Selamat Datang Indonesia - Mendut monastery and temple

After the Borobodur tour, we headed next to Mendut Monastery, about 3 kilometers away from the temple. A small, well-maintained monastery next to Candi Mendut, a ninth century Buddhist temple, believed to be built earlier than Borobodur itself. Outside the monastery are souvenir shops selling shirts, statues and the likes. It was said that the monastery was strictly for Buddhists only, but they opened recently to all people in seek of path to enlightenment.

Inside the monastery I noticed this angel-like statue in praying position, adorned with fresh flowers. The place is of calm atmosphere.

A lying Buddha in sleeping position, I wondered what is in beneath those sheets but I didn't dare to peek inside it. Who the other statue with Halo could be? No other visitors around when we arrived in the monastery.

Lions never inhabitant Java islands before. And so, it was said that artists of this lion statue actually have never seen a lion before, answering my question of how come it looked more of a monkey to me.

A Buddha sculpture. We are told that Buddha had reincarnated into so many forms of life before reaching enlightenment. Was then he reincarnated into a She as well?

Past the monastery is the Candi Mendut. A temple smaller than Borobodur, but believed to be older. Buddhists frequently visits the temple in celebration of the Waisak day every May full moon. This is inside the temple, with 3 big statues namely: Cakyamuni, Awalokiteswara, and Maitreya. There are stories for children in the walls.

Me in front of the temple. Thank goodness for the nice weather during our visit! =)

Selamat Datang Indonesia: Prambanan - temples of Love

Another spot tagged by UNESCO World Heritage Site, Candi Prambanan, is considered the largest Hindu Temple in Indonesia and most beautiful in SouthEast Asia. It was a 9th century temple complex in dedication to the 3 Hindu Gods namely: the creator (Brahma), the sustainer (Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Shiva).Its located within the boundary between Yogyakarta and Central Java.

(At the park entrance to the temple complex)

(Inside the complex, one of the main temples)

Surrounding the big temples are smaller ones, but in wreck stages perhaps by previous earthquakes and time. Local legends explains why such numerous temples were built was because of a beautiful princess named Loro Jonggrang was asked to be married by a prince. But the princess only made a condition that a marriage will take place when a thousand temple could be build within a night. Only 999 was done, and with betrayal, revenge and curse that follows, the princess turned into the last and most beautiful stone statue.

We're blessed of blue skies and good climate that shots were taken good, courtesy again of super travel buddy E =). I won't write much and let the pictures amaze you like it did to me. Such splendor and majestic on what turned into from previously bare stones, what can faith do.

Just on how complicated to built a single temple during those times, with no sophisticated tools to use, people managed to think of ways to have the stones attached to each other just like building a big puzzle.

Sample carvings on the temple walls, this depicts of wife superiority over the husband (well, as what our guide told us so.)

A god statue in one of the main temple.

We couldn't complain of the hot weather that time as the sky is clear and good for photos :). Thanks E for the shots.

We haven't got to meet the Slender Virgin statue Loro Jonggrang as its closed for restoration during our visit, the maiden that was said had launched a thousand temples. :(

Again, if you are on a budget I don't recommend DYI tour in Yogyakarta, as getting into one place to another is quite difficult on public transportation and the distances between them as well. You can join budget tours by quoting fees on travel agents along Malioboro avenue.

Selamat Datang Indonesia : Borobodur

Just before leaving Indonesia last August, friend E and I decided to go west of Java for a cultural tour. Indonesia as the biggest archipelago of 13000 islands, we're pretty much aware that our 5 day itinerary tour isn't enough, so we just went to some spots where we think what Indonesia is famous for backpackers - and its not Bali you mind, its Yogyakarta (pronounced Jog-jah-karta).

A day after E arrived in Bandung, we left 630am from my kost to catch 8am train schedule. I only managed to get executive train tickets (non AC), since August 1 is the start of Ramadhan, that even business class tickets going to Yogyakarta are sold out, as most people come home for a reunion with their families before the whole month of fasting. Trip took about more than 8 hours.

We arrived Yogyakarta past 3pm, first hunted a padang resto for a late lunch. And like our Cambodia tour, we didnt booked an agent for the travel prior leaving, so after a serving of rice , stir-fried vegetables and chicken, we looked for an agent for the tour. We found one in the station, for a fee of 500K Rp, we had a car & driver for our a day tour around.

(*Left photo from Grage Hotel website)

I read from other blogs, travellng in Indonesia is cheaper when you book for a tour, compared to DYI. As soon as we booked a tour for the next day, we looked for a hotel...Yes, we didnt have any, and going through the streets of Malioboro and backpackers'street of Gang I & Gang II in Jalan Sosrowijayan on which unfortunately that time are all fully booked! Tired from travel, we got enough of being thrifty and booked instead in Grage Ramayana Hotel (400K Rp per night for 2 for superior room).

We never regret this choice as our room looks homey, clean, and comfortable. Also, if you have extra money to spare for comfort, I highly recommend this hotel. Even though buffet breakfast starts at 630am, they managed to have our packed food of nasi goreng & coffee the next day when we left for the tour at 6am.

For our first stop, Candi Borobodur (Candi means temple). Its a 9th century Buddhist temple of 6 square platforms topped by 3 circular platforms of 504 buddha statues. It was regarded by UNESCO as a world heritage site, and still used a pilgrimage once a year by Buddhists and called it Vesak. We paid 135K Rp for the entrance fee, and hired a guide for 75K Rp (english speaker).

(View of Candi Borobodur during sunrise.)

Carves on the wall marks Buddha's reincarnation of various types from a cow to king until he reached enlightenment. Of good deeds and musings of life he regarded as not the way its depicted in the old religion of Hinduism he grew up with. Its on knowing how to live on needs and not wants, freeing up on worldly desires that you can appreciate life and begin living.

Just one thing I noticed on some Buddha statues are headless. We are told few years ago that thieves cut them, smuggled and auctioned abroad for a fortune to collectors.=(

An Ogoh-ogoh monster head at entrance going to circular platform.

Buddha statues inside stupas in circular platform.

Our souvenir jump shot with the temple.

Photo credits from friend E, salamat uli mare :D. Hopefully we travel more of years to come.

Of a comeback and a Sad Goodbye...

Its time to catch up, as I’m humbled by a friend/blog visitor asking me when will i update my site. (Thanks you-know-who-you-are).As of writing, my abode lies along earth coordinates latitude: 25.3303 longitude: 51.5859 =).Ok, not to give you much of google-ing, I'm in sands of Doha, Qatar. Settling with B finally.

In between months that I haven’t blog, are series of events that came along. I finished my work contract in Indonesia by end of July and was able to travel to Yogyakarta (Central Java Island) for pleasure. Got around Bandung with my ever go-girl travel buddy E, who in due diligence on arranging her hectic work schedule, flew all the way from Padang (Sumatra) to Jakarta then Bandung! It’s a travel of wasted hours, on dressing up traditions and lost in translation type (as usual), but nevertheless a nice trip.

However on my return home, as I'm on process of arranging my next destination, our family had a loss of a beloved member. My nephew, Matthew Gabriel, after 2 years of chemotherapy, succumbed of leukemia complications. He was just 7 years old. We are all shattered, since we all expect come October, Matt will be having his last dose of Chemotherapy, and supposedly his 8th birthday . Of broken dreams and faltered hopes, we dwelled in sorrow. The should and shouldn't been, the how I-wished-I-did it, what-if's, plans that are on the way after the treatment. Little children are not supposed to go ahead of their parents. But who are we to questioned God, Who is in the Know of all?

One vivid memory I have with him, 2 years ago when I visited Matt on the hospital, was when I carried him. I was confused that time, stressed, and worried on so many things that ran unexpectedly. And yet in his incapacitance to speak, he patted my back, as if sending message that everything will be ok. And I felt relief for awhile.
I dedicate this post for Matt, who in his lifetime, taught us that life as we know it, is beyond cancer and misfortunes, but of our capacity to love sans everything.

(In memory of Matthew Gabriel, I'm to donate my blood on a regular basis, wherever I may be, whenever I'm able. ..The family misses you so much Mamat, and yes, we'll go on.)

On how I see you...

Sorry my dear blog, that I havent been much of a time to update you...I'm still in this wonderful place called Bandung, and yet I haven't got much around. Yes, my great local friends have been helpful to tell me where to go around, but I'm quite of a lazybug during day offs. Come weekends, I'm glued to my laptop, doing TV series marathon of this new personal craze I have - watching Ugly Betty. Yes, unlikely Iám a couch potato every weekends thanks to her.



I've watched TV series like Sex & the City and Desperate Housewives, depicting different subjects of life, and how our values and the way to look at things changes as time progresses. Sex & the City shows how a woman can get her place in the man's heart (or pants) by getting carnal, and giving it all despite uncertainties in a relationship. Desperate Housewives revolves on what lies behind the door of a seemingly perfect neighborhood, seen in the eyes of their dead neighbor.



In case Betty doesn't ring a bell to you, its a TV series revolving around a Mexican American Betty Suarez who dreamed big into getting herself in the fashion world. She landed a job as an executive assistant to the Editor in Chief of the prestigious Mode magazine. She's smart and resourceful, but having lack of good taste for fashion, not fitting into size 0 dresses, and for being naive,life at Mode has been difficult for her.



I like watching Betty as I associate myself in her. No, I'm not as smart, nor resourceful as her =). But on how plain looking, naive girls have to work double effort to be able to land a spot in a field she chose to be in. We can't deny the fact that outside appearance do a part of having the things we wishes to, like an ideal relationship, a good job, many great friends. Superficial beauty does wonders, from getting yourself a free drink in a bar, making the cutest guy in campus send you flowers or having people fix your flat tires. Yet in the end Betty found her spot and prove her abilities sans the personal appearance, and yes you guess it right, with lots of hard work...