Today we experienced how to make our own silver jewellery. The intricate work was to be admired. We also created our own batik and learned how to recognise authentic batik.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Tiarah Bocah Homestay
So we arrived in Tutap Ngisor for our home stay. The village is at the base of Merapi Mountain. My host family were so welcoming and Indonesian language studies really helped with communication since the family had no English at all.
The early childhood school was further towards the mountain base and the students walked to school with the magnificent view everyday.
We ventured into the local rice paddy's which was a real experience and learnt the village traditional dance.
Borobudur Temple
Borobudur what can I say. Amazing! The weather was truly tropical sticky, warm but I loved it. With Jennifer MacKenzie's poetry http://www.australianpoetry.org/2012/10/18/writing-borobudur/, a gift from David our coordinator, under my arm and umbrella in hand - I was ready to discover this wonder.
Every step upward past the impressive stonework and commanding Buddhas, was a step closer to what it seemed like heaven, finally reaching the domed shrine at the highest level. There are 10 stages to pass through at Borobudur to reach the pinnacle this meant walking around the monument 10 times, each lap rising a level. This ascent, means you are moving away from the world of desires, through the representation of the renowned Ramayana legend. Eventually reaching the realm of the empty bell-shaped shrine, at the top.
To truly reach heaven and peace we then walked around the highest level ten times which was truly exhilarating, even through the teeming rain which amazingly stopped on the last lap to reveal the most serine view.
Plaosan and Prambanan Temple
Plaosan and Prambanan Temple is not as grand as Borobudur but is no less impressive. It is like transcending into a spiritual realm where all life seems calm. The artwork was intriguing and visiting the workshop allowed me to really get a feeling of the care that the local people take to restore and to make this monument notable.
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