Indonesia - Borobudur, the Second Round

OK, back to recounting my Yogyakarta trip. Where did I stop last time? Oh, yea, we were still in Dieng Plateau, exploring Telaga Warna and Kawah Sikidang before rain cut short of our visit, forcing us to proceed to Magelang where we will be staying for the night.

It was another 4 hours of long drive from Dieng Plateau to Magelang and by the time we reached Manohara Hotel, we were practically spent. We had been travelling for close to 9 hours since arriving Semarang and in need of a good shower and dinner. 

It was the second time for me and my roommate, staying in Manohara Hotel. The reason why we chose back this spot was that it was really good and worth every penny. Plus, the close proximity to Borobudur doesn't hurt as well. However, the room we got this time around wasn't as spacious as the one last time. After dinner, we retreated back to our room and called it a night. It had been a long day, after all.

Love the serenity Manohara Hotel offers

The next day, we woke up early for Borobudur. Guests of Manohara Hotel can enter the UNESCO World Heritage Site for free as the entrance fee is already included in the accommodation. The day was rather misty, giving the temple a mystical appearance. 

Borobudur temple

Borobudur - Sunrise at the top of Borobudur

OK, back to my Semarang trip after a week being dormant...

The magnificent Borobudur

The thing that causes tourists to flock to the town of Magelang has to be Borobudur and Borobudur along for there is nothing much to do comes night. To be fair, we pretty much relied on our feet to carry us around and when the sun set, so too the lives surrounding the UNESCO Heritage Site. Days and nights cannot be anymore contrasting.

Our dinner

Well, much better for us to rest in our comfortable room early in anticipation of tomorrow’s sunrise tour. We woke up at about 4am and by 4.30am, armed with torchlights, we departed the hotel to ascend to the top of the monument.

Poor quality photo but that's the only shot I took...

I thought it might be a big crowd going up but in truth, it was quite a small gathering, which was much better for us to secure a clear spot for the sunrise. We had quite some times to spare before the sun makes its appearance, so I took this opportunity to tour around for a while, pulling off shutterbug stunt, without leaving my spot unattended.

As the sun rises...

The mountains at the background

Alas, the promised sunrise was nothing but an empty word for the clouds and mist obscured the view. The sun finished its performance without much of a hoo hah. However, even without the nature show, we still have a fine time absorbing the rich history of the complex before the arrival of the crowd.

A serene Buddha

In the old day, pilgrims would begin their pilgrimages in Candi Mendut and reach the half point of Candi Pawon before ascending Borobudur. They would be making circles on each of the terraces, slowly making their ways upward to the top of the stupa. They would be absorbing the teachings of Buddha through the reliefs on the walls.

Me at the top of Borobudur (self-portrait is a must, after all)

Well, for us, it was the opposite way. We began our journeys from the top, slowly making our descent to the ground, taking in the engravings which tell the stories of Buddha. Some of the reliefs are in good conditions while some require attentions from the management. Subtle morality tales, all of them are.

Reliefs

We spent a good few hours admiring the beautifully constructed complex, taking photos of every relief came across our visions. When I'm satisfied with the turnout, we went back to the hotel for our free buffet breakfast. A quick resting in our room before bidding goodbyes to the spiritual haven. More photos after the jump...

Borobudur - Candi Mendut and Candi Pawon

There is no doubt that the most famous Buddhist temples in Indonesia has to be the Borobudur complex. However, besides the grand monument, there are other smaller and interesting candi within close proximity to the UNESCO heritage site. Two of the nearest temples to Borobudur are Candi Mendut and Candi Pawon.

Welcome to Candi Pawon

Back in the old days, Buddhist pilgrims would begin their pilgrimages at Candi Mendut and walk to the halfway point of Candi Pawon before reaching the final stage of Borobudur where they would then ascend the complex to seek enlightenment. Who says devotion to God is an easy matter? More story and pictures after the jump...