Saturday, January 22, 2011

BOROBUDUR ON SEMARANG, JAVA INDONESIA

WE STOPPED AT SEMARANG ON THE ISLAND OF JAVA IN INDONESIA.  FROM THERE WE TOOK A 3 HOUR BUS RIDE TO THE COMPLEX OF BOROBUDUR. 
 A FIRST FOR US WAS TO HAVE A POLICE ESCORT.  OUR PARADE WAS FILLED WITH FOUR BUSES AND PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALKS WOULD WAVE AT US AS WE WENT BY.  
THE CITY ITSELF WAS SHOCKING TO ME.  EVERY SQUARE INCH WAS TAKEN UP WITH EITHER HOVEL OR HOUSE DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOKED AT IT.  PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.  SHOPS AND STORES LITERALLY LINED EVERY STREET AND EVEN THE ROADS THAT LED OUT OF TOWN,  WERE LINED WITH FRUIT STANDS.  THERE WAS SUCH A MIX OF BUILDINGS, SOME WERE VERY NICE AND NEW, SOME MADE FROM BRICKS AND SOME WERE JUST A LEAN-TO WITH CORRUGATED STEEL SUPPORTED BY BAMBOO POLES.  I SAW INDUSTRY EVERY WHERE FROM FURNITURE CRAFTSMAN TO LUMBER YARDS THAT HAD PILES OF BAMBOO, TREE TRUNKS FROM VARIOUS TREES, STICKS, BRANCHES.    ALL NEATLY PILED.  LOTS OF MOTORCYCLE REPAIR SHOPS....MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THERE WERE TONS OF MOTORCYCLES ON THE ROADS.  LOTS OF ROAD SIDE FOOD AND FRUIT STANDS AND LOTS OF STORES WITH ALL KINDS OF GOODS.  
BOROBUDUR IS THE OLDEST THING I HAVE EVER TOUCHED.  IT WAS BUILT AROUND 700 A.D.  NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE BUT ABOUT THAT TIME.  IT IS A COMPLEX TEMPLE FILLED WITH BUDDHAS AND BEAUTIFUL ANCIENT CARVINGS.  SO AMAZING AND FANTASTIC TO LOOK AT.  THE CARVINGS ARE SO INTRICATE, JUST ONE SQUARE IS AMAZING AND IT IS FILLED WITH HUNDREDS OF CARVED BLOCKS.  
THE TIERS OF THE BUILDING REPRESENT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF A PERSONS LIFE AND THE TOP LAYER IS NIRVANA.  WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME WALKING AROUND IT, TOUCHING IT AND ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT THERE.  



Brad and His Beloved!  It's the boat!

Borobudur 

Some of the beautiful carving!

This place was amazing!

Mt Merapi the volcano that covered Borobudur in ash!  Still smoking as you can see!

One of many Buddhas

The carving was amazing!  The entire temple was carved like this.

Bradley

Karen

Me & Buddha

Nirvana!  The very top level represents Nirvana!

The boat!

Cute Me!







If you want to learn more about Borobudur click here.












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