I was clearing the piles of clutters which were placed in a box in the so-called storeroom the other day when I came across my notes, sort of like a journal taken more than 10 years ago during a tour to Indonesia. It is about 2 pages which has no beginning and no end. I have forgotten all about the notes and it was really a pleasant surprise. But I was a little sad because I couldn’t find the rest of the pages. There were no dates but if I am not mistaken, the tour was in 1995. I went with my two sisters with a group tour of about 15, I think.
“Our next destination was to a batik factory, still in the town of Jogja. We went into a small old building and were ushered inside where we witnessed how the mechanics of batik making were done, all manually or handmade. There was a small boutique where the finished goods were displayed and sold. Most of the designs were excellent and the fabrics used were of exclusive quality but oh boy! Were they expensive! I couldn’t find anything below USD30.00 except for the small handkerchief which didn’t seem worth it. So nobody bought anything.
We then proceeded to Borobudur temple, which was a 2-hour drive from Jogjakarta city. When we reached Borobudur, we were given another tour guide who specialized in narrating about the magnificent temple. The temple was fenced and we had to get a ticket to go inside. We had to walk about ½ mile to the foot of the temple and also had to walk about 60 flights of stairs to reach the top of the hill where the temple was build. The temple was huge – build-up area was about 5 ½ acres we were told. Some of the statues were headless due to wear and tear and also because of some irresponsible people. Our guide was a young man about 30 named Winario, a typical Javanese name. He was quite short and stout but was strong and must have gone up the stairs of the temple thousands of times but he was patient enough for us who were not used to walking up so high. We took some photographs and our guide proceeded to tell us about the temple Borobudur which he said meant ‘Temple on a Hill’.Indeed it was huge and was really a wonder. Build of solid stones in the 7th century, one can’t imagine how it was built in those days without any technology. Perhaps it was really built with a lot of help from some divine powers!
The temple according to our guide was about the life of Buddha and divided into 3 parts. First, the world of ambition and lust, second …..now what was it?... I’ve forgotten.. something like enlightenment and the third was Nirvana, meaning life in heaven. Our guide brought us up to more stair case going round the temple and telling us about the pictures sculpted on the walls depicting the life of Buddha. We were told that the temple has ten stories altogether.
When we reached the top – well not really... it was like the second top, we noticed many tourists on a particular spot placing their hands inside a hole in one of the numerous bell-shaped stone. We learnt that it was the place believed to be where Buddha was cremated and his ashes strewn. We were also told that if you were to put your hand inside the hole and if you could feel a hand presumably Buddha’s hands or toes, your wish will be fulfilled! Not everybody can touch or feel them no matter how long your hands may be. You may…”
And that was the end of my notes. I have been trying to look for the rest of the notes of which I must have written more, but could not find them. I don’t’ really remember, but I must have written this in the hotel before bedtime because it was written in a hotel writing pad. Anyway, I hope to find the rest of the notes if they are not eaten by moths by now or lost altogether! Till then, forgive me if they are facts which may not be accurate for they were written as a journal while on a tour and I was merely writing from what I can remember as told by a tourist guide. No research or reference was made and I did nothing to substantiate any of them.
