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Lost Horizon Found
Monday, July 16, 2012 at 6:11AM | Share Article 
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One of the classic films that I watched over and over was "Lost Horizon", both Frank Capra's version and the 1973 musical remake. Based on James Hilton's book of the same title, it is about plane crash survivors who find Shangri-La, an idyllic valley in the Himalayas (but in Karakoram in the book).
Have you ever dreamed of a place far away from it all? Where the air you breathe is soft and clean, and children play in fields of green. -- Burt Bacharach, from the lyrics of the song Lost Horizon
Putrajaya is the designated Federal Government Administrative Center. Government buildings abound and yet it is also touted as Malaysia's "Garden City of Tomorrow" and the world's first "Intelligent Garden City". I mentioned in my previous post that while visiting this garden city, I was billeted at the Shangri-La Putrajaya. As you can see, it is a low-rise hotel and each of its four floors has its own unique theme: palms, bamboo, aromatic herbs and aquatic plants.
***Click on image to enlarge
The Shangri-La Putrajaya abides by the concept of being "a hotel within a park and a park within a hotel".
***Click on image to enlargeA view from above. This is the teaser shot I used in my preceding post "Selamat Datang".
A close-up of the tree ferns and aroids in the atrium. (To read about my own tree fern, click here to jump to my post "Greater than the Sum of its Parts.)
*** Click on image to enlarge
The hotel is on a hilltop in the middle of the city, so visitors in the upper floors have a commanding view of Putrajaya. My room was at ground level and so during my stay I had a wonderful, relaxing view of the grounds outside. Not to mention that Taman Putra Perdana (the park surrounding the hotel) was a short stroll away.
A group of Phoenix silvestris, also known as Silver Date Palm or Sugar Date Palm, dotting the courtyard of the Palm Hill Cafe. Breakfast buffet with a view of these magnificent palms was a great way to start my day.
Below is a Bismarckia nobilis. If I owned bigger land, I would want to have a specimen of this. Isn't it grand?
There were also some Giant Fishtail Palm or Caryota rhumphiana. These are not called giant for nothing and my own Caryota mitis would be dwarfed if set beside these.
There were bursts of color around the grounds as well. Here are some croton.
Ixora spp.
The wonderfully scented Hedychium philippinense, also known as Philippine Camia or White Ginger. It is the national flower of Cuba and is known to them as the White Mariposa because of its similarity to a butterfly. However, the plant is originally from the Himalayas. Hmm. From Shangri-La perhaps?
I was envious of the density of the Bauhinia kockiana or the Red Tailing Bauhinia which is a plant native to Malaysia.
Last February, I posted about our Water Tank's New Clothes featuring my baby B. kockiana. The pictures in that post look pitiful when compared to this:
Just like the character Conway, I had no choice but to leave Shangri-La but I will definitely find a way to go back.
Click here to see more stunning images and to learn more about Putrajaya.
Click here for the Official website of the Shangri-La Putrajaya.
aroid, croton, garden city, malaysia, nobilis, palm, plants, putrajaya, rhumphiama, shangri-la, silvestris, tree fern | in Bauhinia, Bismarkia, Caryota, Hedychium, Ixora, phoenix
Reader Comments (13)
dear bom, this is very very interesting. I am feeling a little cynical because I know large companies do use the idea of environmental ideas to make money. (greenwashing) But it does seem that this city is the way forward - a way of providing for large scale population while still caring for the environment. I guess I'll have to start saving to see if I can visit Putrajaya and stay at Shangrila although I might just have to visit it to see the gardens and only have a drink there. cheers,catmint
Putrajaya is really great, i was there in 2008. We tried to see it at night and came back the following morning, it is more amazing when you take the cruise on the man-made lake, that looks like a real one!
What a wonderful place! I wish more hotels had parks inside. All those giant ferns and palms look like something out of Jurassic Park to me.
@ Catmint: From what I've seen, I think they are really serious about making it a "green city". Everything appears well planned and they have a lot of gardens and open spaces. They even have wetlands. The other hotels claim to be as "green". Maybe when you stay in one of them, you can let us know.
@ Andrea: There have been a lot of changes since I last visited with my family. Maybe you will find it more amazing on your next visit.
@ CM: I agree. The plants do have a prehistoric look to them.
Bom, you went to places in Malaysia that I have not been to myself! And you spotted some beautiful plants!! Hope you have had the most enjoyable trip here. You left a message in my blog about kalanchoe, it all depends on the sp. as I observed. But all of mine can take the sun.
Hi Stephanie! I've been to Malaysia a number of times in the past but only on this trip have I been specifically looking out for plants and not just food (hahaha). Maybe you can visit during the next Floria? I was supposed to go to Penang on this trip but there was a last minute change in the itinerary.
Looks like a lovely place to stay and that Bauhina sure was something else! yours will be like that one day.
aloha bom,
beautiful hotel and grounds, i wouldn't expect anything less from a shangrila style hotel...wow that bismarkia and the bauhinia are pretty amazing...i don't think i've seen a bauhinia in that intense color, its a beauty.
i've stayed at a shangrila in Penang and it and the grounds were very nice along with the great buffets!
@ Rosie : I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
@ Noel : I agree, Shangri-La buffets are some of the best I've ever had! (thinking of seared foie gras in the dinner buffet of the Bangkok property, delicious!) I haven't had the chance to visit Penang yet but will definitely keep it in mind. The one in Kota Kinabalu also has extensive grounds and is between the beach and the mountains. Can't go wrong with that one.
Hi Bom. Thanks for visiting while I was away. I just got back and did not have much time for blogging as work is waiting for me. I am glad I stopped in on your post. this really is a wonderful plant display incorporated within the architecture. Love this idea of "a park within a hotel".
Hi Donna! I know exactly how you feel about work backlog welcoming you. Isn't it wonderful? The hotel itself is crescent shaped and the garden fills in the space in the middle.
I have never really tour Putrajaya that much, only go there when I have to appointments with the High Education Ministry. Never knew that Shangri-la houses many nice plants inside.
@ Diana : Then maybe you should take advantage the next time you are there to explore. Or what may seem unusual to me may be common to you.