Before setting off on our Indonesian adventure I did a fair amount of research, as I usually do, about our destination. Ken however, relied on his existing knowledge of the region and helped direct our choices to ensure that we hit all of the important sites. Following are two of his favourites.
The most visited site in Indonesia is Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple. Located on the island of Java, we were able to access it on a ship excursion from the port of Semarang. Despite the fact that practically everyone else on the ship was heading in the same direction it was well worth the cost and the crowds.
It is estimated that the temple was built around 650 – 1250 CE and abandoned in the 14th to 15th century as many Javanese converted to Islam. The dates are a wide estimate as much of the scholarly debate revolves around the origin of its name and the political and cultural events that lead to its construction.
The structure was uncovered in 1814 after being rediscovered in a farmer’s field around 1812. According to The World History Encyclopedia, “over the following centuries earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and rain forest growth hid Borobudur…rendering it inaccessible.” The area, owned by a local farmer, had not been developed. Luckily the owner recognized that he might have stumbled upon an important archaeological and cultural find and contacted the government.
The temple is massive, measuring 123m on each side and 35m high. You can go further into the temple, even climb to the top but our excursion was not given that option, so we just explored the exterior. A local guide joined us to explain some of the iconography and symbols on the temple, including the meaning of the hand gestures of the Buddha statues covering the upper stories. Borobudur was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991.
The other famous site, or infamous depending on how to look at it, is Krakatoa, a volcanic island located in the northern part of Indonesia. Our cruise ship sailed close to the island and those willing to get up early enough in the morning were able to capture it. There was also a subject matter expert that talked about its history.
According to History Hit “The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa was one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. It’s thought to have caused the deaths of over 36,000 people, cooled the summer temperatures of the northern hemisphere by 0.3°C, and sparked a renewed interest in volcanology.” Not its first eruption and most likely not its last, the 1883 eruption almost destroyed the island of Krakatoa and effected the whole world.
Tsunamis were the most deadly force generated by Krakatoa, and they continue to be a concern in Indonesia. From the 2004 Boxing Day earthquake and tsunami that is considered one of the deadliest natural disasters, to the December 22, 2018 tsunami that occurred when large parts of the southwestern side of Anak Krakatoa collapsed into its caldera. That event was the deadliest volcanic tsunami in Indonesia since the 1883 Krakatoa tsunami, and originated from the same island.
We heard that sunsets in Indonesia were among some of the best in the world. We were not disappointed!
Indonesia has a vast wealth of history and culture. It has also suffered tremendous loss. Despite both the island and its people remain resilient, proud and welcoming.