 to Precinct 7.

Putrajaya’s population has been steadily growing in the last decade. Civil servants still make up the bulk of the people living here, but there are more commercial and residential projects in the pipeline, set to attract new demographics.

The path meanders past the back of the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque. While I have yet to see the inside, the exterior is a stunning example of modern meets traditional Islamic architecture, with a metallic, silvery sheen befitting of its moniker “the Iron Mosque”.

Okay, I know we went there to jog and burn calories, but jogging is tiring work and the smell of food being cooked enticed us to check out some food trucks nearby lol. They sell typical food truck fare, from burgers and fries to Malay cuisine like rice and noodle dishes.

Negating our workout with takoyaki.

They tasted pretty good, stuffed with seafood filling and loaded with bonito flakes. It looked good enough that some girls at the next table asked if I’d recommend it, and they got another order for themselves.

Back at square one in our calorie-burning journey, we made our way to the final destination on our route: the Millennium Monument, or Monumen Alaf Baru. Rising 68 metres into the air, this gold obelisk is the first monument in Putrajaya and is comprised of solid metal structures, with tiered walkways and observation platforms at its base that jut out onto the water. When viewed from above, these walkways form the shape of a hibiscus, the Malaysian national flower.

Make your way up to the obelisk and don’t forget to check out the glass barriers that have historical tidbits etched onto their surfaces, chronicling important milestones in Malaysian history as well as the founding of Putrajaya.

If you’re thinking of bringing your significant other on a date here, I think evenings offer a romantic view. As we returned to where we parked, the sun started to set, casting an orange glow over the palm trees by the lakeside as well as its still waters.

Before leaving, we popped into the China-Malaysia Friendship Garden for abit. Established in 2015 to commemorate diplomatic ties between the two nations, this 0.6 acre garden is designed after ancient Lingnan (Cantonese) gardens, which are known for their breathtaking beauty. The centre of the garden features a traditional pavilion overlooking a small pond stocked with koi fish, flanked by weeping willows that sway and dance gently in the wind. With such a gorgeous backdrop, it’s no wonder the spot is popular for wedding photoshoots.

One last surprise: a double rainbow! The second one wasn’t very visible on camera, but the first was clear as day. I’ve also never seen such a complete arc before. I’ll take it as good tidings to come for the new year.

And that was basically our sojourn to Anjung Floria and its environs. If you like parks, this should definitely be on your to-visit list!

ANJUNG FLORIA

Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Precinct 4, Putrajaya.