Di tengah ketiadakerjaan di kantor, sendirian dan PMS, saya tiba-tiba sadar bahwa sudah terlalu banyak kisah travelling saya yang belum ditulis. Sayang sekali blog ini kalau isinya hanya sampah belaka, maka sekarang saya memutuskan akan menulis trip saya dari yang paling akhir. Trip ini melibatkan kebohongan, tapi blog ini adalah blog yang jujur, jadi marilah kita biarkan saya ditemukan oleh mereka yang dibohongi jika memang saya apes.
A flash trip in search of nothingness.
First rule on travelling for an event: Do research to the EO's official website, don't rely on backpackers forum. It's written in some forum that it is uncertain whether lanterns procession will be conducted or not, while the EO states clearly the schedule for lanterns procession. If I follow the forum instead of my brain, my life would be different right now (I'm being dramatic)
Well, before everything, let me introduce you to Vesak. Generally, it's a Buddhist sacred day celebrated at the day of full moon in May. Three things commemorated: birth, enlightment, and passing away of Gautama Buddha. In Indonesia, the central of the vibe is the celebration at Mendut and Borobudur Temple, where Buddhists from all over the world gather to pray and finally, releasing their hopes in the form of thousand of lanterns. Want to challenge my definition, anyone? Whatever.
First in my mind, I thougt only the lanterns and romantic scenery under the moonlight, but the reality was more painful than that. The first procession was in Mendut Temple, consist of prayers. I was sleepy (yet fascinated) for we had to wait for the prayers (sometimes in languages I can't understand for they have worshippers from Burma, Nepal, etc.) and remarks to be delivered. Honestly, it was a long procession from 9 to 12 in the morning, and it's been crowded even since 7am, you can see bald head (who looks same one to another) everywhere, and don't forget the real killer: the sunheat. But anyway, if you follow the procession carefully from the beginning, there are too many good points spoken by the speakers (well I don't know who they are), one which strucked me was:
Think about it. (think, I said. I give you space to think. think. think. ohkayy.) The next thing after the prayers were procession from Mendut to Borobudur Temple, 3.9km said Google Maps. It was started with painful heat that you can't even feel your head (again, it's hyperbolic). But the crowd kept walking, some even marching, and some carrying heavy sesajenan on their shoulders, also some dress with traditional or other markable dresses, which I bet, add the heat for about 5x. But they just walked and walked.
In the middle of the journey, suddenly there come the rain. Me and Nhay stopped at a kiosk and stayed until the rain stops, but the crowd kept walking. The rain gets heavier and some white shirts turn transparent, but they kept walking. They could get sick for the dramatic turn of weather, but they kept walking. For me and Nhay late, while we arrived at Borobudur, they started the prayers already, in separated tents. There are some school of thoughts (something like that) in Buddhism, and they have different prayers, but all sounds really calming in my ears.
You really should try the moment of staring to the majestic Borobudur, mountains, smelling the rain and wet soil, and just listen to their prayers. Here's everything. Here was nothing.
Then we continue to next procession at Borobudur, the mass prayers. I'll post the picture later so you can see how beautiful it is (actually you should see it yourself). I didn't care with the prayers because they prayed in a language I didn't understand, I am totally freezed by the scenery right in front of me, blue lights surrounding the majestic temple of Borobudur, with Buddha statue in gold in front of it, and good sounds of prayers. Only one hasn't appeared: the moon.
Time passes and now's the time of lantern procession. More than one thousand lanterns will be released with our hope (and our IDR 100K for each lantern) to the sky. First lantern released, and suddenly the moon appears in the sky. Full but hidden by cloud. Another lanterns soon released, and I felt a mixture of being of calm, happy, excited, thankful, for seeing so many hope flies in the form of romantic light to the moon, and then turn to the east. Some of them stucked at the tree, it always brought people's attention and everyone would cheer up when the lantern's finally flew. I was really happy that night. We started not caring about anything, just looked up to the sky, get hypnotized by the lanterns and the moon which had turned to be so bright. I became drunk of lanterns and lied down on the ground, kept staring at the neverending lanterns. But for this moment, I will not able to give you description by picture, because really, it's a feeling, and your eyes are the best camera which connected directly to your brain and heart and any hormon giving you pleasure. I could've slept there, and wake up happily in the morning, but soon after the last lantern flew, we shall back home to our hostel.
Well, this post's been too long to talk about nothingness and everything, so think about it by yourself. I'll just make this report and your task is: do it next year. Don't waste a super event in your own country, it's only one step away! I'd happily come back there next year, who knows we'll be at the same train. Or maybe, we can share a lantern...
Itinerary, Prices, and other Details
Went with train from Senen Station, Jakarta, I (and Nhay, a companion) took an air-conditioned economy train to Tugu St., Jogjakarta (about IDR 150K, 10hrs, you can book via phone and check it out here http://www.kereta-api.co.id/). We arrived at dawn, took a becak to Sentra Gudeg (IDR 5K) and ate (kinda pricey right there, about IDR 10K-30K/pax). Then we continue (still, with becak IDR 15K) to Giwangan Terminal and take a bus to Borobudur right there for 1.5 hour with IDR 10K. Stop at Mendut, we continue to walk down (about 1km) until Mendut Temple. While the procession, we relied on our feet and got superhungry, you can stop by everywhere to buy whatever, but I warn you, some of them taste terrible as the prices are way too cheap. Nhay bought a rujak for only IDR 1K (we were shocked!) and I bought the worst es dawet in my life for only IDR 2K. We have bad luck with cuisines, at Mendut the meatball was only IDR 6K/portion but tastes poor; we stopped at some kiosk and still got nothing special with food, but each price (even in tourism area) was really cheap. If you're hungry during the procession at Borobudur, please meet emak-emak who carry anything looks like meals near the toilet, IDR 6K for rice, fish, vegetables, and sambal. But anyway, bring water with you because the price rocketing such as IDR 10K for Mizone.
In case you're in rush to catch the latest train, you can take ojek (motorbike ride) from Borobudur straight to Tugu St. for only IDR 70K (I guess you actually can get cheaper). It only takes 50 minutes, I left Nhay with a driver named Pak Bad (you can contact him at 087734016989), a really nice person and he delivered Nhay safely at Tugu St.
We (I have two other companions) slept at Lumintu Hostel near Borobudur, 150K/room but you can fill it with up to 4 people (or even 10 if you bring sleeping bag), bathroom inside, fan, bed, and I got a chicken cage right in front of my room. It's cool that each person get tea for breakfast and free flow water.
A flash trip in search of nothingness.
First rule on travelling for an event: Do research to the EO's official website, don't rely on backpackers forum. It's written in some forum that it is uncertain whether lanterns procession will be conducted or not, while the EO states clearly the schedule for lanterns procession. If I follow the forum instead of my brain, my life would be different right now (I'm being dramatic)
Well, before everything, let me introduce you to Vesak. Generally, it's a Buddhist sacred day celebrated at the day of full moon in May. Three things commemorated: birth, enlightment, and passing away of Gautama Buddha. In Indonesia, the central of the vibe is the celebration at Mendut and Borobudur Temple, where Buddhists from all over the world gather to pray and finally, releasing their hopes in the form of thousand of lanterns. Want to challenge my definition, anyone? Whatever.
First in my mind, I thougt only the lanterns and romantic scenery under the moonlight, but the reality was more painful than that. The first procession was in Mendut Temple, consist of prayers. I was sleepy (yet fascinated) for we had to wait for the prayers (sometimes in languages I can't understand for they have worshippers from Burma, Nepal, etc.) and remarks to be delivered. Honestly, it was a long procession from 9 to 12 in the morning, and it's been crowded even since 7am, you can see bald head (who looks same one to another) everywhere, and don't forget the real killer: the sunheat. But anyway, if you follow the procession carefully from the beginning, there are too many good points spoken by the speakers (well I don't know who they are), one which strucked me was:
"To survive, all religion shall teach compassion. There should be no such thing that your religion is the sole path to salvation and righteousness and therefore all other religions should be diminished aggressively. If a religion fail to teach compassion and peace, they will not survive, they will not be followed."
Think about it. (think, I said. I give you space to think. think. think. ohkayy.) The next thing after the prayers were procession from Mendut to Borobudur Temple, 3.9km said Google Maps. It was started with painful heat that you can't even feel your head (again, it's hyperbolic). But the crowd kept walking, some even marching, and some carrying heavy sesajenan on their shoulders, also some dress with traditional or other markable dresses, which I bet, add the heat for about 5x. But they just walked and walked.
In the middle of the journey, suddenly there come the rain. Me and Nhay stopped at a kiosk and stayed until the rain stops, but the crowd kept walking. The rain gets heavier and some white shirts turn transparent, but they kept walking. They could get sick for the dramatic turn of weather, but they kept walking. For me and Nhay late, while we arrived at Borobudur, they started the prayers already, in separated tents. There are some school of thoughts (something like that) in Buddhism, and they have different prayers, but all sounds really calming in my ears.
You really should try the moment of staring to the majestic Borobudur, mountains, smelling the rain and wet soil, and just listen to their prayers. Here's everything. Here was nothing.
Then we continue to next procession at Borobudur, the mass prayers. I'll post the picture later so you can see how beautiful it is (actually you should see it yourself). I didn't care with the prayers because they prayed in a language I didn't understand, I am totally freezed by the scenery right in front of me, blue lights surrounding the majestic temple of Borobudur, with Buddha statue in gold in front of it, and good sounds of prayers. Only one hasn't appeared: the moon.
Time passes and now's the time of lantern procession. More than one thousand lanterns will be released with our hope (and our IDR 100K for each lantern) to the sky. First lantern released, and suddenly the moon appears in the sky. Full but hidden by cloud. Another lanterns soon released, and I felt a mixture of being of calm, happy, excited, thankful, for seeing so many hope flies in the form of romantic light to the moon, and then turn to the east. Some of them stucked at the tree, it always brought people's attention and everyone would cheer up when the lantern's finally flew. I was really happy that night. We started not caring about anything, just looked up to the sky, get hypnotized by the lanterns and the moon which had turned to be so bright. I became drunk of lanterns and lied down on the ground, kept staring at the neverending lanterns. But for this moment, I will not able to give you description by picture, because really, it's a feeling, and your eyes are the best camera which connected directly to your brain and heart and any hormon giving you pleasure. I could've slept there, and wake up happily in the morning, but soon after the last lantern flew, we shall back home to our hostel.
Well, this post's been too long to talk about nothingness and everything, so think about it by yourself. I'll just make this report and your task is: do it next year. Don't waste a super event in your own country, it's only one step away! I'd happily come back there next year, who knows we'll be at the same train. Or maybe, we can share a lantern...
Itinerary, Prices, and other Details
Went with train from Senen Station, Jakarta, I (and Nhay, a companion) took an air-conditioned economy train to Tugu St., Jogjakarta (about IDR 150K, 10hrs, you can book via phone and check it out here http://www.kereta-api.co.id/). We arrived at dawn, took a becak to Sentra Gudeg (IDR 5K) and ate (kinda pricey right there, about IDR 10K-30K/pax). Then we continue (still, with becak IDR 15K) to Giwangan Terminal and take a bus to Borobudur right there for 1.5 hour with IDR 10K. Stop at Mendut, we continue to walk down (about 1km) until Mendut Temple. While the procession, we relied on our feet and got superhungry, you can stop by everywhere to buy whatever, but I warn you, some of them taste terrible as the prices are way too cheap. Nhay bought a rujak for only IDR 1K (we were shocked!) and I bought the worst es dawet in my life for only IDR 2K. We have bad luck with cuisines, at Mendut the meatball was only IDR 6K/portion but tastes poor; we stopped at some kiosk and still got nothing special with food, but each price (even in tourism area) was really cheap. If you're hungry during the procession at Borobudur, please meet emak-emak who carry anything looks like meals near the toilet, IDR 6K for rice, fish, vegetables, and sambal. But anyway, bring water with you because the price rocketing such as IDR 10K for Mizone.
In case you're in rush to catch the latest train, you can take ojek (motorbike ride) from Borobudur straight to Tugu St. for only IDR 70K (I guess you actually can get cheaper). It only takes 50 minutes, I left Nhay with a driver named Pak Bad (you can contact him at 087734016989), a really nice person and he delivered Nhay safely at Tugu St.
We (I have two other companions) slept at Lumintu Hostel near Borobudur, 150K/room but you can fill it with up to 4 people (or even 10 if you bring sleeping bag), bathroom inside, fan, bed, and I got a chicken cage right in front of my room. It's cool that each person get tea for breakfast and free flow water.
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