There really is a reason to see Borobudur. Kind of like the Great Pyramids of Egypt, but smaller, more complicated aesthetically, more obvious religious significance (it's mostly on the outside). It really is awsome.
They cut the stones out of lava rock (same as Prambanan), cut them to interlocking pieces, stacked them up on a hill, then carved iconographic images all over. And, oh yes, put Buddha sculptures inside stone bells (sort of), but they leave one uncovered so you can get a good look. It really is big. When you go to visit check with the locals first to see if there might be some sort of school holiday in process to avoid being mobbed by school kids.
The other interesting thing: we pay a bit more and get a tour guide, the thing is she's wearing a jilbab explaining the meaning of the Buddhist temple to us. OK, she probably is qualified, but then there's these carvings from around 800 CE (AD) that substantiate that the Buddhists of that time believed in Family Planning, that "two children are enough". Really? Are you pulling my leg? She's a government employee, she gets paid for this.
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| "two children are enough, see the happy family" |
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| steps are really steep. Where's the building inspector? |
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| see, it's only 5 times the size of Pat's head |
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