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Chichen Itza is wonderful, but should it be a new 7 wonder of the world?

Written by James Clark on July 27, 2011 · 23 Comments

Being based in Playa del Carmen has been ideal for visiting the highlights of the Yucatan Peninsula. One sight that has been high on my visit list is Chichen Itza. Not counting Luxor Las Vegas or the Louvre Pyramid, this was the first time I have seen a pyramid.

The Chichen Itza archaeological site contains numerous ruins built by the Maya civilization around 1000 years ago. The central building of the site is the remarkable Kukulcán Pyramid, or El Castillo (The Castle).

James at the Kukulcán Pyramid - Chichen Itza
[My first pyramid - the Kukulcán Pyramid at Chichen Itza]

Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 2007 it was voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

[New 7 Wonders of the World]

After visiting Chihen Itza a reader asked me what my favourite temple in the world is, and without hesitation I said Borobudur in Java. This got me thinking, why is Chichen Itza a wonder over Borobudur? Nothing against Chichen Itza, as it really is wonderful and worth the visit, but Borobudur is a far superior monument. Borobudur is the biggest Buddhist temple in the world, yet it remains relatively unknowm. The temple features intricate carvings on most of its exterior and it is crowned with 72 stupas containing a Buddha image. And unlike Chichen Itza, you can walk on Borobudur.

[Borobudur - The biggest Buddhist temple in the world]

I had a look at the list of New 7 Wonders finalists and I was gobsmacked to see that Borobudur wasn’t even on the short list. The New 7 Wonders was selected by a global poll, which gave it about as much credibility as the Eurovision voting system. Indonesia is terrible at promoting its own wonders outside of Bali, and it seems that the 230 Million Indonesians weren’t as organized to vote as the 110 million Mexicans. I remember when this poll came out in 2007. I can’t remember if I voted, but if I did I probably voted for the Sydney Opera House out of patriotic duty.

So, do you agree that Chichen Itza – or any of the other winners – should be on the list?

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: blogsherpa, borobudur, buddha, building, chichen itza, indonesia, java, mexico, temple

The Tall and Beautiful Prambanan Temple Complex

Written by James Clark on July 9, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Prambanan is a complex of Hindu temples near Yogyakarta in central Java. It is the largest Hindu remnant in Java and it is billed as “the Tallest and Most Beautiful, Largest Hindus Temple in the World”.

While I haven’t been to enough Hindu temples to vouch for it’s most beautiful claim, it certainly is grand in its size and detail.

[Prambanan Temple Complex]

The temple grounds is made up of around 50 temple sites. Many of the temples were damaged by an earthquake in 2006, but the site is still open to visitors.

[Prambanan Viewing Area]

The main temple complex is fenced off due to the restoration and possibility of loose stonework. Despite this it is still possible to view the temples close enough to see the detailed carvings. It just means you can’t climb the stairs of the main temples.

[Brahma Temple]

Away from the main temple complex there are smaller ruined temples with the grounds. About 1km north is Candi Sewu, which consists of a large central Buddhist temple surrounded by smaller temples. This temple site is in a poor state compared to the main temple complex.

[Candi Sewu]

The temples were built between the 8th and 10th century. At the time Java was made up of a Hindu empire in the north and Buddhist in the south.

A marraige between the the two cultures is a possible explanation for the blend Hinduism and Buddism in some of the temples.

Getting to Prambanan Temple Complex
Prambanan is about 20 minutes east of Yogyakarta, so basing yourself there is the easiest way to get there. There are plenty of day trip tours available from Yogya that will combine a trip to Prambanan and Borobudur in the one trip, otherwise you can get a local bus from Yogya.

Yogyakarta Resources
Tourism Indonesia: Visit Indonesia.
Grand Quality Hotel Yogyakarta: Hotel in Yogyakarta.

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: borobudur, hindu, indonesia, java, prambanan, temple, yogyakarta

Borobudur – The biggest Buddhist temple in the world

Written by James Clark on June 11, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Borobudur Temple

Borobudur Temple is the biggest Buddhist temple in the world, which is impressive considering that it’s not in a Buddhist country but in Central Java, Indonesia.

[Borobudur Temple]

It’s a temple that ranks with Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and Myanmar’s Bagan as one of the great religious monuments of Southeast Asia.

What is more remarkable is that it doesn’t seem to rank highly on the things to see in Southeast Asia. You’ll always meet someone in a guesthouse in Thailand who has been or is going to Angkor. Less people make the journey to Java.

The temple is estimated to be built around 750-850 AD. It was eventualy abandoned as Islam spread through Java and then it was buried under volcanic ash.

It was not until 1815, when Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles was Governor of Java, that the site was cleared. Restoration began in the time of Dutch rule in the early 20th century, and a full restoration was undertaken from 1973 to 1983.

The temple sits on a 123m x 123m base and consists of 6 square terraces and 3 circular ones, rising up like a pyramid.

When I arrived at the temple I wasn’t expecting it to be so big. Once you get up close to the temple it’s the detail of the carvings that overwhelms. After walking the first level, taking in both the size and attention to detail in all the carved panels, you really understand that this is one of the worlds great temples.

[Fifth Level Third Gallery]

You enter the temple from the east gate and walk around each terrace in a clockwise direction (as you do in a Buddhist temple). Each terrace is lined with carved galleries of fantastic detail.

[Second Gallery Relief]

Upon completing the 6 square terraces you ascend to the first of the 3 circular terraces, where you will find over 500 Buddha images. There are 72 Buddha images contained inside latticed stupa’s, and some of the stupa’s are exposed to reveal the Buddha within.

[Exposed Buddha in Lattice Dagob]

The temple is capped with one large stupa, bringing the temple to a height of 35 metres.

[Main Stupa and Smaller Stupas]

At the top you can comtemplate the valley below and the volcanoes Sundoro Sumbing and Merbabu Merapi in the distance.

[Lattice Dagobs]

Getting To Borobudur
The most convenient way to visit Borobudur is by a day tour from Yogyakarta, which is 42km away. A day tour will also include other activities, such as a visit to the Prambanan Temple complex. If you wish to make your own way, there is a local bus from Yogyakarta which takes 90 minutes.

It is also possible to stay at Borobudur town at guesthouses nearby the temple.

Another popular way to get to Borobudur is via a tour arranged from Bali. seeing that Bali gets more visitors than anywhere in Indonesia, there of plenty of tour companies offering air or bus tours from Bali to Java. If you are planning a trip to Bali it would be worth considering putting aside a few days to do a side trip to Yogyakarta.

Yogyakarta Resources
Tourism Indonesia: Visit Indonesia.
Grand Quality Hotel Yogyakarta: Hotel in Yogyakarta.

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: blogsherpa, borobudur, buddha, indonesia, java, temple, yogyakarta

6 things to see in Yogyakarta

Written by James Clark on June 5, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Yogyakarta in central Java makes for a handy base to explore the surrounding region. The city is nearby to the world heritage sites of Borobudur and Prambanan temples, as well as the smoking Gunung Merapi volcano.

It’s also a great place to just hang out for a few days. There are plenty of interesting sites, and the city is well set up for travellers. Here are some highlights of Yogyakarta.

Kraton
The Kraton is a walled royal enclave in the heart of Yogyakarta. It is a city in itself with residences within the walls as well as palaces, museums, temples and the home of the Sultan.

[Kraton Entrance]

Jalan Malioboro
JL Malioboro is the main thouroughfare of Yogyakarta. Here you’ll find street stalls and cheap souvenir shops sitting beside air conditioned shopping malls. A great place to find Indonesian products such as batik art, topeng masks and wayang golek puppets.

[Jalan Malioboro]

Taman Sari
Taman Sari (Water Castle) is a complex that can be found within the Kraton. The area was a system of palaces, pools and canals, which is mostly ruins today.

[Water Castle Area]

Pasar Ngasem
Walk around the lanes of Pasar Ngasem (Bird Market) to see thusands of birds as well as exotic and domestic animals for sale.

[Bird Market]

Pasar Beringharjo
Pasar Beringharjo is the main market of Yogyakarta. Wander through the food and spice markets, check out the antiques and curios, or shop for batik or other souvenir items.

[Pasah Beringharjo]

Dutch Yogya
There are still building that remain from the era of Dutch colonial rule in Yogya. The most notable are public buildings, such as the post office, and bank offices.

[Post Office]

[Old Amsterdam]

Yogyakarta Resources
Tourism Indonesia: Visit Indonesia.
Grand Quality Hotel Yogyakarta: Hotel in Yogyakarta.

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: indonesia, java, market, yogyakarta

Bandung Jeans Street – The Camden of the east?

Written by James Clark on May 26, 2009 · Leave a Comment

While Bandung in West Java may no longer be the Paris of Java, it may just be the Camden of the East.

Camden is a borough of North London, and it is best known for its market on the Camden High St. The Camden market has jeans, shoes, jackets, army disposals, smokers paraphanalia shops and outfitters for punks and techno heads. The street is famous for its shops with oversize fibreglass objects on the shop roofs.

In Bandung there is a similar place called Jeans Street, which is in North Bandung on Jalan Cihampelas. The jalan (street) is lined with dozens of shops selling cheap jeans, clothing and accessories.

[Superman Jeans]

Each shop has a theme and many of them are adorned with oversized promotional statues on the shop fronts.

[Spiderman Jeans]

Some of the shops, like the clothing it sells, knock the names off from famous comic book and film characters.

[Super Rambo Jeans]

It is not all knock off pirated goods though. There are many local designer ware as well as some items that you wont find so easily any where else.

[Aztec Jeans]

Overall it is an interesting place to have a walk around or stock up on clothing.

[Army Look]

[Boat Jeans Shop]

[Iron Man Store]

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: bandung, indonesia, java

Bandung – Someplace of Java

Written by James Clark on May 25, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Bandung in Indonesia was once known as “Paris of Java”. I saw a few T-shirts with the proclamation “Paris Van Java”, but other than that there is not much evidence to suggest that this was once a grand city in the resemblance of the French capital.

[Jalan Asia Afrika]

Bandung was once a grand city, but much of its grandeur has been lost over the decades. The local government have added their bit to urban defilement by cutting down many trees lining the streets in order to improve traffic, in the process making the city a hotter place with Jakarta style traffic jams.

Bandung’s claim to fame is that it was the host of the 1955 Asia-Africa conference, which was attended by a who’s who of the developing world, including Soekarno, Ho Ch Minh, Nehru and Nasser among others.

There are numerous Art Deco buildings that can be found around the city, some of which were built around the time of the conference. If Bandung still wanted to be known as “someplace of Java”, then perhaps it could be “Miami of Java”, or “Miama of the east”.

[Savoy Homann Hotel]

OK, so it doesn’t have a beach, which makes naming an inland city after Miami a bit odd. What it does have in common is a wealth of Art Deco buildings. If Bandung restored and brightly painted all the Art Deco buildings in the city it would be a tourist attraction in itself, just as it has become in Miami.

[Bank Pacific]

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: bandung, indonesia, java

Transjakarta – The express bus system of Jakarta

Written by James Clark on May 24, 2009 · 1 Comment

Jakarta has a population of approximately 9 million people and no metro system. It’s a city that sprawls in every direction and its traffic congestion is legendary.

The city has come up with a workable bus system that has at least made travel in some parts of Jakarta much faster.

[Transjakarta Bus]

Transjakarta is a network of express bus services that use designated lanes on key roads. The bus lanes are separated from the rest of the traffic on the major roads and special bus shelters collect the bus fare in advance.

[Transjakarta Bus Lane]

The buses have modified wide doors which are at the same height as the terminal gate. A conductor is on each bus who controls the amount of people who get on, so it doesn’t become a great crush of passengers.

[Transjakarta Bus Station]

The buses run regular services, so the wait is not usually too long.

While an express bus service is no substitute for an extensive metro system, TransJakarta works surprisingly well. The government have talked of building a metro system, but if or when that ever happens, this is a good solution to the traffic jams of Jakarta.

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: bus, indonesia, jakarta, java

Jalan Jaksa – The backpacker budget accommodation street in Jakarta

Written by James Clark on May 17, 2009 · Leave a Comment

For backpackers and budget travellers arriving in Jakarta, Jalan Jaksa is the the best option to find budget accommodation.

The jalan (street) has Losmen (basic flophouse style accommodation) and budget hotels. This type of accommodation is not bookable online so you have to look around for a place once you arrive.

[Jalan Jaksa]

While Jalan Jaksa is no where near the size of Khao san Rd in Bangkok (or the same liveliness), it serves a similar function as a good hub for travellers while passing through Jakarta on their way to other points of Indonesia.

[Cafe on Jalan Jaksa]

As well as budget accommodation there are plenty of bars, cafes, restaurants and mini-marts.

[Jalan Jaksa Minimart]

There are also netcafes and travel agents that can book bus tickets, airfares and tours. Many of the cafes also have free wi-fi for customers.

[Jalan Jaksa Travel Agent]

[Second hand books for sale on Jalan Jaksa]

Getting to Jalan Jaksa
From the Airport the cheapest way to Jalan Jaksa is the bus service which runs to Jakarta Gambir Station, the main train station of Jakarta. From the station Jalan Jaksa is about 1.5 kilmetres aways, which a three-wheel motorcycle taxi (bajaj) can take you.

If you are arriving in Jakarta by train, get off at Gambir and follow the directions as above, or if your trains stops at Gondangdia, then get off at this station as it is only 500 metres from there.

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: accommodation, indonesia, jakarta, java

English Pupils at Prambanan

Written by James Clark on April 23, 2009 · Leave a Comment

At every tourist hotspot in Java I have ran into groups of students practicing their english skills on tourists. I like the interrogation, even if it’s always the same questions. I always find the students to be friendly and enthuiastic. I can see why teaching English as a foriegn language appeals as a travel job.

To prove that they have been doing their homework the students usually get your email afterward and take your photo on their mobile phones.

English Students at Prambanan Java

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: english, indonesia, java, prambanan

Australia's role as regional English teacher

Written by James Clark on April 22, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Having a TV again for the first time in weeks I was mindlessly channel surfing and discovered English Bites.

English Bites

The show is on the Australia Network by the ABC, and delivers mini english lessons.

Education has replaced tourism as Australia’s number one service export. That is not surprising considering that Australia is the largest English speaking country in the region.

Categories: Travel Blog - Tags: english, indonesia, java, yogyakarta