Wonder of the World - Borobodur
Trip Start
Sep 21, 1983
1
11
13
Trip End
Oct 03, 1983
Dieng, ID.07, Indonesia
Saturday, October 1, 1983
At 0715 hrs caught a becak to catch a bus to Mutilan, then on to the famed Borobodur, which had recently opened after being destroyed by an earthquake. It was a beauty difficult to behold because there was no vantage point far enough to view the whole structure. Met a local from Jakarta who kindly paid my entrance fee. We went in a helical manner up the tiered structure - clockwise of course - until the very top where there were some Buddha figures in bells. It is said you would get luck if one could reach inside to touch a Buddha, some of whom had lost their heads, no doubt due to pilferage. I held felt bored after a while as I could not glean much from the figures lining the path up Borobodur.
1030 hrs made my way to Magelang, and from here on to Wonosobo (doesn't it roll off your tongue especially when rattled off by the bus driver's assistants eager to pick up any passenger headed in that general direction. They are patient and always have the time to wait for the slowest or to load the most complex of goods either in or on top of the bus.
I had to take a horse cart ride to the market before continuing on motorized transport to Dieng Plateau. It was spectacular as the clouds began to set in during this late afternoon. Looked for a losmen and found the impressively named Dieng Plateau Hotel. It was unfriendly and big but cheap (Rp750). As it was quiet, went to neighbouring Losmen Bujang for dinner of nasi goreng, teh and sup sayor (costing more than accommodation at Rp 1075). Met an old Dutch lady (not the milk can).
Back in the "hotel" the light did not work, and nobody helped, so sat in the restaurant reading and writing. There was a birthday party for a 1 year old kid going on. It was cold and, as had the whole place to myself, helped myself to the heap of blankets lying on another bed.
