Indonesia > At the Borobudur

Today I am going to visit the Borobudur Temple, one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. It seems to me to be one of the highlights of this trip. I leave Yogya by bus. It is rush hour. Numerous motorcycles weave through the city, and I quickly understand why: a motorbike is a much more practical and faster means of transport in this busy city. They squeeze past the bus on both sides.

Indonesia - The temple with seven terraces

Once I leave the city, the traffic eases. Traffic on Java is much busier than on Sumatra. Divided lanes guide the flow efficiently. Around ten o’clock, I arrive at the park near Borobudur. In the parking lot, I am immediately swarmed by souvenir vendors. There are so many stalls that I can hardly see where to buy a ticket. I decide to purchase a combination ticket, valid for both Borobudur today and Prambanan tomorrow. I am handed a sarong, which I must wear to be allowed into the temple. With the guide, I enter the park. Large groups of schoolchildren are also visiting the temple. Some want to take photos with me, but I try to keep it to a minimum. Finally, I reach the temple itself. The first view is already fantastic. From a small grassy area, I have a view of the entire complex.

Indonesia - A Buddha statue in an open Stupa

The guide leads me along the various terraces of the temple, explaining the beautiful reliefs. Each depiction has its own story. Fortunately, he limits himself to the most important ones. It is hot today, and I am glad to occasionally stand in the shade of the complex. The top three layers have been recently restored. On these layers are small stupas, each containing a Buddha. I climb to the seventh and highest terrace, the Nirvana. From here, I have a beautiful view of the temple and the surrounding landscape. In the distance, I can see the Merapi volcano, a small plume of smoke rising from its crater. On the way to the exit, I must pass through a street lined with souvenir vendors. For hundreds of meters, the stalls stand side by side. I cannot imagine that enough is sold here to satisfy everyone. As I walk through the exit toward the bus, I encounter more stalls. It is astonishing how many vendors are gathered here. I get on the bus. In half an hour, I drive to Candirejo, a local Javanese village. A few years ago, a project was started here to show tourists how the Javanese live.

Indonesia - By horse cart through Candirejo

When I arrive, a lunch buffet is ready in an open dining hall. Later, I am taken by dokar, a horse-drawn carriage, to a viewpoint by the river, where three rivers converge. In the background, I can just make out two volcanoes, one of them Marapi, though it is too hazy to see clearly. I continue in the horse-drawn carriage. Ronny, my driver, steers the horse to a small local factory where krupuk (crispy crackers) is made. I am amazed at the primitive methods and the large amount of manual work involved. I am allowed to taste the result—it is delicious. I finish the tour in a traditional house, where several gamelan instruments are ready. I get to try playing the gamelan. Numbers are written on a board, and I tap the xylophone according to them. The rhythm comes together well, though it isn’t always perfectly even. By bus, I return to Yogya. It is rush hour again as I drive into the city. The streets are crowded, and the bus driver often has to wait at traffic lights. At each light, a countdown shows how long until it turns green. This is handy in one sense, but not always pleasant when we still have to wait more than two minutes. Once again, motorcycles line up densely next to the bus. Back at the hotel, I visit the massage salon. I have a one-hour massage. I leave the salon feeling wonderfully relaxed.