Borobudur

Yesterday we visited Borobudur--a huge 9th century Buddhist temple, about 25 miles outside of Jogja. It has a base of 6 large square levels, followed by 3 circular levels above (which can't be seen from the ground). Here's a shot of the outside:


There are 504 Buddha states in total. Here's a shot of a few of them between the 2nd and 3rd level.


The lower levels also contain over 2,000 bas relief panels depicting the life and former lives of Buddha, the story of Sudhana, and a series of independent panels with a "cause/effect" structure depicting a vice or virtue, and the punishment or reward that could be expected to follow. Here's a shot of one of the levels lined with panels...


And a closer shot of the panels themselves...


The circular upper levels contain bell-like stupas each of which contains a large buddha statue. We arrived just after dawn, so there was still mist in the surrounding jungle and mountains which was very beautiful.

Soon after we arrived, Jen, myself, and most of the other tourists on our small bus just sat on the upper levels quietly observing the surroundings.