Deliciously Me

We then continued our journey to Borobudur. On the way, we stopped at the petrol station for refueling, where the guys were calculating on the price of the petrol in Indonesia after conversion. Haha. Then the van moved.

I looked at the sky, there were dark clouds hovering above the area. I was praying hard for clear sky, so that our visit wouldn’t be in vain. After all, the pictures wouldn’t be nice if were to photographed in rain.

Few minutes later, we reached a small town. We then passed a small candi (temple) where the van driver pointed and said softly, “Candi Mendut” and Daniel being our translator, pointed to us and said aloud “Candi Mendut”.

A minute later, we saw the peak of Borobudur! From afar, we could only see the peak but as our van were driving towards it, it became bigger and bigger until it got out of our sight when the driver took a right turn to the entrance and ticket counter.

The moment we got down, the local armed with rock statues, shirts, souvenirs, keychains, and postcards; surrounded us and kept following us! But after telling them, “no, thank you” or “tak mau” while shaking my head, they got the drill and left me alone.

There are two entrances/ticket counters. The open air ticket counter on the left (which looks shabby) is the entrance for the locals. If not mistaken they only have to pay like 9.000 Rupiah (RM3.30). On the right, there’s this closed up building, with air-cond, and sofas and, water and coffee dispenser. That’s for the foreigners like us. How much we need to pay?

11USD or 120.000 Rupiah. And free small bottles of water – can take as many as one like.

So much of difference right? I know, but it’s bearable because after conversion it’s RM44~45. That’ll be the 5^th interesting fact I found in the trip.

And we got a guide for 75.000 Rupiah (RM27). His name is Lambang.

Lambang is a rather quiet guy, only spoke when he needs to explain about the temple. But once he got used to our presence, he joked with us nonstop.

From the ticket counter, we’ll need to walk about 10 minutes to get to the temple. The walk was a pleasant one, while the guys kept snapping and videotaking along the way and the girls talking and listening to the guide at the same time. Haha.

When the temple is considerably quite near to us (where the whole temple can be captured with our camera, all of us automatically stopped walking and snapped! Then Lambang said, “come, I show you a better place to take picture”, with his hands doing the photo shoot gesture.

Excitedly, we followed him to the open field at the side. There we could see the diagonal view of the temple. The view is not that mind-blowing like what he said; but at least there’s nobody in the view except for the temple and us when we took group picture.

Not wanting to waste time on taking many group shoots with the same pose, we called it off and began ascending the stairs towards to temple.

By the time I reached the end of the stairs, I was overwhelmed by feelings. Like how I felt when I stood in front of Angkor Wat, I can’t believe that I was looking at the Borobudur temple. For some people, going there is like impossible, but we made it! Lambang then led us to a white board on the left. Using that board, he explained more about the Borobudur temple and the history.

To keep it short, Borobudur is a Buddhist temple, was built in the 9th century on a natural hill. However, it was kept hidden in the ash for long after eruption of Mount Merapi. It was believed that the massive eruption also swept clean all villages, burying all buildings, monuments, temples as well as the Buddhist monks and laymen. Many years after the eruption, the people came in and claimed the land, the Islam religion reached the shore and people embraced it; Portuguese conquered Indonesia, followed by Dutch and British

It was Stamford Raffles who instructed his men to unearthed Borobudur temple after being tipped about a big monument in the jungle. However, it was until 90s only the major renovation of the temple started.

After explanation we entered the candi from the left, because Lambang said must walk around temple clockwise. Before going up, Lambang showed us the carvings at the side. The carvings are about karma. The good and the bad. The old and the young. The rich and the poor.

He spoke about how unstable the whole temple was because of the eruption, the ashes and the rain. He pointed on the stones that were put in to replace the ruin ones and also at the new leveled platform that was built to support and strengthen the foundation of the temple.

We walked up the new platform. There is a carved head, where Lambang told us was used to drain the rain water from the temple out. However, it wasn’t in used now. Can’t remember what’s the reason – it was either the hole was filled up or because of dry reason. Hmm.

We then reached the stairs that connects each platform. Lambang told us the stairs symbolized heaven and hell, dubbed “staircase to heaven”. Lol. There’s a head on the arch entrance of each platform. The head is called Kala which means Time in Sanskrit, Again, don’t remember why, but Lambang jokefully told about being eaten by Kala, and the sins and the lust and greed before able to reach the top which symbolizes Nirvana.

And my, that stairs weren’t easy to walk up ah. Unlike the normal stairs we usually take, this required more energy because of the higher step. We got off at platform 6. This is where the stupas are situated. Lambang then advised us to take picture at the diagonal, so that the biggest stupa in the centre is flanked by the two smaller ones at the side.

I love my 12-24mm because of the wideness, I was able to snap with more stupas in sight! The view is lovely as it would be wasted to snap in tight frame.

As much as I wanted to JUMP there, but since nobody willing to jump with me or willing to photograph me jumping, I didn’t do so. And I’m still regretting of not jumping there. Probably I should learn some break-dance poses, and pose it with wonderful background behind in future. Kakaka!

We then went a platform higher from the stairs behind. The view from here is spectacular! Lambang revealed that the platform we were standing up to the second highest platform is called Arupadhatu, the world of formlessness. Only from this platform onwards one can see stupas with statues of monks in it. Before this level, there are 5 platforms of Rupadhatu (the world of forms) which told the story of Buddha’s life and on Buddhism; and the lowest level where the carvings of karma were is known as Kamadhatu (the world of desire).

The stupas however, not all contains the statues of monk. Some of them are empty. Some are headless. Some with broken arms. Lambang then chose one of the perfect statues and thrust him arm onto the hole of the stupa, touching the statue’s arm. This is said that if one manages to touch the monk, good luck will come to you. However, he said, one must stand from the lower platform of the stupa and stretch their arm to touch it.

So I tried, and I succeed. Woohoo! Though in Buddhism, women aren’t supposed to touch monk – but I guess touching a statue is okay gua. Hmm.

Then Lambang continued to speak about the stupa. He asked, “Do you know why the shape of the stupa is like a hand bell?” Seeing us shaking our heads, he answered, “stupa is like a upside-down bowl of rice placed on top of lotus flower with chopsticks stood vertically on top of the bowl”.

Then Lambang let us roamed there freely, to shoot pictures. Off and on, he would just give out information on the temple like “There used to be a big yellow umbrella on top of the biggest stupa, but it was taken down because of lighting and replaced with the steel. Now the umbrella is in museum.”

Also according to him, there are carvings and statues at Arupadhatu and Rupadhatu, but there’s nothing in the biggest stupa. This is said that the biggest stupa is the Nirvana. Since nobody went to Nirvana before and has no idea on how Nirvana looks like, it’s left empty in the biggest stupa.

But I read about the temple before I went there. It’s suspected that the leader of the British excavation (as commanded by Stamford Raffles) did inspection on the biggest stupa and found something, but it wasn’t recorded as he’s interested in keeping it. I wonder if it is true. Hmm.

From the back of the temple, we walked to the front. There I spotted the supposed-to-be-an-entrance-but-already-covered-up at the biggest stupa. Curious, I asked Lambang about it. He told something about sealing the door up to avoid people from going in as it’s not stable there.

Sat hold my hand as we walked. He then asked me on my feeling being on top of this temple and even joked that I attained Nirvana already. Lol. I told him that I’m not qualified yet but I definitely felt at peace standing on top of the temple. The view is too breathtaking and it gave lots calming effect to me.

We took photos, before Lambang urged us to leave because of the coming rain. Unwillingly, I went down with the rest and before going down the hill, we took one last pictures of the temple. And Emily went gaga after spotting angmohs there. Haha.

While walking out, Lambang told us about Kama Sutra’s carvings. According to him, the lowest platform consists of carvings that showed the act/poses like in the Kama Sutra. They (I can’t remember who’s the they here)  decided to ‘seal’ it up with a layer of bricks in front of the carvings as the carvings are said to be indecent and bad for children; and also to strengthen the base of the temple la.

However, he said if one is interested in looking at such carvings, one can visit a temple in Solo. Lambang did give us the name of the temple in Solo, but I’m bad at remembering names la. Haha.

Then, Lambang advised us to check out another 2 nearby temples which was built before Candi Borobudur, Candi Mendut and Candi Pawon. Looking at the time, we only could visit one temple, therefore asking him which one is the best. He said go Candi Mendut better. Candi Pawon is small, Candi Mendut is slightly bigger and it houses 3 big beautiful statues inside it.

As the sky got darker because of the dark clouds, we walked faster to the entrance. I was enjoying the walk out as it was breezy and relaxing and then came the peddlers from everywhere, blocking my way with their goods.

“Keychain! 10.000 Rupiah one!”“, a lady came to me, running her fingers against the keychains to produce ching clang sound. Another came from the left, showing off her T-shirt of Borobudur temple, Prambanan, and Buddha’s head.

Candi Borobudur”, a guy suddenly appeared and shoved the rock statue of Borobodur temple in front of my face; before saying, “100.000 Rupiah”.

I shook my head countless times and yet they won’t let me go. Annoyed, I showed stone face, walked faster, and walked along with Aaron as he wasn’t surrounded by any peddler!

By the time we reached the exit point, there were only 3 of us where the rest were busy bargaining with the peddlers. Slowly one by one came, and I was very anxious as we didn’t have much time left.

When the last person arrived, we quickly made way to the van and it began to rain. Still, the peddlers continued following us, offering more goods at cheaper price! It’s totally unbelievable when one of the guys offered, “6 statues for 100.000 Rupiah!”

Sat got attracted to the deal and asked me and Emily if we’re interested in sharing? Since I didn’t get any souvenir yet and the price is quite attractive, I agreed. So do Emily.

After sealing the deal, the peddlers finally let us off. About 10 minutes later, we reached Candi Mendut.

Still phobic from earlier taunting incident, we were on our guards; ready to fend off anyone who tries to sell us anything but surprisingly, the people there weren’t aggressive! They’re very nice. When we said no, they didn’t pursuit, unlike the ones in Borobudur.

On the way in, one of the shops was blasting an instrumental song loudly, which was quite soothing and I told Sat that I wanted to buy that track! Sat encouraged me to ask the price, but didn’t because fear of being scolded for not buying after asking the price. Haha.

At the small ticket booth, we paid 3.000 Rupiah (RM1.10) to a nice lady. Just when I was about to make move, my lens hood fell off! And then, someone’s lens did a jump too. So did Elise’s hat. If not mistaken someone fell too, but can’t recall who. I felt weird as it happened one after another.

Candi Mendut is a small temple, smaller than Siem Reap’s Prasat Kravan. But inside the temple, there are 3 big statues. I paipai-ed and then started photographing the area.

We didn’t spend much time there. I think barely half an hour later we already made our way out. Our driver started the van when he saw us coming. When we’re about to leave, our driver mentioned about the parking fee. I didn’t know that we’re supposed to pay for parking, but since it’s only 300 Rupiah which is like 30 Rupiah per person. After conversion 30 Rupiah is about RM0.01 only! Why should I complain then? Haha.

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