Borobudur Temple

I had the opportunity to witness the historical and huge temple of Borobudur. This famous Buddhist temple, dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, is located in central Java. It was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 m². Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The monument was restored with UNESCO’s help in the 1970s. Seeing it in person made me realize how important it is to preserve history. The traces of our past remind us of the things that matter most: identity, lessons, experiences, relationships, core values. Maybe it was the hot climate during this day that made me think those things. Or maybe it was a way of experiencing a deeper appreciation for Indonesian history and culture.