March 20, 2019 – Semerang, Java, Indonesia
Today we arrived at the Port of Semerang at 7 am. Our guide, Jamal, met us with his van and driver at 8 am. Right on time. Today we drive to the city of Borobudor to see the temple.
Jamal talked nearly the entire 2.5 hours it took to get there. We learned that unlike Bali, the majority of the population is Muslim, not Hindu. Muslims here are different than those from the Middle East. There is a heavy Hindu influence. Mosques have minarets but the structure style is definitely influenced by the Hindu Temples.
Transportation is scooter in most cases.
Many rice paddies along the way.
We arrived at the temple.
Terri models sarong.
The temple was built in the 9th century and describes the pilgrimage to the attainment of Nirvana. Jamal explained the 10 levels of the temple. The first level represents the the desire that man has. Kamahatu.
There is a story on every level depicted in carved reliefs. Jamal said to tell the entire story on the first level would take him 8 hours.
Each “window” originally contained a Buddha. Position of Buddhas hands were different depending on the direction Buddha faced.
We learned a lot about this temple and it is difficult to share all of it here. Definite “bucket list” site. Wikipedia has a great description. The temple was “lost” for a great deal of time. Buried under ash from a nearby volcano. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is being maintained and repaired.
Two other temples that are part of this site were nearby.
We started to head back to the ship and stopped for lunch on the way.
Lunch was fantastic. Beef, chicken, rice, calamari, soup. All of it was great.
The drive home seemed longer. More traffic and rain. Most of the drive showed how poor the country was. Very dirty. It is possible to be poor and clean but this is not the case here. Have trash? Throw it in the nearest river. I guess the water ways serve as the dump. Filth every where.
Jamal dropped us off about 4:30. An hour to spare!…