2008 Trip to Malaysia

Sepang Qualifying Putrajaya

SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Our plan for today was for Steven to meet us at midday, go to the track, watch the qualifying and return via Putrjaya, the new administrative centre for Malaysia. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 As midday approached the storms arrived. The trip to Sepang International Circuit (SIC) was pouring with rain. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 On the way to SIC we went through Brickfield Hill which is where a large number of Indians live. Deepavali is a major Indian festival and a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. Deepavali literally means a row of lamps (deep = lamp and avalii = row). SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The rain had eased off by the time we got to SIC.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The area was very wet and still drizzling rain. Jenni took the video camera today but it proved to be not that useful at an event like this. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 We first visited the back side of the track where 125 qualifying was taking place on a wet track. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 You can see the spray coming from the rear wheel of bike 7. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 We sat ourselves directly opposite Valentino Rossi's garage and waited for MotoGP qualifying to begin. The dry-setup bike is on the left (carbon disks) and the wet-setup bike is on the right (steel disks).
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 James Toseland, Tech 3 Yamaha team and his wet-setup bike in the foreground. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Casey Stoner and Marco Melandri's garage. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Qualifying begins and Rossi comes out of the garage. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Because of the wet track, he starts on "wet" tyres and a bike set up for the wet conditions.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Rossi rides out to start his qualifying session. You can see the "full wet" tyres on his bike and the steel front disks. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 James Toseland joins the fray, also on "full wets". SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 As does Casey Stoner . . . SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 . . . and Randy de Puniet.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Casey returns to the pits, perhaps to improve his wet set-up. A TV commentator is circulating the pits. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Pedrosa does the same. He's so little his feet can't touch the ground. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Jorge Lorenzo returns to the pits . . . SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 . . . where the Michelin technician immediately checks the temperature of his "wet" tyre.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Rossi returns to the track, still on "wets". SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Chris Vermeulin at speed on his factory Suzuki. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 There is only one qualifying session for MotoGP. Mess this up and there's no second chance. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Nicky Hayden, Honda factory rider for this and the final race of the season at Valencia. He joins Casey Stoner at Ducati for the 2009 season.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The track is becoming drier as the session progresses. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Rossi returns to the pits with crew chief Jeremy Burgess walking over to talk with him. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The crew put the "wet weather" bike away while he mounts his "dry" set-up. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 This bike has slicks front and back and you can see the carbon front disks.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Towards the end of the session, Rossi returns to have his "qualifying" tyres fitted. These are super-sticky tyres made especially for qualifying. They last only one lap before being replaced. Rossi talks with Burgess while the changeover occurs. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 It's a hive of frantic activity. The seconds remaining in the session are quickly counting down. The chap in the red and white shirt is Rossi's Bridgestone tyre technician. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 He sets off to do one fast lap (as does every other rider in the paddock). SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The checkered flag signals the end of the session. However, with critical timing, most riders are still on the track on their fast laps.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 After the checkered flag, it appeared that Rossi had taken pole. But Pedrosa was still out there and pipped Rossi in the dying seconds. Here, wearing the yellow cap of one of his sponsors, Rossi talks with the media. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Now he puts his red Bridgestone hat on. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The fellow in the Repsol shirt standing next to the attractive lady is Alberto Puig, Pedrosa'a manager. He's holding Pedrosa's helmet and gloves while Pedrosa completes his interviews with the media. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 There were great cheers from the grandstand calling out Rossi's name and he waved back. Even in Malaysia Rossi has a huge following.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 We're leaving SIC to rejoin Steven. We were a little peckish so Jenni buys us some Satays (chicken pieces on skewers). The Muslim lady is a Rossi fan but she's also wearing a tudung. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 There were many Australians at the circuit. Fortunately, they weren't obnoxious or attention seeking (too much). SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The main entrance to the facility. On the other side, on the roadway, we meet Steven who is to take us on a tour of Putrajaya. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 On the way to Putrajaya, we stop at the Sultan Abdul Samad Mosque at Sepang. The mosque was officially opened in 2001 by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The purpose of the minaret in a mosque is to call out the Adhan (call to prayer) five times a day. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Tudung is the head scarf. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Steven, our driver, spoke to this extremely nice lady who agreed to show us inside the mosque provided we adhered to Muslim customs. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Jenni had to wear the the tudung and a long robe.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Because I was wearing shorts, I had to wear a robe to cover my legs. We both removed our shoes. Steven is getting huge enjoyment from this. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 It occurs to us that we have never been in a mosque and wonder how many of our family and friends have ever been in a mosque. How many Australians? How many Christians? SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Islam came to Malaysia with the traders from South India around the 12th century and it was not the orthodox Islamic religion of Arabia. The people of the coastal trading ports of Malaysia and Indonesia adopted Islam peacefully, with Islam absorbing rather than conquering existing beliefs. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 As in many Muslim countries, Islam in Malaysia has seen a significant revival over the past 10 years or so.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The dome of the men's prayer room. The experience is unbelievable for someone who spent his childhood as a Christian. There are no overt signs of wealth, Jesus does not hang from a cross, nor are there any statues of Mary. In fact, there are no signs of humans or animals anywhere. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Government bodies and banking institutions are closed for two hours every Friday so Muslims workers can conduct Friday prayer in the mosques. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Islam Hadhari is a form of Islam heavily promoted by Malaysian prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to emphasize the central role of knowledge in Islam. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 This doctrine espouses a belief in hard work, honesty, good administration and efficiency. Islam Hadhari appeals to Muslims to be inclusive, tolerant and outward-looking.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 All ethnic Malays are Muslim as defined by Article 160 of the Constitution. The right of religious freedom does not exist in Malaysia as, reportedly, five states (Perak, Malacca, Sabah, Terengganu, and Pahang) have made apostasy from Islam a criminal offence. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Steven drives us to the Federal Territory of Putrajaya. The city is named after the first Malaysian Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra. In Bahasa the words "Putra" means son while "Jaya" means excel or success. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Putrajaya is the third Federal Territory of Malaysia; the other two being Kuala Lumpur and Labuan. Putrajaya's architecture has been criticised for being excessively Arab and too much like a modern Persian Gulf capital. I think it looks fantastic. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Putrajaya is a planned city and it is the new federal administrative centre of Malaysia. Several Government offices have relocated here to escape the overcrowding of Kuala Lumpur. The bridge is the Sri Empangan Bridge, one of eight bridges that cross Lake Putrajaya.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The Putrajaya Convention Centre or PCC, visible on the other side of the lake, is the main convention centre in Putrajaya. The design idea of the PCC is based on the shape of the eye of 'pending perak' (a silver Malay royal belt buckle). SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 This is the Seri Gemilang Bridge and it is a ceremonial bridge. It connects Heritage Square with Putrajaya Convention Centre. The bridge has a main span of 120 metres with a 60-metre span at each end. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 It is one of the most ornate bridges one could ever wish to see although the Putra Bridge at the northern end of the Core Island is the most elaborate bridge in Putrajaya. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Curiously, the Convention Centre is in the State of Selangor but we're standing in the Federal Territory of Putrajaya. The State of Selangor completely surrounds the two Federal Territories of Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Ornate buildings on the other side of Lake Putrajaya. Just visible on the right hand side of the picture is the Putrajaya Aquatic Centre. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 This is the Seri Saujana Bridge that connects the Core Island to the Precinct 7 on the Lebuh Sentosa highway. It is strategically located at the main entrance into the Core Island from the south via the Putrajaya-Cyberjaya Expressway and the Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya Expressway. The bridge's unique design is of a cable-stayed arch. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 This bridge is in readiness for the time Putrajaya grows beyond the capacity of the other bridges to manage. It has no connecting road on either side at the moment. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The main avenue is called the Persiaran Perdana or Putrajaya Boulevard and it is the longest boulevard in Putrajaya. It connects Dataran Putra in the north to the Dataran Gemilang in the south and is about 4 km long.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The Perbadanan government complex. The main feature is the Gateway or Gerbang with a public viewing deck on the top-most level that provides views of the city skyline. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The Istana Kehakiman (Palace of Justice) complex houses the judicial department and courts. It comprises a five-storey building for the judiciary and a two-storey building to house the courts and offices for lawyers, prosecutors, etc. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 In front of the Istana on the Persiaran Perdana is the most amazing road space, it's polished granite. The Prime Minister's offices are in the distance in Dataran Putra. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The Seri Wawasan Bridge is one of the main bridges in Putrajaya. It is a futuristic cable-stayed bridge that has a sailing ship appearance and it connects the Core Island to the residential area of Precinct 8.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Parkland between the government buildings and Lake Putrajaya. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The Ministry Of Finance building on the Persiaran Perdana. The ministry is situated at the north of the core island. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The Kastam Diraja Malaysia (Royal Malaysian Customs) is the government agency responsible for administering Malaysia's indirect tax policy. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The Putra Bridge is the main bridge in Putrajaya and it is analogous to Khaju Bridge in Esfahan, Iran. With a span of 435 metres, this bridge connects the Government Precinct to the Mixed Development Precinct. Notice how the street lamps vary in design along the boulevarde?
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The Masjid Putra (Putra Mosque) is the principal mosque of Putrajaya. Construction of the mosque began in 1997 and was completed two years later. In front of the mosque is a large square with flagpoles flying the Malaysian states' flags. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The pathway crossing the Putra Bridge. Who has ever heard of a bridge being decorated with rows of trees? SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 These impressive residences and buildings are directly opposite the mosque. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Looking towards the Perdana Putra. This building complex houses the Malaysian Prime Minister's office complex and it has become synonymous with the Malaysian executive arm.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Another government building on the northern end of the Core Island. It has Islamic design features and is surrounded by beautiful greenery. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 We leave via the Seri Wawasan bridge. As it's Saturday and traffic is light, Steven stops on the bridge to allow us to take some photographs from this vantage point. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The concrete bridge is a combination of cable backstays and structural steel tie back and, like everything else in Putrajaya, is a work of art. Look at the detail in the tiling. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Looking down the lake towards the mosque and Perdana Putra.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 There's still quite a bit of work to be done to beautify the shoreline but the massive construction of the Putra Bridge can be seen in this picture. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The Masjid Putra is a brilliant work of art. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Residences visible from the Seri Wawasan Bridge. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Steven waits patiently for us to stop mucking around. He added enormously to the enjoyment of our trip. There is no way we could have seen Putrajaya on foot, it's way too big.
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 Looking back at the city from the southern side of the bridge. The shoreline is more developed here. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 On the right is the Grand Metal Mosque which is under construction. SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008 The other bridges on this (western) side of the core island. Next: Race day at the Malaysian MotoGP  
Sepang Race DayNext: Sepang Race Day KL Bus RidePrevious: KL Bus Ride
jAlbum - customizable web photo albums & TurtleSkin: Turtle Gold, 5.6.7 Download   ·   Help