Borobudur Selfies of Indonesia
After another 30 minutes we reach Borobudur, the beautiful Buddhist temple, which was built 9,000 after Christ. In the meantime it was completely overgrown and has been accessible again since the 1960s. Here, too, we have to pay entrance fees. This time we meet our ticket dealer in the parking lot, which I find a bit strange. Probably he got it cheaper at the official counter and now he gets the full price from us. All right, I don’t care where the money goes, it’s gone anyway. A closer look at the ticket reveals that it was not only cheaper, it was completely free of charge.
At least there is a free coffee after the security check and we treat ourselves to a guide who accompanies us through the temple complex. If he spoke a little slower, perhaps he could be understood.
Roughly, however, I can understand that the temple consists of three levels, the lower one, which represents the earthly life, the middle one, which one reaches through good deeds and the upper level, Nirvana. This can be achieved by being a Buddha yourself. We’re not, but we’re still climbing up to the top level. Upstairs several school classes are waiting for us today, which apparently are on an excursion to the temple. In every corner there is giggling and whispering behind us, which is a sure sign that the next selfie session will not be long to happen. Everyone is waiting for our guide to say goodbye. Then all hell breaks loose.
We are surrounded by 30 schoolgirls and more than 30 mobile phones and everyone wants to take a picture with us. The girls are happy as if they have just won the lottery. Unfortunately I do not have my purse with me, otherwise we would have already had the entrance back. Then it’s the boys‘ turn and finally even the teachers want a selfie with us. What do they do when a real celebrity shows up?
On the way to the exit we cannot take a single step without someone waving a mobile phone or reading a note with intimidation like „Can I take a photo with you“. Apparently the young people have only prepared for this one moment during their visit to the temple or maybe they are all practicing for their career as paparazzi. After our arrival nobody is interested in the temple itself anymore.
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After we have left the screaming teenagers behind us, the next pursuers are already waiting for us. Namely the souvenir vendors. About 500 meters before the exit, 20 guys strategically position themselves. The attack takes place both sides and frontally and before we know it, they have taken us into the pincer. After 30 seconds we have lost Mirko, who is now surrounded by 6 merchants and buys useless souvenirs, which he does not want at all. After 60 seconds Veronica made the big mistake to look too closely at the offered refrigerator magnets. Now she has a penetrating persecutor, who follows her even after the exit. That in turn almost caused her a nervous breakdown, because she hadn’t counted on them to get out of here.
After 90 seconds I bought something I don’t want and after 100 seconds Pierre also has a bag with some extraordinarily useful things in his hand. God, I’m so glad we finally got back to our car.
Any outbound call center agent who sells old granny’s cell phone contracts could learn something here. Maybe my company should open a subsidiary right at the temple. Whether souvenirs or services are to be sold is irrelevant for these traders. They’ll get everything sold, I’m sure.
Continue: Rainy Dieng plateau