Breathtaking Borobudur

Our cheerful tour group in front of Borobudur Temple

Borobudur! I gazed at the largest Buddhist temple in the World - breathtaking! Having dreamt of visiting this towering 9th century Buddhist Monument, I was finally there, at the top level. After walking around it three times, in a clockwise direction, I made a wish and prayed. I felt enlightened, calm and at peace.

Recently, in June 2015, my husband and I visited Borobudur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Jogjakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. The four-day holiday was organised by my Klang Convent Old Girls Association (OGA). Our group of 30 ladies and five guys (including Jason, tour leader of Star Adventure Travel Sdn Bhd) was enthralled by the majestic Monument. 
 
On our first night, we checked in to hotel Manohara Boutique. It was a perfect location for we could view or walk to Borobudur Temple from the hotel. Next morning, after a hearty breakfast, the early risers took the opportunity to enjoy the lovely landscaped garden. A sitting Buddha caught the attention of some members while others went further to get memorable photos of Borobudur shrouded in mystery.

A Sitting Buddha in the landscaped garden

Borobudur shrouded in mystery, from the hotel garden

We then assembled in the hotel lobby and walked to Borobudur, led by Yoyo, our Indonesian tour guide. It was a short 20 minutes walk. As we plodded on, the magnificent monument loomed colossal and grand.What a spectacular sight!

 

Borobudur - a spectacular sight   Photo: Alice

The monument resembled a cake with many tiers and a unique icing in the centre. An aerial view shows that Borobudur has the shape of a giant lotus flower.


Yoyo explained: "Borobudur is built in three tiers: 1)  a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces 2) the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms  and  3) a monumental stupa at the top. It is a revered symbol of purity in Buddhism". Borobudur Temple not only serves as a shrine to the Lord Buddha, but is also a place for Buddhist pilgrimage.

As we approached, we saw some visitors receiving blessings from a few monks from China. Some of us followed them - we knelt down to receive blessings too. It was a privilege to receive blessings in front a most revered place of worship.

Visitors receiving blessings from monks

It was a hot day but we were well prepared: with sun-tanned lotions, hats, umbrellas and sun-shades. We followed Yoyo closely, level by level, walking up the visitor-friendly stairs that were equipped with rails on both sides. 

Visitor-friendly stairs for climbing up the temple

The walls and balustrades of the five square terraces have exquisitely carved reliefs sculpted in the stone.  As we stopped at each relief, Yoyo briefed us on the life and teachings of Buddha. 

 

Yoyo briefing us on the relief

Exquisitely carved relief

One of the reliefs depicting life and teachings of Buddha

Around the three circular platforms were 72 stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha.  These stupas surrounded one large central stupa. The outer stupas had diamond shaped holes which stood for instability, while the inner stupas had square holes which stood for stability, and the main stupa was solid, which stood for eternity. Legend has it that if you reach in and manage to touch a Buddha in one of the stupas, you will get good luck. I tried, but my hands were not long enough!

Stupas with diamond-shaped holes, square holes and a solid stupa
in the centre.  There isone exposed stupa showing
 the head of a statue of Buddha 

After reaching the top, Yoyo advised us to walk three times around the solid stupa, clockwise, and then make a wish. That was an enlightening experience.

Besides Borobudur, we visited Prambanan Temple, the Sultan Palace, Mount Merapi Village and other interesting sites.

On the first day, Yoyo took us to a tastefully-decorated restaurant for local Indonesian cuisine. Some of the restaurant's creative wood carvings are shown below:

After a satisfying buffet lunch, our energetic OGA ladies were all smiles, ready to explore Prambanan Temple.

Energetic ladies  Photo: Alice

Initially, in a cool shaded area equipped with models of the deities and buildings layout, Yoyo briefed us on the history of Prambanan Complex.

Model of layout of Prambanan Temple

After the briefing we followed him on a long walk, around and inside the temples. At every place, Yoyo stopped to tell us absorbing tales.

Prambanan Temple, a 9th century Hindu temple, is dedicated to Trimurti, three forms of God: the Creator (Brahma), the Preserver (Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Shiva). As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the temple compound is the largest in Indonesia. 

Prambanan Hindu Temple  Photo: Alice

Our group against the backdrop of the imposing Prambanan Temple: 

The towering Shiva temple is the tallest and largest structure inside a large complex of individual temples. It is 47 metres tall and 34 metres wide. We walked along the galleries adorned with bas-reliefs telling the story of Ramayana carved on the inner walls of the balustrades.

Shiva temple

Just like Borobudur, the bas-reliefs were well preserved, each telling a fascinating story, as shown below :

At one bas-relief of the God of prosperity, we got excited.  Yoyo said, " If you touch His hands, you will have luck in prosperity". With alacrity, everyone took turns to touch the hands - for prosperity.

Touching for prosperity

In the Shiva Temple, Yoyo stimulated our interest with stories of Lord Shiva. We bravely walked to all the rooms, some quite dark, to view the four statues of Lord Shiva, Durga (Shiva's wife), Agastya (Shiva's teacher) and Ganesha (Shiva's son).  


 

Lord Ganesha

Durga

Lord Shiva

               

Agastya

After about two hours of climbing up and down many stairs to view the deities, half of the group  took a well-earned rest, while waiting for the others.

 

Pretty maids in a row, taking a rest  Photo: Mee Lee

The Sultan Palace (also called Kraton), built in the 18th century, is the centre of Javanese culture.  The Palace guide, dressed in traditional costume, gave us a jovial account of the various Sultans that lived in the Palace. We viewed an open-air assembly hall and many exhibits (ceramics, glassware, weapons, photographs, various kinds of batik), all mainly the past Sultans' possessions.

 Sultan Palace

There was an extraordinary collection of the gamelans, impressive sets of indigenous Javanese instruments which produce music for performances.

Gamelans - indigenous Javanese instruments

In the afternoon, we visited the Water Castle (Taman Sari). We walked through an under-water corridor and had a brief view of swimming pools used by past princes and princesses of the Sultan's family.

Water Castle

The fun part was riding a trishaw/rickshaw. As the walk back to the bus was quite a long one, Yoyo arranged for us to ride on the special three-wheeler.

Jason with a glamorous OGA member
Photo: Mee Lee

Mt Merapi (2960 m above sea level), is an active volcano. Its eruption in 2010 destroyed many villages in its wake. On our Mt Merapi Lava Tour, we were taken to view certain areas around the base of Mt Merapi.

We enjoyed the 4-wheel-drive up the mountain, even though many complained of "sore bottoms" after the bumpy ride over stony uneven paths. For our thrill-seekers, the driver detoured to a special adrenalin-pumping circuit, filled with water. 

As our 4-wheel drive encircled the area, many raised their hands and screamed with joy and excitement! Many of us got wet from the water streaking in. At certain angles, I nearly fell off my seat. It reminded me of stomach-churning plunging roller-coaster rides in Disneyland when I visited Los Angeles in the 1970s. 

An adrenalin-pumping ride  Photo: Mee Lee

Whew! What a ride  Photo: Mee Lee

Triumphant and joyful. Yipee!    Photo: Mee Lee

We stopped at one village to view a house-owner's "museum". Framed pictures, motor cycles, a sewing machine, cutlery, a clock showing the exact time of the eruption and even animal skeletons were displayed, showing the devastating destruction caused by the hot lava on 5th November 2010.

Pictures showing eruption of Mt Merapi

Motorcycles

Clock showing exact time of eruption

Skeleton of cow

At another location, a large rock called Alien Stone, amused us. It had facial features like eyes, nose and mouth. We were told that it was hurled out of the volcano during the eruption.

A huge rock with distinct facial features

Other interesting sites included a trip to a herbal garden, silver factory, chocolate factory and batik factory to view how such products were produced.

Herbal Garden: herbal plants grown in pots

Silver Factory: Borobudur - exquisitely crafted

Silversmiths at work  Photo: Mee Lee

Batik Factory: a worker hard at work

Chocolate Factory - yummy

Shopping was another enjoyable part of our holiday in Jogjakarta. We shopped till we dropped. We shopped at every tourist site, shopping mall, and factory that we visited. From clothing, leather goods, souvenirs, to dried food (Oleh-oleh), our members were completely elated with their great buys.

Some of my purchases of tee-shirts and oleh-oleh (prawn crackers, layered cakes, bakpia, dodol, gula jeha{ginger palm sugar}) are shown below:

My oleh-oleh

On our last day, we walked along Malioboro Road to do our last minute shopping. I found this tourist street clean and tourist-friendly, where everything could be found in the stalls and shops.

Malioboro Road: Wood carvings and knick-knacks souvenirs

Malioboro Road - tourist shopping area

CUISINE:

Indonesian cuisine was pleasing, very suitable for our Malaysian palate. Some of the local dishes I liked included soto ayam (chicken), fried tempe (soya bean), fried tofu (bean curd), fried keropok (prawn crackers), pumpkin leaves soup, jackfruit,, gado-gado (vegetable salad), lodeh and many more.

Soto ayam

soto ayam ingredients

Spicy tempe

Gado-gado

Yummy Jackfruit

What a fantastic holiday! It was time to say goodbye. We packed our bags, many filled with goodies and arrived early at the Jogjakarta Airport. Everyone was tired but they were still smiling away - a testament to an enjoyable trip!

Jogjakarta Airport - Weary but happy   Photo: Mee Lee

Jogjakarta Airport - Waiting patiently but still cheerful   Photo: Mee Lee

Jogjakarta Airport -  Tired but still smiling  Photo: Mee Lee

Besides the sight-seeing, the trip was also a good opportunity for members of OGA to contact and interact with one another. Four spouses who joined us also enjoyed themselves. Compliments to the OGA organisers and Star Adventure Travel Sdn Bhd, for a well-planned holiday.

Breathtaking Borobudur

Breathtaking Borobudur, pristine Prambanan, rip-roaring rides, fantastic food, satisfactory shopping and cheerful company: Jogjakarta was a trip to remember.

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The writer thanks Alice Hong and Lim Mee Lee for contributing some of the photos.