Borobudur, Amazing Buddhist Temple

Who does not know Borobudur? This Buddhist temple has 1460 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies in its complex. Millions of people are eager to visit this building as one of the World Wonder Heritages. It is not surprising since architecturally and functionally, as the place for Buddhists to say their prayer, Borobudur is attractive.

Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the kings of Old Mataram Kingdom, the descendant of Sailendra dynasty. Based on Kayumwungan inscription, an Indonesian named Hudaya Kandahjaya revealed that Borobudur was a place for praying that was completed to be built on 26 May 824, almost one hundred years from the time the construction was begun. The name of Borobudur, as some people say, means a mountain having terraces (budhara), while other says that Borobudur means monastery on the high place.

Borobudur is constructed as a ten-terraces building. The height before being renovated was 42 meters and 34.5 meters after the renovation because the lowest level was used as supporting base. The first six terraces are in square form, two upper terraces are in circular form, and on top of them is the terrace where Buddha statue is located facing westward. Each terrace symbolizes the stage of human life. In line with of Buddha Mahayana, anyone who intends to reach the level of Buddha's must go through each of those life stages.

The base of Borobudur, called Kamadhatu, symbolizes human being that are still bound by lust. The upper four stories are called Rupadhatu symbolizing human beings that have set themselves free from lust but are still bound to appearance and shape. On this terrace, Buddha effigies are placed in open space; while the other upper three terraces where Buddha effigies are confined in domes with wholes are called Arupadhatu, symbolizing human beings that have been free from lust, appearance and shape. The top part that is called Arupa symbolizes nirvana, where Buddha is residing.

Each terrace has beautiful relief panels showing how skillful the sculptors were. In order to understand the sequence of the stories on the relief panels, you have to walk clockwise from the entrance of the temple. The relief panels tell the legendary story of Ramayana. Besides, there are relief panels describing the condition of the society by that time; for example, relief of farmers' activity reflecting the advance of agriculture system and relief of sailing boat representing the advance of navigation in Bergotta (Semarang).

All relief panels in Borobudur temple reflect Buddha's teachings. For the reason, this temple functions as educating medium for those who want to learn Buddhism. YogYES suggests that you walk through each narrow passage in Borobudur in order for you to know the philosophy of Buddhism. Atisha, a Buddhist from India in the tenth century once visited this temple that was built 3 centuries before Angkor Wat in Cambodia and 4 centuries before the Grand Cathedrals in Europe.

Thanks to visiting Borobudur and having supply of Buddha teaching script from Serlingpa (King of Sriwijaya), Atisha was able to improve Buddha's teachings after his return to India and he built a religion institution, Vikramasila Buddhism. Later he became the leader of Vikramasila monastery and taught Tibetans of practicing Dharma. Six scripts from Serlingpa were then summarized as the core of the teaching called "The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment" or well known as Bodhipathapradipa.

A question about Borobudur that is still unanswered by far is how the condition around the temple was at the beginning of its foundation and why at the time of it's finding the temple was buried. Some hypotheses claim that Borobudur in its initial foundation was surrounded by swamps and it was buried because of Merapi explosion. It was based on Kalkutta inscription with the writing 'Amawa' that means sea of milk. The Sanskrit word was used to describe the occurrence of disaster. The sea of milk was then translated into Merapi lava. Some others say that Borobudur was buried by cold lava of Merapi Mountain.

With the existing greatness and mystery, it makes sense if many people put Borobudur in their agenda as a place worth visiting in their lives. Besides enjoying the temple, you may take a walk around the surrounding villages such as Karanganyar and Wanurejo. You can also get to the top of Kendil stone where you can enjoy Borobudur and the surrounding scenery. Please visit Borobudur temple right away...

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Prambanan, Beautiful Hindu Temple

Prambanan temple is extraordinarily beautiful building constructed in the tenth century during the reigns of two kings namely Rakai Pikatan and Rakai Balitung. Soaring up to 47 meters (5 meters higher than Borobudur temple), the foundation of this temple has fulfilled the desire of the founder to show Hindu triumph in Java Island. This temple is located 17 kilometers from the city center, among an area that now functions as beautiful park.

There is a legend that Javanese people always tell about this temple. As the story tells, there was a man named Bandung Bondowoso who loved Roro Jonggrang. To refuse his love, Jonggrang asked Bondowoso to make her a temple with 1,000 statues only in one-night time. The request was nearly fulfilled when Jonggrang asked the villagers to pound rice and to set a fire in order to look like morning had broken. Feeling to be cheated, Bondowoso who only completed 999 statues cursed Jonggrang to be the thousandth statue.

Prambanan temple has three main temples in the primary yard, namely Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva temples. Those three temples are symbols of Trimurti in Hindu belief. All of them face to the east. Each main temple has accompanying temple facing to the west, namely Nandini for Shiva, Angsa for Brahma, and Garuda for Vishnu. Besides, there are 2 flank temples, 4 kelir temples and 4 corner temples. In the second area, there are 224 temples.

Entering Shiva temple, the highest temple and is located in the middle, you will find four rooms. One main room contains Shiva statue, while the other three rooms contain the statues of Durga (Shiva's wife), Agastya (Shiva's teacher), and Ganesha (Shiva's son). Durga statue is said to be the statue of Roro Jonggrang in the above legend.

In Vishnu temple, to the north of Shiva temple, you will find only one room with Vishnu statue in it. In Brahma temple, to the south of Shiva temple, you find only room as well with Brahma statue in it.

Quite attractive accompanying temple is Garuda temple that is located close to Vishnu temple. This temple keeps a story of half-bird human being named Garuda. Garuda is a mystical bird in Hindu mythology. The figure is of golden body, white face, red wings, with the beak and wings similar to eagle's. It is assumed that the figure is Hindu adaptation of Bennu (means 'rises' or 'shines') that is associated with the god of the Sun or Re in Old Egypt mythology or Phoenix in Old Greek mythology. Garuda succeeded in saving his mother from the curse of Aruna (Garuda's handicapped brother) by stealing Tirta Amerta (the sacred water of the gods).

Its ability to save her mother made many people admire it to the present time and it is used for various purposes. Indonesia uses the bird as the symbol of the country. Other country using the same symbol is Thailand, with the same reason but different form adaptation and appearance. In Thailand, Garuda is known as Krut or Pha Krut.

Prambanan also has panels of relief describing the story of Ramayana. Experts say that the relief is similar to the story of Ramayana that is told orally from generation to generation. Another interesting relief is Kalpataru tree that - in Hindu - the tree is considered tree of life, eternity and environment harmony. In Prambanan, relief of Kalpataru tree is described as flanking a lion. The presence of this tree makes experts consider that Javanese society in the ninth century had wisdom to manage its environment.

Just like Garuda, Kalpataru tree is also used for various purposes. In Indonesia, Kalpataru is used as the logo of Indonesian Environment Institution. Some intellectuals in Bali even develop "Tri Hita Karana" concept for environment conservation by seeing Kalpataru relief in this temple. This tree of life is also seen in the gunungan (the puppet used as an opening of traditional puppet show or wayang kulit). This proves that relief panels in Prambanan have been widely known throughout the world.


If you see the relief in detail, you will see many birds on them; they are real birds as we can see on the earth right now. Relief panels of such birds are so natural that biologists can identify their genus. One of them is the relief of the Yellow-Crest Parrot (Cacatua sulphurea) that cites unanswered question. The reason is that the bird only exists in Masakambing Island, an island in the middle of Java Sea. Then, did the bird exist in Yogyakarta? No body has succeeded in revealing the mystery.

You can discover many more things in Prambanan. You can see relief of Wiracarita Ramayana based on oral tradition. If you feel tired of enjoying the relief, you can take a rest in the beautiful garden in the complex. Since 18 September 2006, you can enter zone 1 area of Prambanan temple. The damage caused by the earthquake on 27 May 2006 is being reconstructed. Please come and enjoy Prambanan temple

source www.yogyes.com

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Bill Gate's High Technology House

Most people would assume that the richest man in the world, Bill Gates, would live in a house that makes P Diddy’s house look like a cardboard box in Harlem. I can’t quite confirm the speculation, but I can confirm that Bill Gate’s has one hell of a pad (as you can see from the teaser snap above); it’s worth a few pennies, too. There is one thing that is safe to assume, the place is filled to the brim with gadgets and other useless sci-fi junk that is certain to make any Star Trek fan wet their pants.

So let’s take a look at what, where and how the richest man in the world lives…
 

 

A sneak peak inside Bill Gates house

Inside Bill Gates HouseTo kick things off, let me show you teaser of inside Bill Gates House. Apparently this is a famous snap of a room inside moneybags crib…I’m not entirely sure how authentic this is, but apparently it’s real. Regardless, I don’t know about you, I think it looks swell, but i’m not sure how safe i’d feel with sharks and killer whales floating around so closely to home…what if the glass cracks?
Location

Bill Gates’ house is a large earth-sheltered mansion in the side of a hill overlooking Lake Washington in Medina, Washington. To please the crowd that see Gatesy as a sexual object (I hear there is a huge bucket load of you out there), 1835 73rd Ave NE, Medina, WA 98039, is his exact address. If anyone plans on stalking moneybags, be careful, apparently the place is protected by robots that are equipped with lazor guns. No, really.
Design

The house was designed by a guy called James Cutler, the best-known architect of Northwest Style, apparently. “Pacific lodge” is the chosen style for the residence. What does that mean exactly? Well, it’s just made from huge wooden panels to give it a “cabin lodge” effect from what I can make out. Can anyone explain further?

There has been lot of speculation that the house was designed on a Macintosh. I’m guessing only computer geeks will “speculate” about which type of computer the Microsoft Mogal used to design it. Normal people wouldn’t give a damn. I’m sure if you search on Google for long enough, you’ll find someone called Howard who has whipped up an article in his parents’ basement, on how Bill Gates backstapped his own company by using a Mac to design his house.

Pictures of the Gates’ complex are both private and copyrighted- what a shame. There are a lot of pictures available, but they’re mainly of the building exterior and the grounds. Additionally, information regarding the house is quite limited.
Features

    * The house occupies 50,000 square feet on 5.15 acre land. Garage space and outbuildings occupy an additional 16,000 square feet
    * A 17 × 60 foot (5.1 × 18.2 metre) swimming pool, which has an underwater music system and a fossil-motif floor
    * Swimmers can dive under a glass wall and emerge outdoors by a terrace
    * Lights automatically come on when you enter a room
    * Speakers are hidden beneath the wallpaper to allow music to follow from room to room
    * Visitors to the residence are surveyed and given a microchip upon entrance. This small chip sends signals throughout the house, and a given room’s temperature and other conditions will change according to preset user preferences
    * grand staircase
    * large private library with a domed reading room
    * formal dining room
    * exercise room
    * outdoor sports courts
    * Property records indicate eight bedrooms and four building levels
    * Much of the Bill Gates house is built underground into the hill, so the house looks smaller than it actually is.
    * The beach sand on the bank of the lake is not from Lake Washington, it is barged in annually from a tropical beach in St. Lucia
    * The wood columns from main floor to roof in entry area are over 70 feet tall
    * Some of the interior passage doors weigh over 800 lbs, but are balanced for easy use
    * The roofing is stainless steel
    * Hidden cameras are everywhere, including the interior stone walls
    * Gates insisted on saving a 40 year old maple adjacent to the driveway. The tree is monitored electronically 24 hours per day via computer. If it seems dry, it gets just the right amount of water automatically delivered
    * All woodwork is flawless. Much of the woodwork is of various rare types from all over the world – imported especially for this house
    * The theater (underground in a concrete shell) is the most state of the art theatre in the world according to specialty contractor

Worth

My mate Billy actually purchased the plot of land for $2million back in 1988. After 7 years of intensive makeovers; according to King County public records, as of 2005, the total assessed value of the property (land and house) is $200 million, and the annual property tax is $991,000. I imagine it’s probably worth more than that now.
Pictures

Birdseye View

Bill Gates House- Birdseye View

Bill Gates House- Birdseye View 2

 

View from lake

 

Bill Gates House- View from lake

Bill Gates House- View from lake 2

Bill Gates House- View from lake 3

Bill Gates House- View from lake 4

Virtual View

 

Bill Gates House- Virtual View

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Donald Trump's Maison de L'Amitie

Donald Trump has been making a lot of headlines lately. However, that’s nothing new.

His career began in the 1960s, when he took a foreclosed Cincinnati apartment complex and turned it around for a tidy profit. Then he turned his attention to revitalizing pieces of Manhattan real estate that had been forsaken during its 1970s financial crisis. After restoring Central Park’s Wollman Rink in the 1980s, he gained the high profile that he enjoys today, and it shows no signs of abating.

Trump is mostly known for the properties that his company owns, but he is almost as well known for the real estate that he owns privately. As befits a larger-than-life personality such his, he resides in sprawling estates all over the world, all of which have gained notice when he’s bought or sold them, or even just renovated the pool.

Maison de L'Amitie
Maison de L'Amitie is a 60,000 square - foot piece of real estate that Trump bought for $41 million in 2004. One year later, on season three of The Apprentice, winner Kendra Todd was given the $25 million task of renovating it, and she went all-out, lining it with gold and diamond fixtures.

In 2010, Trump sold the property to Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev for $95 million. That was actually $25 million lower than Trump’s original asking price, but it’s still a 130 percent return on his investment, which led him to characterize the flip as a sign of an improving housing market.

When he sold the mansion, Trump gave up almost 500 feet of ocean, as well as a garage that can fit almost 50 cars and enough bathrooms for 22 people to powder their noses simultaneously. However, he’s also giving up sky-high taxes --- he paid close to $1 million in real estate taxes in 2007 alone.

 

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Vacation at Terraced Rice Field Ubud Bali

The fertile volcanic soil of much of the Indonesian archipelago—and particularly the islands of Java and Bali has made rice a central dietary staple. Steep terrain on Bali resulted in an intricate cooperation systems, locally called subak, to manage water storage and drainage for rice terraces, Like this picture, terraced rice filed at Ubud, Bali

 

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Maya Ubud Bali Main Pool River Valley

Maya Ubud Resort & Spa is bordered by the Petanu River valley to the east and the verdant rice fields of Peliatan on the west. The ten-hectare tract of land is a tranquil haven of tropical gardens and 108 architect-designed thatched private pool villas and luxury guestrooms. Travelling time from Bali’s international airport to Maya Ubud is around one hour.

Nestled along the river bank is The Spa at Maya, with private double and single treatment pavilions. It offers exotic sensory journeys and revitalizing treatments that refresh body and soul, plus there is a dedicated riverside deck for reflexology.

Dining alternatives include Maya Sari for all-day dining; Asiatique offers regional cuisine of Thailand, Japan, China, India and Indonesia, and a teppanyaki counter. The River Café has a menu that includes healthy spa cuisine and snacks, delicious pasta and pizzas. Bar Bedulu is a breezy bar off the main lobby. The open-air Purnama Theatre presents professional cultural dance performances and dinner.

Among the many recreation facilities at Maya Ubud are two swimming pools, tennis court, golf putting green, yoga pavilion and gym. Activities include nearby village trekking, nature excursions and mountain biking.

A complimentary shuttle bus service between the resort and Ubud township is available on the hour from 9.00 am through 5.00 pm every day.

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