Here is an extraordinary tree called the weeping tree. The roots are like snakes and the rope -like vines are eerie. Children often like to play tarzan swinging from the vines.
The first temple we visited was small but beautiful.
We are now on our way to Borobudur.
For those of you who like people in pictures...
The Muslim girls LOVED to have their pictures taken by foreigners and we had to pose frequently for them. We seemed to be quite a novelty. The guide told us this is the time of year when the locals come to the temple. Foreigners usually come later in the summer. Personally, I can't imagine it being hotter or more humid. I was melting!
Above is the structural layout of the temple. It is older than the Angkor Wat in Cambodia but smaller. Angkor is as large as a city that can be entered. Borobudur has no entrance, it consists of many tiers that one climbs up and around (clockwise) to symbolize your spiritual journey until you reach Nirvana at the top. It was challenging to walk the hundreds of stairs all the way to the top in the heat. The other interesting thing about this temple is that it was covered by lava when the nearby volcano erupted. The temple was later unearthed and rebuilt stone by stone. Each stone was numbered cleaned and put back in its original place. Many of the statues have missing heads resulting from looters. These heads are not replaced as it is considered disrespectful. Some of the stones have been replaced but are clearly marked with a white dot. They are still working on rebuilding as well as restoring and maintaining this extraordinary temple.
These carving portrayed their history as well as parables. The work was detailed and intricate. The parables are similar in nature to our teachings about good and evil, temptation and morals. I just wish I could remember some of the stories the guide told!
They insisted I take their picture and then all their friends seemed to come out of the woodwork!
Finally we were able to proceed. I have never had so many pictures taken of me.
Here you can see where they are improving the drainage underneath the stones. The tools seem so primitive, but obviously, effective.
Al with our temple guide who was very knowledgeable and took much pride in his culture, history and this heritage site.
This was our guide in Jogjakarta. He was a very friendly, professional, registered tourist guide that I would recommend should you ever find yourself in this region. His name is ARINTO PRAKOSO, address is: NANDAN 22B RTO2RW38
YOGYAKARTA 55581
INDONESIA
E-mail address is: arintoprakoso_1@lycos.com
Telephone: +62 818 0265 2877
+62 812 2517 3351
Cheers until next time.
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