Thursday, October 25, 2007

Plans for Semarang, Indonesia


Here is the ship's description for tomorrow's adventure. I did this in the spring to give you an idea how important I think this stop is.....
Borobudor by Train
Duration
Approximately 8 hours
Description
Travel by train to the inspiring temple of Borobudor-- one of the most incredible creations in South East Asia. From Semarang to Borobudor, the approximately 56- mile journey begins through the scenic panoramas of the Candi residential district and continues through the highlands of the interior. The scenery is framed by numerous volcanoes and is dominated by the inspiring Gunung Merapi. Your tour will include a visit to the Ambarawa antique train museum, with a brief tour of the colonial-era locomotives, a welcome dance by the local villagers, and one-way steam train trip on either the outbound or the return trip from the mountain town of Bedono near Borobudor. The inspiring monument of Borobudor stands unique among other Buddhist temples, and its creation, without the use of modern engineering and technology, remains a mystery today. It was built by Buddhist Kings of the Sailendra Dynasty, possibly to enhance the image of Buddhism when Hinduism was growing in strength across the Indonesian archipelago, and for more than 1,000 years, it lay hidden under dense jungle vegetation. According to historical accounts, it would appear that Borobudor may have been deserted soon after its creation, when the Sailendra Dynasty was overthrown by the Hindu Majapahit Empire around AD 850. Borobudor, the largest single monument in the Southern Hemisphere, was then covered by jungle until its rediscovery in 1814 by Sir Stamford Raffles. Over the next century, Borobudor was cleared and the process of restoring the two million pieces of andesite stone begun. Upon arrival at the temple today, take advantage of your experienced guide's knowledge, or wander the monument at your own pace. Borobudor has arguably the finest examples of Buddhist reliefs in the world, with each of the ten terraces symbolizing the path to Nirvana. At the top is the Great Stupa, which towers above the other 72 stupas and statues. The view from the top is beautiful and will remain with you as one of the most special sights of any visit to Southeast Asia. Afterwards, enjoy a tasty Javanese buffet lunch, served adjacent to the temple, before you return to the port.

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