A beautiful volcano called Merapi was seen overlooking Yogyakarta, a
culturally attractive Indonesian city worst hit by the Asian Tsunami in
Dec 2004. Four years after that dreadful tsunami, I was heading there.
It's also when I got the chance to visit the world's largest
stupa—Borobudur. That's a huge Buddhist temple, although some called it a
stupa. Situated in central Java, Indonesia, nearby Yogyakarta (Jogja,
as locally named), Borobudur has been well listed by the UNESCO as a
World Heritage Site.
In fact, it's long before I was face to face with the Indonesian culture that I'd seen some postcards from Jogja featuring Borobudur. After a nice smiling welcome for the rare visitor from Yangon at the Jakarta airport, I'd have to make an hour flight to Jogja, by a local airliner Garuda.
Soon after a period of stay in Jogja, in one cloudy afternoon in the fall of 2008, I was led by my friend with his shabby motorbike, left the city and headed straight to Borobudur. The environment seemed not foreign as we passed through many villages and forest, along Indonesian countryside. We had to postponed lunch to reach there in hot and gloomy climate, under the hottest equatorial sunshine. Travelling towards lushing ranges for about an hour took us to one of the world's 7 most wonders, at last.
In one book from Myanmar it's noted that Borobudur was built resembling Ta-wa-dein-tha; Mya Thein Dan pagoda from Min Gun, nearby Mandalay, was also build with the same idea, it said. I've also been to Mingun and, when I first saw Borobudur, I instantly remembered Mingun Pahto Taw Gyi, both being pictured as huge structures. Mingun Pahto Taw Gyi was just abandoned with about 160 feet (though originally intended by King Boe Daw as 500 feet, aiming for the world's highest) and you'd need a great effort to reach the top of Mingun Pahto Taw Gyi.
Probably constructed when Buddhism availed in Indonesia around AD800, as a heritage of Buddhist tradition, Borobudur was truly amazing with systematic stone architecture. The scenery and entrance compound were like vast green velvet, all systematic, neat and clean, packed with tourists & pilgrims. The basic structure of Borobudur was like pagodas from Myanmar, somewhat influenced by Indian culture, and the main stupa at the top was encircled by 72 small stupas, each with a Buddha Image inside. The foundation was known nearly 200 feet on each side. Nine platforms were step by step ascended to the top. It's unbelievable to read that the way to the summit of Borobudur extends through some 4.8 km of passages and stairways. Amazing!
It's also notable we didn't miss
our lunch thanks to a hawker selling traditional pies near the cultural
museum in the garden surrounding Borobodur. "Our hostel is a few
minutes' drive from the beach. There's lots to see and do here. Many
historic monuments such as Borobudur and the Prambanan temples are just
nearby. It will surely be worth visiting for you," said that friend long before I left for Indonesia; actually, it's no question. More than worth visiting!
In fact, it's long before I was face to face with the Indonesian culture that I'd seen some postcards from Jogja featuring Borobudur. After a nice smiling welcome for the rare visitor from Yangon at the Jakarta airport, I'd have to make an hour flight to Jogja, by a local airliner Garuda.
Soon after a period of stay in Jogja, in one cloudy afternoon in the fall of 2008, I was led by my friend with his shabby motorbike, left the city and headed straight to Borobudur. The environment seemed not foreign as we passed through many villages and forest, along Indonesian countryside. We had to postponed lunch to reach there in hot and gloomy climate, under the hottest equatorial sunshine. Travelling towards lushing ranges for about an hour took us to one of the world's 7 most wonders, at last.
In one book from Myanmar it's noted that Borobudur was built resembling Ta-wa-dein-tha; Mya Thein Dan pagoda from Min Gun, nearby Mandalay, was also build with the same idea, it said. I've also been to Mingun and, when I first saw Borobudur, I instantly remembered Mingun Pahto Taw Gyi, both being pictured as huge structures. Mingun Pahto Taw Gyi was just abandoned with about 160 feet (though originally intended by King Boe Daw as 500 feet, aiming for the world's highest) and you'd need a great effort to reach the top of Mingun Pahto Taw Gyi.
Probably constructed when Buddhism availed in Indonesia around AD800, as a heritage of Buddhist tradition, Borobudur was truly amazing with systematic stone architecture. The scenery and entrance compound were like vast green velvet, all systematic, neat and clean, packed with tourists & pilgrims. The basic structure of Borobudur was like pagodas from Myanmar, somewhat influenced by Indian culture, and the main stupa at the top was encircled by 72 small stupas, each with a Buddha Image inside. The foundation was known nearly 200 feet on each side. Nine platforms were step by step ascended to the top. It's unbelievable to read that the way to the summit of Borobudur extends through some 4.8 km of passages and stairways. Amazing!
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