reverb 16 - trip

Where did you travel this year?  What was your best trip?


Indonesia on a whole was amazing, but what was so great were all the little trips that made up the whole.  One of my favourite trips was to Borobudur to visit the largest buddhist monument in the world.


April 13th


"Up early.  Again.  We arrived at the lookout point long before we needed to.  It was dark.  Quiet.  A blanket of stars.  I wonder if these are the same stars we see at home.  They seem brighter here - expansive - coming down into the walls of the sky.


A strip of yellow comes through the clouds as the sky starts to lighten.  The valley of trees below is covered in mist.  A small peak shines through in the distance.  Is that it?  It must be.  Borobudur.


The sun makes her appearance and we wait patiently as the mist continues to pull back revealing more of the monument.  It's massive.  Sitting up taller than the trees.


Mount Merapi is smoking in the background.  The only sounds are those of birds waking up and the "click" of cameras.


The mist hangs around just long enough to capture the perfect "shot".  Somehow the mist makes this place seem ever more ancient, more spiritual.


I wonder if the men building this thousands of years ago had any  idea just how "big" it would really be.  Travellers coming from all over the world to marvel at the largest Buddhist monument.  Sitting still for just a moment to try to feel that closer connection to the divine.


*I bet they had no idea we'd all be paying $15 to check it out".

April 14th


It's so hard to really capture this place.  To feel as though you're doing it justice.  100 pictures later and I still haven't quite captured it's essence.  I'm not sure words will help.


It's just... huge.  Beautiful.  Detailed.  Immaculate.


Every inch is detailed.  The blue sky and mountains, the perfect backdrop.  Every corner you turn, every new angle gives a new appreciation for its wonder.


I can't stop taking pictures.  I can't look away.  Worried that I'll never see something like this again.  Each Buddha, and there are hundreds, sits in lotus position.  Some are housed while others are open to the sky.  Some remain perfect as if time isn't a factor for them.  Others haven't aged so well.  A missing nose, hand, arm, half a face caved in or the whole head just gone.  These are my favourites.  These imperfect Buddhas lining the way as you make your pilgrimage to Nirvana."