John Mee – Some programmer in Sydney

Jogja

Yesterday I spent 10,000 for a tourist bus out to the main attractions of Yogya. The Borobuduhr – an 8th century Buddist temple – and another big old Hindu timple. Both were big old piles of worn rocks – rather exciting – not. They both have picture stories that go right around them – carved in the stone which made things a bit more interesting – if you could decipher the guide’s english explanation of the story.
View from atop Borobuduhr

I went into the museum at the Budda place, which was more interesting – to see how it was before restoration – and how they’ve restored it so that hopfully if won’t need another restoration (bacially by effective water drainage). To do the restoration they pulled the whole thing apart stone by stone, then put them all back together.

Both temples have an example of the Indonesians ability to piss tourist off. Not only do they hit you for admission they charge you for taking in your camera. Both charges are only minor so why they don’t just combine the two is beyond me. There would be a lot less irritation.

Met an Australian girl who is cycling across the world – sort of. She landed in Bali and is cycling to Bangkok alone, then flying to Copenhagen. I was suitably impressed.