Cycling from Cyberjaya to Putrajaya and back around Lake Perdana

When I first shifted to Summerglades, Cyberjaya in 2015, I would cycle each weekend along the cycling track around Lake Perdana, which was then in its initial stages. Somewhere about June 2015, the track was completed past the big house on the lake. Each weekend, I cycled excitedly to see the progress on the cycling path. Occasionally our friends came to Cyberjaya and had great fun cycling but the sad thing was, we always had to reverse and backtrack because there seemed to be no complete loop. Also, we could see Putrajaya but we couldn't physically cross into Putrajaya.  Something within us wanted a cycling track to complete the loop and to cross into Putrajaya and back.

Well, it has taken some years and maybe this is a sign the new government under Pakatan Harapan has done positive changes in Cyberjaya and Putrajaya. Today, 2nd July 2019 after 3 attempts and under Helen Stefano's super fit leadership and with her companionship and care, we completed 1 loop around the lake from Cyberjaya into Putrajaya and back! Yes!

Google map of our cycling loop

Bird eye view from above PICC

Bird eye view from above PICC with some notes and cycling loop in orange.

The mysterious house in what seemed to be the middle of the lake 

We met our beloved Tun M with his bodyguards while cycling sometimes.
This picture was taken before the elections 2018 in front of the house on the lake.

See the video of Tun M cycling on this trek by copying the following link . https://youtu.be/Hyd1QL6MfWI

Today we started from Summerglades, Cyber 7 and went around the big house on the lake, searching for a connecting road. The reason? Yesterday, we couldn't find the road and Helen had to carry my bike and her bike down the many steps of Seri Saujana Bridge.

Helen Stefano - a true friend who carried my bike down the stairs

Good news! We found the connecting road below the bridge. It leads uphill to the north side of Seri Saujana Bridge. That was why we couldn't find the road the day before! We were looking for the road on the south side! We enjoyed the sleuthing process to locate the missing link. We cycled until the end of Seri Saujana Bridge and then crossed over back to the south side to go to the lakeside track. Seri Saujana Bridge would be my favourite bridge in Putrajaya because of the beautiful curved modern lines. Earlier the lights that change colour on all bridges didn't function well the past few years but I am glad to report the lights on the bridges are now so beautifully bright several months after Pakatan took over.

From here, we cycled up the majestic Seri Gemilang Bridge which faces PICC. Yesterday I wheeled the bike up but today I managed to cycle till past its midpoint and then it was plain sailing downhill ( cycling I mean) all the way down until we reached the PICC front junction.

Me on Seri Gemilang Bridge on 1st July 2019

Helen on Seri Gemilang Bridge. I am a bad photographer.

Seri Gemilang Bridge

Cycling downhill from the bridge to reach the bottom of PICC

There was a safe route we had already explored and knew, below the Seri Gemilang Bridge. But today, we felt adventurous and pushed off again in the unknown to find yet another route to the lakeside.

Below Seri Gemilang Bridge on 30th June 2019

We rode until we saw the junction that went uphill to PICC and downhill to the lake. We entered the lakeside track via the east side of Heriot-Watt University. Heriot-Watt University has the arched green grass thatched eco-friendly roof of the building. From afar, I had seen this beautiful green roof and always wondered what this iconic building was. The completed cycling track helped solve this mystery! For some reason, I feel very happy knowing this. I know I have a strong bias and love  Scotland and her brilliant people like Heriot and James Watt.

Heriot-Watt with her spectacular eco-friendly green thatched roof

Me pointing to the green thatched roof.

Then it was the beautiful scenic sunset view track all the way until Summerglades, Cyberjaya.

Sunset scenic view of the marina

Close up of the marina

Why am I so happy and eager to write about this completed cycling loop? First, for me to be able to complete it is a very good sign I am really getting much stronger and fitter since the stroke struck me on 6th October 2018. I am really grateful to the Lord Jesus who has healed me by His grace. Secondly, I am so happy to have Helen's care, watchful eye and fun girls talk as we ride. I am also happy the sleuthing worked and we figured and found out the roads and paths that connect the cycling track. Now Helen doesn't have to carry my bike and hers physically up or down any steep stairs. Thirdly, Pakatan Harapan has done a lot of good things and spruced up many amenities in Putrajaya and in Cyberjaya! Yes life is good especially when we can connect the dots. LG.

28th July 2019  This evening Jason joined us cycling. We added another loop, going below Sei Saujana Bridge to the Anjung Floria region and cycling behind the iconic Iron Mosque until the Mcdonald. We found a ramp up the bridge and then cycled across Seri Wawasan Bridge and along the road until we joined back the lakefront road near Precint 8. We total 18 km today. Yes! Lovely weather and lovely ride amidst good company. LG.  We have cycled before in Valencia and also in Central Park, New York. But my humble opinion is this cycling loop so near home is one the world's most scenic and easiest cycling route.

God knows our needs and unspoken desires.

I had a major stroke on 6th October 2018. This is the reason for the long silence in my blog posts. This is my first post since the stroke struck.

I had a wedding to attend in Tanah Rimba, Bukit Janda near Genting Highlands. The outdoor wedding ceremony was scheduled to start at 3.00 pm and dinner would end late, after which I would have to drive back to faraway Cyberjaya. Naturally, I was concerned about my stamina ( after the stroke)  on such a long day and having to drive home alone after that as my husband was busy with an important task and could not drive me.

Lydia & Andrew offered me a lift for the dinner event alone. Pastor Irene also offered me a lift from her home to Janda Baik for the noon ceremony.  Earlier I opted for the less strenuous dinner alone event. However, the night before, we had durian therapy and it rained very heavily. And so, I slept soundly till 8.40 am on the morning of the wedding. Upon awakening, I felt refreshed and invigorated so I texted Lydia and Irene to tell them I would be going with Irene. I further offered to drive Irene and Michelle up as I was rather familiar with the narrow winding road up, having driven there many times to Maranatha, a favourite silent retreat resort. The drive up itself was lovely as I re-lived many memories of driving up here several years ago. The joy of nostalgia as we travel to a favourite familiar place is indeed therapeutic.

What a lovely spot for an outdoor wedding! After the heavy rain the night before, the place was so cool and fresh. The venue was beautifully decorated, with fresh flowers including huge fresh peonies. Irene was very relieved at not having to drive and navigate the window uphill road as she was officiating the wedding ceremony.  The groom broke down for several minutes while saying his vows. He touched our hearts with his genuineness. We had such a good time there with our children and our cute granddaughter in the lovely green surroundings.

Irene officiating the wedding ceremony

Groom Guan Yan kisses Christina

With the  pretty bridesmaids

Family picture -
Me, Sue Jan, Emma and Irene

Smiling with Emma

Emma with her infamous scowl.

The dinner was beautiful, The hall was decked up in fairy lights. My dear friends - the Pang Yeows with Peter on the guitar, together with Cory and Sylvia - the bride's parents performed and sang all their old favourite songs up stage.  Cory took Christina through the traditional father-bride dance which brought tears to our eyes as Thomas sang " Butterfly Kisses"

Father-daughter dance to Butterfly Kisses.

Beautiful flowers and table arrangement by littleoncedeco

We also thoroughly enjoyed the talented violinist Helga. Emma was mesmerized by her and danced to her violin playing.  Helga kindly obliged Emma and knelt down to be the same height as Emma's level. The groom Guan Yan and his band Big Bird performed for his bride and guests. The young ones also sang many lovely numbers.

Me and Irene in the beautiful wood-paneled hall,

Groom and bride danced below fairy lights.

The groom and bride danced to romantic melodies. The beautiful evening ended with the young and old ones on the dance floor, singing, and dancing to old and new melodies.  On our way out,  before the event officially ended, the florist Pei Yee ( littleoncedeco) offered us 3 beautiful bouquets of fresh flowers. She probably could read my body language that I  loved her flowers arrangement. I was overwhelmed with joy.

 One of  the lovely bouquets given
by the kind florist Pei Yee

I reached home safely after dropping Irene and Michelle. This is the farthest I have driven after the stroke. Thank you for extending my boundary and for giving me strength. Thank you, God, for seeing to our needs for transport - both mine and Irene and the bridal party's need for good weather minus rain. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for meeting the unvoiced inner desires within me for the lovely flowers.

To Marudi with love.

Have you ever been in an airplane for a 14-minute ride over green hills and winding rivers? There were only 5 passengers on board with 2 pilots. No, I didn’t charter the flight. This was a flight on MASwings from Miri to Marudi. This year, I have flown several times on MASwings’ little planes to remote places like Bario and Ba’ Kelalan.

The little MASwings plane

Only  5 passengers on board this little plane.

View of the winding Baram river.

I was invited to conduct 6 sessions of training and motivation with students and teachers in Marudi .I doubt I would ever have made it to Marudi if not for Indy. Indy is the TCF general secretary. Her encouragement, networking and organization skills got us to Marudi. She  booked all flights and accompanied me there. She herself, has been here 4 times before and sees the great needs in rural areas. Mentally, I was stretched to prepare for 6 long  sessions to be delivered in Bahasa Malaysia.

I began liaising with Cikgu Mok, the head of the Science Department about 2 months before the trip as I had a 2.5 hours slot training the science teachers to use lab equipment. I am very thankful to Har Bee who painstakingly corrected my Google translate translations. Har Bee is a retired teacher with BM option in our golden ladies group and highly qualified to translate. A few months before the trip, I sought the prayer support of my church members and I am sure Indy did too from TCF people. I am blessed by my church members who helped me buy and also donate 400 balloons, boxes of paper fighter planes and fuses and stuff for the trip.

The power of prayer is tremendous! I thank God for those who prayed me through all the 6 sessions in BM. How grateful I am to Him for sustaining and empowering me for the 1^st meeting! It was a 600 students’ turnout! The students were so energetic! The band and the worship team were awesome. It was the first time the CF and the Catholic students were combined in a Christian meeting. Break through indeed! I used up 300 balloons as a teaching aid. The CF teachers are very dedicated! The CF meets every evening and teachers take turns to speak. I am grateful to Almighty God for empowering me to speak. We were very encouraged by the Christian teachers networking here. I saw how they attended a full day at school and then spoke at CF and then attended cell group at night. I salute how they give of themselves to educate the rural students here.

Can you hear God speak to you?
That was the theme for the combined CF and CYM students.

600+ students and teachers for the first meeting.

Posing before the TCF dinner.

With the TCF teachers.

With John Liew, Heidi and family

A happy Ruth Anne gathers balloons. Their colours matched her pretty dress.

I started Monday in SMK Marudi with the Physics seminar for 2 secondary schools here.  Then after a short break, I conducted the LDP for the 130+ teachers of SMK Marudi.

With the Form 4 & F5 Physics students from the 2 secondary schools

SMK Marudi made an innovative roller coaster.

                                       

Posing with teachers who loved the cartoon BK teaching aid
drawn by Jennifer Seoh.

Balloon activity during the teachers' LDP

Have you ever looked through a kaleidoscope?

I and Indy hand carried bubble wrapped fragile laboratory equipment needed for the science teachers’ workshops as well as many teaching aids for the 6 sessions. I was most afraid of the Form 6 motivation slot since I had not taught Form 6 for the last 35 years but it turned out to be very enjoyable.

With the Form 6 students who won the competition.

Paper tower competition.

Posing with the 6 Formers.

I spend the next 2.5+ hours training science teachers and lab assistants from 2 secondary schools. We had fun as the teachers succeeded in conducting many experiments. That afternoon, phobia gave way to joy and confidence. The lab assistants were happy that their preparation and hard work had led to success

Mok and the science department doing the experiments
 with the Hodson kit light box.

The lab assistants in SMK Marudi send their love to you.

Thumbs up.  Ohm Law's experiment is successful.

Parallel rays through a concave lens diverge from a virtual focal point

Beautiful copper sulphate crystals viewed through the compound microscope.

Smiles when we succeed in doing the experiment

The golden showers of the double precipitate experiment.

I and Indy left Marudi, stretched, tired  but fulfilled knowing we had brought the teachers and students here to a new level of confidence and passion in teaching and learning.