World Of Tourism

Borobudur is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist Monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). During the journey the monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.

Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam. Worldwide knowledge of its existence was sparked in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the then British ruler of Java, who was advised of its location by native Indonesians. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage; once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction.

Borobudur is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist Monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely Kāmadhātu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness). During the journey the monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.

Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam. Worldwide knowledge of its existence was sparked in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the then British ruler of Java, who was advised of its location by native Indonesians. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage; once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction.

Its the 23rd of April today and for many (in Catalonia particularly) that means either The Day of the Rose or The Day of the Book. Its a bit like St Valentine's Day that is celebrated on the 14th of February around the world. Traditionally, women would give their sweethearts a rose and men would exchange a book. Together, its a bit of a "performance art love poem." But the sentiment behind it was "a rose for love and a book forever." Similar to the way in which most people choose their partner, once the love fades and the rose dies, you'll have the reference book to know what you should be doing to keep on the inside of a relationship.

So it got me thinking about the great love stories that seem to have been forgotten and replaced with internet dating, text messages and best sellers/block busters that moderate our behaviour in order to tie down a mate. He's Just Not That Into You? Says who? Or more to the point, why don't they release a book like "He's into you, but he's using you and thats just how it is?" Oh for the first love again! When books and movies and the internet were titled True Believers (Nicholas Sparks), The Notebook and the internet was used to send sweet emails and google love surprises.

Maybe its not them, maybe its me. So to honour today...I'm going to find a love poem and believe it. I'll forget politics and religion and the corporate ladder and I will believe in an ancient, crazy little thing called love. Oh and books.

Just like relationships, even holidays evolve and in 1995 UNESCO declared the 23rd of April World Book and Copyright Day. So here's a thought, read a book today, a book about love even and kill two lovebirds with one stone. Not a big reader? Well then take yourself on a romantic walk or drive with Tourism Radio. They'll show you the way. Here's to romance...