Bits and Pieces of Life…

Arriving to Putrajaya just in time (8am) to catch the Floral Parade at the main boulevard. It was kind of rush as I was in Genting Highland previous night to attend the Boyz II Men's concert, and left Genting at 6am in order to arrive Putrajaya on time. The street was already packed with cars trying to turn in the the parking area next to the Mosque. I drove a bit further and parked at the Botanic Garden to skip the jam — of course, I will have to walk ~15 minutes back to the main boulevard for the Parade.

This is probably the most crowded day ever in Putrajaya. It was reported in the next day's newspaper that over 100 thousand throng of people attended the Parade. I have doubts about the figure — I don't know how do they come out with that count, but it was no doubt really crowded there. I stayed for over 2 hours taking photos inside the temporary fence, and was yelled at for a couple of times as all us photographers were blocking the view of the spectators. Well I am OK to be yelled at, this is not the first time anyway. And it certainly won't be the last .

 I startd using the 400D kit lens (Canon 18-55mm II) but was quickly changed to the 'cheapest Canon L Lens': 70-200mm F4, as I would love to get more close-up and detail shots. The draw back, of course, was that I can't frame most of the parade's floral decorated vehicles fully in the photo.

There were about 18 parade vehicles and some of them are really nice. I particularly like the Penang State's and the Sabah ones. There are military band from different schools and bodies between the parade cars as well as groups of presenters wearing the traditional clothes of different ethnic groups.

All in all this is an event that I love to come take photographs every single time. I just wish the Tourism Department of Malaysia will organize this again in 2008!

Photo Album is here: http://travelgaia.com/gallery/Flora%20Parade (it is Flash thingy so it might take a while to load).