Indonesia 2010

Saturday9October

And so begins 3 Indonesian weeks!

It will take us almost 2 days, starting from Nantes, to reach Yogyakarta in the center of Java island.

All this by passing through Paris, Doha (capital of Qatar) and Jakarta (capital of Indonesia)...

Sunday10October

Left photo: Doha airport. Right photo: Jakarta airport.

We will stay for 3 days in this hostel named "Venezia" run by an exiled Frenchman

Monday11October

Short walk in the morning in the market and streets of Yogyakarta.

Our first "cultural" visit will begin with Borobudur, located about thirty kilometers northwest of Yogyakarta.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, it is the largest Buddhist monument in the world. Nearly 300 Buddha statues adorn 9 levels of volcanic stone blocks (andesite).

Its construction began in the 8th century and was completed 75 years later. Without the restoration carried out by UNESCO between 1955 and 1983, it could have disappeared, weakened by erosion, earthquakes, and monsoons.

As tradition dictates, it is advised to traverse the different levels in a clockwise direction.

Hundreds of Buddhas look outwards in the lotus position (mudrā).

Each facade corresponds to a different position. Here, the position is akin to the Bhūmisparsha-Mudrā, or earth witness mudrā (except that the palm of the right hand is directed towards the sky).

Animal statues guard the entrances at the bottom of the stairs.

All passages circling the edifice are decorated with bas-reliefs closely or distantly related to the Buddhist religion. Notably, one can see some episodes of Buddha's life.

Meditation of the Buddha

Buddha in Dhyāni-Mudrā position, or meditation mudrā (right hand in the left hand, palms facing the sky).

North West of Borobudur, 27 km away, stands the majestic Merapi. In 14 days, it will erupt after 3 years of inactivity killing 122 people...

Here we are at the very top of the monument. These bells are stūpas, mini sanctuaries where Buddha statues are placed. There are 72 of them encircling another large central Stūpa that tops the monument in a dome.

Through the openings, look silently.
Buddha meditates and nothing will wake him up... although Enlightenment has already been attained... Food for thought!  

A classic in Asian countries: local tourists ask to take a photo alongside westerners!
It's very embarrassing at first but finally you get used to it...!  

The large central Stūpa.

The west face of Borobudur.

The North face of Borobudur.

We move away from the temple to reach a hill overlooking the site.
On the way, we cross an agile coconut "picker". He collects coconut juice in bamboos (at least that's what I understood!).  

From the top of the small hill, Borobudur reveals to us 600 meters away its multiple Stūpas surrounding the large dome. Hard to believe there were so many when we were there!

Evening comes and we must return to the hotel.

A restaurant in Yogyakarta will end this day and I will let myself be tempted by a plate of cobra!... fortunately cut into small pieces, peace to its soul... Finally, it eats very well, and anyway, the local Indonesian beer "Bintang" helped me wash it all down!