A Little Holiday Cheer From Malaysia

For this festive season, wishing you....

Peace

Borobudur temple, Indonesia

Joy

Kit Kat Chocolatory, Tokyo, Japan

Happiness

Sarah flashing a "freestyle" 305 with her hands, giving some props to our former hometown, Miami.

With the Ambassador (second from right) at the US Embassy, Kuala Lumpur

Good things in small packages

At breakfast in Nikko, Japan

And lovely, funky Season's Greetings

Church parking lot, Tawau, Borneo, Malaysia

Candi Sewu In Yogyakarta

Next to nearby Borobudur, Candi Sewu is the largest Buddhist temple complex in Indonesia. It also predates its immediate Hindu temple neighbor, Prambanan. Candi Sewu is a comer. It's also one of the few temples in SE Asia that's currently being actively renovated. Gotta line up those rocks for future generations.

The center, main temple, reaching about 90 feet high.

Smaller temple, topped with the Buddhist classic bell. The reconstruction, a work in progress.

Yes, reconstruction. They're busy at Candi Sewu, with several areas under heavy rebuilding.

Another bell, reassembled on the ground first before finding its final place on top of a small temple. Someone in need of a head.

Plenty more work to be done. These rocks aren't finished walls, they're an endless row of separate temples, waiting for reassembly.

Small Details Of Borobudur, Indonesia

Wandering the countryside, seeing what sticks out.

Rural 7-Eleven.

Fantastic balustrade. Rivaling the famous Porch of the Caryatids that's found at the Erechtheion temple on the Acropolis.

Humble brooms for sale.

Paintings and pictures in unusual places on houses.

Rural green mosque.

Mendut Temple

If you've had enough of Borobudur, which is basically impossible, there are a handful of other temples you can visit in the area. One of the nicer ones is Candi Mendut. It's a 9th century Buddhist temple, about three kilometers from Borobudur.

A bit of a square monolith.

Carvings on the exterior surround the temple. Some assembly required? Piles of stones at the site.

Inside, the main attraction is three large statues. The center figure is Dhyani Buddha Vairocana, liberator of your bodily karma.

Here's Boddhisatva Vajrapani. He'll take care of your thought karma. Another area of stones, complete assembly required.

Another look at the big, boxy boy.

Out In The Sticks Of Indonesia

What's nice about visiting the Borobudur temple in Indonesia is the chance to stay nearby in its rural location. After the tourist crush at the landmark, some time to relax among the locals and rice paddies.

Boys river swimming.

Rice paddy living. Yes, we stayed in that structure planted among the rice.

Wearing the Union Jack with the sun setting over the rice.

What passes for a road through the rice crop. Play time means hitting the volleyball court.

Another beautiful, stormy day ends in Southeast Asia.

Details Of Borobudur

The Borobudur temple is overwhelming and it's tempting simply to sprint to the top to say you made it. Which would be a shame. A slower ascent allows time to enjoy the endless details found on all the levels of the temple.

The bell-shaped stupas at the top of the temple are the stars. Hidden inside, the Buddhas.

Along the lower, square levels, an infinity loop of friezes. Buddha with a perfectly rolled coif.

A closer look at a frieze. The carvings contrast a life of human desire with the life of Buddha. After 1,300 friezes, it's clear who comes out ahead.

Corner drain. About that desire. A few party animals make appearances.

Getting moody, sans head.

Big Ol' Borobudur

Asia has a handful of must-see temple complexes and one place that always makes the list is Borobudur in Java, Indonesia. It's easy to understand why: the temple is a behemoth and perfectly restored like a stone cupcake. Time to eat it up.

Sign in at the front desk.

Borobudur does not disappoint. The first six levels are square and heavily carved, each section its own endless corridor of friezes and zig-zag turns.

The star of the show is the top, which consists of three round levels that are dotted with little lattice stupas. Good morning, Borobudur.

Each bell-shaped stupa contains a Buddha statue. They've left a handful of stupas open, for the claustrophobic Buddhas.

The architecture and environment are flawless.

The temple in moody blue, sunrise in the rain. Another angle on a Buddha and the stupas.

Someone communing with Borobudur.