Semarang, Java, Indonesia and Borobudur Buddhist Complex

Rick and I did separate excursions in Semarang, Java.  He did the included tour of the central city while I went to the Buddhist complex at Borobodur. Semarang is a northern port city in central Java with a population of 1.8 million.  The capital of Java is Jakarta, on the western side of the island.

Most of the photos below are from the Sam Po Kong temple.  It was established by the Chinese Muslim explorer Zheng He.  The last photo in the group shows a typical toilet in Indonesia, a unisex hole in the ground!

Dancers outside the ship

Dome Christian Church in Semarang

Sam Po Long temple complex

Figures of Chinese warriors near the temple

Statue of Zheng He, Chinese
Muslim explorer who visited
Java in early 1400s

Sam Po Kong Muslim Temple

Indonesian toilet -- water from the bucket is used to flush!

Borobudur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest Buddhist temple complex in the world. It is located about 60 miles south of Semarang.  It was built over a 100 year period from ~800-899 AD as a monument to the Buddha and consists of 9 stacked platforms, 6 square and 3 circular, topped by a central dome.  The circular levels contain bell-shaped structures called stupas -- there is a stone Buddha inside of each stupa.  The complex contains 2672 carved reliefs on the interior walls and 504 Buddha statues (many now without their heads).  It stands 95 feet tall and is constructed of dark colored stones fitted together without any mortar.  As you make your way up the platforms, you are moving closer to Nirvana, a place of peace, happiness and enlightenment.  It was very special to see such an impressive and beautiful monument to the Buddha.

Most Buddhists left the island of Java several hundred years ago, and the predominant religion is now Islam.

Arriving at Borobudur

Lush tropical area surrounding Borobudur

Example of carved relief on the temple walls

Looking up from the lower levels. Many of the Buddhas'
heads have been removed by earlier visitors.

Stupas on the upper platforms

Buddha in the "no fear" hand position (mudra)

 Outside Borobudur

A final look at Borobudur

Balinese Dance Show

We were treated to a wonderful Balinese dance show on the ship before leaving Bali.  Percussive music was provided by a Gamelan band using metallophones played by mallets and hand-played drums called kendhang.  Four dances were performed by men and women in beautiful, colorful costumes:
- welcome dance of Sekar Jagat
- warrior dances of Baris and Kebyar Duduk
- Balinese Oleg Tamulilingan
- bird dance of Cendrawasih

Gamelan band

The dance troupe

Bali (Benoa), Indonesia

As we entered the harbor of Bali, we were surrounded by sightseeing boats, jet skis, parasails and fishermen. Water-related activities seems to be one of the main forms of entertainment on this island. Our day on Bali was spent visiting a temple, museum and market.  We drove to Denpasar, the capital of the province of Bali, to see the temple of Jagatnatha, the most important Hindu Kahyangan temple in the city. This temple is dedicated to the existence of the supreme God, Sanghyang Widi, and is decorated with elaborate carvings.  90% of the population on Bali is Hindu and there are temples everywhere.  There are many gods in Hinduism, but Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are the main three.

The Bali museum is next to the temple and consists of several buildings featuring local art and history. While at the museum we saw a bride in her elaborate red wedding dress and headpiece.

Our next stop was the outdoor Guwang art market.  There were endless stalls selling clothing, jewelry, carvings, painted pictures, and food.  Rick bought a white dress shirt that has depictions of Bali at the bottom for $15.  You bargained on price at this market.  We had no idea what the fruits were that were being sold.

Our guide was an older Hindu gentleman who spoke English, but with a very thick accent.  I could understand about 50% of what he said, Rick couldn't make out anything!  He laughed a lot at his comments, and we laughed at his mannerisms. It was quite an experience. I did manage to learn that he had 3 daughters, 4 grandchildren and came from the 2nd class. There is a caste system here like in India, with the Brahman priests being at the top.

Traffic is horrendous, with many motorcycles and scooters on the roads.  We had been warned NOT to rent a car here, and now I know why. Only experienced and brave drivers can navigate the streets of Bali.

We were welcomed by these girls as we left the ship.

Every Hindu home & store has offerings to
the gods outside their building.

street vendor and school girls

Family on their scooter

Busy traffic on the roads

Entrance to the temple

The Jagatnatha temple 

Entrance gate to temple area

Courtyard of the Bali museum

on the street outside the temple

Shopping at the Guwant outdoor art market

Scooters parked at the Guwang market

Komodo Island, Indonesia

Komodo is one of over 17,000 islands that make up the Republic of Indonesia, north of Australia.  Its climate is tropical (hot and humid) and the landscape is dense jungle and small hills. Komodo is famous for the "dragons" that inhabit the island.  They are the largest living lizards, growing to 9 feet long and weighing up to 200 pounds.  There are 1377 of these reptiles on Komodo Island and over 1500 on nearby Rinca Island.

Komodos have a well-developed sense of smell and their long, forked yellow tongue resembles the mythical, fire-breathing dragons of their name.  These lizards are cold-blooded, mate during June and July and then females lay their eggs in nests made of mounded dirt.  The eggs gestate for 8-9 months, then the babies hatch from the eggs. Sadly, only about 10% of the babies born survive to adulthood.  Newborn komodo dragons are at risk of being eaten by predators, so they climb into the trees and eat insects for the next 3 years while they mature.  The parents do NOT take care of their young, in fact, sometimes they eat them!  Komodo dragons start to mate when they are 7-8 years old and can live as long as humans, 70-100 years. 

adult Komodo dragons (lizards)

a juvenile Komodo dragon

some type of dove

blooming orchid on Komodo Island

group of adults at the "feeding grounds"

a view of Komodo Island from our anchored ship

Darwin, Australia

Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, is our last stop in Australia.  Docked at 7 am and left at 1:30 pm on our way to Komodo in Indonesia.  Darwin has a population of 140,000 with a tropical climate and lush vegetation. 

Parliament House for the Northern Territory

View of the city of Darwin

Bird in the park

Wallaby in the park

Wild wallabies in the park

Hopping wallaby

Thursday Island, Australia

Thursday Island (TI) is just off the northernmost tip of Australia in the Torres Strait. Also known as Waiben by the indigenous Kaurareg people, TI is only 1.4 square miles in area and has a population of 3500. There is one grocery store, one pharmacy, a hospital and a few hotels and shops. The island was once home to a thriving pearl fishing industry, and divers came from Japan and India to harvest the stone from oysters. Since our visit is on Sunday, both the Catholic and Anglican churches are having services and several of the businesses and government offices are closed.

After tendering to TI, we were welcomed by island residents with a speech and dancing in the ANZAC park.  We walked up to Green Hill Fort at the top of the Island, which was built in 1890 and used during World War II as a wireless station. There was a small bunker museum at the fort which had artifacts from the island and photos of the islanders during WW II. 

Large statue near the dock, showcasing the
unusual headpiece worn by the indigenous Kaurareg.

Women dancing in ANZAC park to entertain us

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Canons at Green Hill Fort

Looking to the bay from Green Hill Fort

suit once used by pearl divers

Bird on Thursday Island