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Published: February 21st 2013
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Up at the crack of dawn for a 5am pick-up from my Yogyakarta hotel. I booked a tour for the temples and it takes 8 hours, but for the hassles it saves me, it's worth every penny. I know one friend who did it himself and he missed the last bus or it didn't exist... it took a long time to get back. He wasn't sure he'd make it that night.
We got to Borobudur at 6am just after sunrise. It's a 9th century Buddhist temple. A group of 4 of us opted to hire a guide for 75000 R and it was money well spent. Our guide, Fatah, was fantastic. He had a lot of info and could explain things well, plus he was engaging and funny. As a child, he grew up near the temple and at the temple used to play hide and seek with his friends. He talked about how people climb the temple and which leveles people go around twice (to see the art on both sides). The steps are steep because getting closer to the top (enlightenment) isnt' supposed to be easy.
Fatah showed us the different stories in the stones and we
talked about how they related to each of Buddha's incarnations. He told us stories with each panel and we talked about their meanings and what we thought each meant. He also showed us how the stones go together and hold their structure (like Legos). They are still rebuilding parts of the temple that were damaged in the earthquake in 2006. They're still uncovering the mysteries the temple holds. Our tour was one hour and we had one more hour to explore on our own. Perfect.
I was swarmed by adorable students, all asking politely to take photos with me. I stuck to my plan to say yes as long as I also got a photo. All of them were so excited and friendly and gracious you'd have thought I'd told them the meaning of life!
After a nice, nap-worthy ride, we arrived in Prambanan, a 9th century Hindu temple. It's a series of four temple clusters and each cluster is unique. In the main one, they've just reopened the center temple but with restrictions:
• Only 50 people can be inside at once
• 15 minutes max
• You must wear a hard hat
Borobudur
All the layers are for pilgrims to climb slowly to Nirvana. It was worth the wait to go in. The temple was amazing. Huge and with great detailing and great views fo the complex and surrounding temples. Truly, an experience. Again, schoolchildren swarmed me and asked for photos and interviews. I think it's their smiles-- I just can't say no. I spent my first hour (of two) at the first complex and hurried to see the rest in the second hour. The second and third ones were under reconstruction, so not a lot to see. The last one, however, was perfect. And quiet. The only people at this remote cluster were me and two Indonesian women on a tandem bike. Inside it was so quiet you could hear tiny raindrops dropping and the cool breeze whispering. The peacefulness and tranquility of it made it such a special experience.
I got back to town in the early afternoon. I had a lovely lunch, shower, and then a nice, long nap. I finished my book and exchanged it at one of the used bookshops on the next gang over. Then dinner and drinks with local expats!
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ElyseandPete
Wanderlusting Winter
Borobudur
This temple was on Amazing Race a few years ago and the views were amazing.