The amazing Buddhist Temple at Borabador - just an hours drive north of Yogjakarta on the island of Java.

Equally as impressive as Ankor Wat.  Discovered by Raffles in about 1814


The figures for Borobudur are stupendous:

- stone embankment covering the basement: 11,600 cubic metres;

- 1,460 narrative panels covering 1,900 square metres;

- 1,212 decorative panels covering 600 square metres;

- 100 monumental gargoyles to carry away the rainwater;

- 432 Buddha images displayed from the galleries;

- 72 Buddhas displayed in stupas on the great terrace

- 1,472 stupa-shaped ornaments;

Words cannot express the majesty of this temple

what a tragedy and fate..... only short time after FARANGBOSS posted these lovely things about beautiful Indonesia, this sad thing happened to the people of the Yogya-region, the most friendly and cordial people I have met in my entire life..... everywhere u went, u were greeted with a smile...., a smile that came from the heart, not just a disguise to hide the greedyness, as its usual known in other such-called "land of smiles".....
I hope FarangBoss and his friend are okay, and I hope the people of Yogya will find their smile again after this tragedy..... what did I read on one of the CNN/BBC-news websites ? one local man saying: " we were very poor before, and we are even poorer now after we lost our few belongings and houses.....  but our life is still worth something".....

Oh, yeah.  Those Indonesians sure have great big smiles.  Remember Amrozi?

boygeenyus - if you weren't such a CUNT the gay people of this forum might actually begin to like you

Dont judge the majority by the actions of the few

Get well FB and Yogie

Did it ever occur to you that I DO NOT GIVE A FLYING FUCK if the members of this board like me or not?

As for the Indonesians, they are as human as the Thai are -- and therefore just as greedy and self-serving.  The same scams and bad behavior can be found just as easily on Kuta Beach (mostly on the part of Indonesians from other parts of the country) as they can in Pattaya.  Someone needs to take off their rose-tinted spectacles.

While clarity and realism are valuable tools, BG, your perpetual dark view of the world would make Darth Vader suggest you should occasionally cheer up.  One can find slimy people everywhere but one can also find endearing beauty and simply charming people all around you......but you have to be looking for them.  We all have our blinders and it's sad to me that you too often only seem to see  the dark side.  
Occasionally, it's nice to see, honor, and truly feel the smiling souls of many of the southeast asian peoples.  It's true and its remarkable.

What I objected to, Bob, was the apparent use of this tragedy to take a dig at Thai people and their "fake" smiles.