Borobudur Temple

Semarang, a city of 1.5 million, was our next port-of-call.  The focus of our visit was the Borobudur Buddhist Temple, thought to have been built between 778-856 AD based on Sanskrit records found on site.  The temple was used for roughly two centuries.  Though the reason for the abandonment is uncertain, it is believed the eruption of a nearby volcano around 1006 caused the area to be covered in volcanic ash.  Though locals were aware of the existence of the temple, it was covered for centuries under ash and jungle growth.  

British explorer, Stamford Raffles, rediscovered the temple in 1814.  But, the UK's influence in Indonesia only lasted from 1811-1816, and Raffles didn't have the resources to pursue reclamation.  However, he wrote about it in his book, The History of Java, so the rest of the world now had knowledge of the structure.  

Dutch archeologists started some restoration between 1907-1911, but it was 1973 before the true work began.  At that point, UNESCO allocated 25 million dollars, and over the next 10 years, they methodically removed, cleaned and restored over one million pieces of stone.  

Borobudur translates to Monastery on the Hill.  Ten terraces symbolize the path to Nirvana.  At the top is the great stupa, towering above 72 other stupas and statues.  The temple is considered the finest example of Buddhist relief in the world.  Yet another stop that blows you away.  

Once again, we were approached with requests for selfies.  A couple of young Muslim teenage girls are now somewhere on Facebook pictured with Alan, but we also did a few pics with large family groupings.  Kind of makes you feel like a rock star! 

Located only 56 miles from the port, the buses travel through the large city, villages and beautiful, mountainous areas with swaying palm trees, and dense tropical vegetation and large expanses of muddy rice fields.  Numerous people stopped, smiled and waved enthusiastically as our entourage passed by.  The tour company utilizes police escort in front and behind the buses with sirens blaring for the 5-hour plus round trip.  It was a wild ride with police plowing through traffic, waving off vehicles, stopping traffic on the opposite side of the road to briefly change the traffic direction, and creating 3rd lanes where none existed.  It was a bizarre VIP type experience! 

Pictures follow.

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