1 of the 7 Wonders of the World and other Indonesia General Tips

Favorite Thing: One of the 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD is in Indonesia!
Do you know that? Well, now you know! It's the splendid BOROBUDUR TEMPLE! (Also known as CANDI BOROBUDUR in Bahasa Indonesia, Indonesia's national language.).

OK, so we are one of those lucky few who have the opportunity to visit this wonder; it has only been excavated some 25 years ago and I can only wonder: how can something so extraordinary laid underground for almost 900 years!

To the whole world this amazing architecture was lost for centuries and even the most famous historic leaders may not have seen it. So, I count myself one of the most lucky of all times to have visited and experienced the wonder of humanity!!!

It's like visiting the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canyon! So, wait no more!

Fondest Memory: A smile is all you need to communicate in Indonesia. People, especially those in the countryside, are so easy going and kind! Thank God for this!

Many do not speak English here but one doesn't have much problem getting around the places of interest since some of the youth will gladly be your guide for US$1 and introduce you the customs and culture of Indonesia: of course they'll speak English in this instance.   ;-)

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Fondest Memory: The most amazing thing about this temple is the fact that it had laid under the earth for almost a 900 years before it was rediscovered in late 1800. Thanks to the aid from United Nations the world is a better place. A truly magnificent Buddhist shrine! One not to be missed by anyone who believes in God, be his religion be Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism or Islam.

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Favorite Thing: It was said that rulers of the Sailendra dynasty built this wonder with a huge workforce transporting 60,000 cubic m. of stone & the main architect was Gunadharma. Borobudur was likely to have derived its name from Sanskrit words 'Vihara Buddha Uhr' meaning Buddhist monastery on the hill.

Fondest Memory: Borobudur is Buddhist vision of the cosmos in stone, with the everyday world at the base spiralling to nirvana (eternal nothingness) at the top. Walk along these narrow corridors & past nearly 1500 richly decorated relief panels depicting many aspects of Javanese life & virtual textbook of Buddhist doctrines! A pilgrim's walk!

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Favorite Thing: Reach in through the stupa to touch the fingers or foot of the Buddha inside! I was told this will bring good luck!!!
Ah!!!!! I did it! :-)))


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Favorite Thing: Borobudur is located in Central Java.
For a foreigner the best path to take is to fly to either Jakarta or Bali (preferably a relaxing week in Bali; soaking oneself in the sunny and white beautiful beaches before embarking on this enlightening trip of one's life!)Oh, by the way, the city to land on is Yogyakarta. It takes about one and a half hour from Bali. Do also visit the Hindu temple of Prambanan.


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Favorite Thing: Continue your adventure to CANDI PRAMBANAN: 17 km east of Yogyakarta, this temple is what remains of Java's period of Hindu cultural development. The temples are also the largest Hindu temple complex in Java and the plethora of sculptural details on the great Shiva Temple makes it the most outstanding Hindu art form. All temples in this area were built between the 8th and 10th centuries.


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Favorite Thing: CANDI LORO JONGGRANG (SHIVA MAHADEVA TEMPLE): The largest of the entire complex is the temple dedicated to Shiva. Main spire: 47 m high.

Fondest Memory: This lavishly carved temple with many scenes from Ramayana where the reliefs allow one to follow the story of Lord Rama's wife, Sita, who was abducted & was eventaully found by the monkey god Hanuman & released.

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Favorite Thing: Visit YOGYAKARTA (JAVA): The seat of the mighty Javanese empire Mataram in the 16th & 17th centuries.

Yogyakarta is surrounded by fascinating monuments. Just an hour away lies Borobudur while to the east of the city lies the 'valley of the kings' & the temple site of Prambanan built by the Shaelendra dynasty.

The heart of the city itself is surfeit with ancient palaces like Kraton Yogya (Sultan's Palace) & Water Castle.


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