Thread: Jogya - temples and backpackers

the top couple of tiers have all these buddha carvings encased on stone thingys.





the above one is broken, obviously.

the hordes of people made it that much more serene and peaceful (not really)

not to mention that the damn indonesians all want a photo with their brand new western friend, and that all the damn school kids have an assignment to interview a westerner, I've learnt and tell them all to fuck off., usually politely.

and fookn 2 tier pricing happens here too!

Indo's (or westerners with KITAS aka work permit) 15,000 Rupiah (or $1.50)
Westerners $12.00 or about 120,000 Rupiah!

and hundreds of annoying touts to sell you shit on the way out.

about an hour away is another temple complex, called Prmabanan, rebuilt after the 2006 Jogja earthquakes.

apparently dozens of temples and maybe even a religious city, it is Hindu.

the carvings were all very impressive, if somewhat damaged by looters and what not.

here's wiki info

Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple compound in Central Java in Indonesia, located approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta.[1]
The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the largest Hindu temples in south-east Asia. It is characterised by its tall and pointed architecture, typical of Hindu temple architecture, and by the 47m high central building inside a large complex of individual temples.

and back in Jogya, famous Jalan Malioboro. good for shopping and food.

vendors and drivers pass their time...

get your face drawn...

buy some snake fruit,

info re borobodor.

Borobudur is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist Monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.[1] A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.
The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). During the journey the monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.
Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam.[2] Worldwide knowledge of its existence was sparked in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the then British ruler of Java, who was advised of its location by native Indonesians. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[3] Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage; once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction.[4][5][6]

stayed at the Sheraton, deluxe room only $90 p/n. organised at the airport when we arrived. included free transfers, shuttle busses into the centre of town, free wireless in room, free afternoon tea each day. and very nice grounds, if somewhat old. Organised at a counter at Jogya airport.

car hire organised at the airport. $35 a day including driver and petrol.

plane tix - garuda. $40 one way from Jakarta.

location for the geographically challenged....



crap, no big arrow.....hmmm, inland, directly about the letter K in the km scale line....

Good pics!! I really need to win a lottery and visit all these interesting places before I die...

The Muslims haven't blown them up??

Top pics Willy......btw...you heard from our mutual friends since the big departuure to the USA?

Originally Posted by kingwilly

not to mention that the damn indonesians all want a photo with their brand new western friend, and that all the damn school kids have an assignment to interview a westerner, I've learnt and tell them all to fuck off., usually politely.

If they're smart, they won't find it necessary to gather Western friends. Nice thread Willy, central Java is quite spectacular as to the historical aspects. Cheers!

Originally Posted by Bobcock

btw...you heard from our mutual friends since the big departuure to the USA?

not a word. no phone, no email. no facebook (she never did that anyway) - bit of a shame cos i only wish them the best!

me neither, she's always popped up on MSN and sent me regular mails but this time not a sausage.

Actually, the Buddhist Temple Complex Borobudur was destroyed by the Muslims, when they arrived in Indonesia. The same applies to the Hindu Temple Complex Prambanan, also near Yogyakarta, and lots of smaller temples anywhere on the main island Java. Up to then, Buddhists and Hindus lived peacefully together.