2008/06/20

浮罗佛屠(BOROBUDUR)


浮罗佛屠(BOROBUDUR)--世界七大奇观之一

8-5-2008 (Thu)

本来计划五月头到中国丝绸之路走一趟,旅游社建议九月初才是最佳时机,所以临时取消行程,改而带孩子们到印尼爪哇岛日惹。

日惹并非一个热门旅游点,然而这里却有世界七大奇观之一的“浮罗佛屠”在向我们招手。向亚航订购机票及酒店后打算向本地旅游社订购地接安排,才发觉鲜少旅游社有该项服务,要不就价格比想象中还高得多。最后从网上寻获一家价格比较合理的当地旅游社,即敲定这四天三夜之旅。

飞机于五月八日下午两点起飞,飞行时间两小时三十分钟。印尼的时间比马来西亚慢一个小时,抵达日惹机场是当地时间下午三点半。小小的机场简陋不堪,还好移民局官员的态度没想像中那么差。护照盖章后在一个勉强容纳得下约二十人的小空间等待行李由一条短短的输送运出,整个等候处挤得水泄不通。

领了行李来到海关,女儿被海关人员挡驾,原来她的行李不知何时被粉笔画上一个“X”的记号,必须打开检查。官员由行李箱中搜出一支爽身粉,倒一点在手掌心后放到面前嗅一嗅,绷紧的脸这才放松下来笑了笑将爽身粉放回行李箱内,我们这才松了一口气。 过后回想如果不幸在运输当中被栽赃而背上贩毒这莫须有的罪,捏了一把冷汗,提醒自己出国旅行记得将行李锁好。

机场外只见挤满来接机的人,其中大多数是德士或霸王车司机。 我们在人群当中找到一个个子矮小,样子相当紧张的中年妇女拿着一个白板,白板上面写着我们的名字。

“欢迎你们,我叫玲卡!”导游向我们自我介绍。听到这个名字,我们呆了一阵子,后来找机会询问她为何取这样的名字?她对我们的好奇心早已见怪不怪,早在求学时期为了这个名字被同学取笑而问她父亲什么名字不好取,偏以阳器为她取名,父亲也答不出一个所以然,反问这名字有什么不好。

玲卡说得一口标准的英语,对当地的历史了如指掌,在接下来的数天,我们从她口述历史而对日惹有进一步认识。

由机场到酒店只需半个小时,我们通过亚行订购位于市中心的MELIA PUROSANI五星级酒店。由于这里火山及地震频繁,一般上建筑物都不高,这座七层楼高的酒店是全市最高的建筑物,两年前一场地震损坏而关闭维修,最近才重开。由酒店六楼房间的落地长窗往外望,周围居屋密密麻麻,电讯发射站到处林立,远处群山环绕,两座高高的火山还在冒烟。

晚餐在酒店的青山中餐厅解决,虽然是由印尼厨师掌厨,然而中餐厨艺却不差。我们叫了黑椒牛柳、瓦煲豆腐、蒜茸酱芥兰菜花及该餐厅的招牌菜蜜糖炸鸡。黑椒牛柳炒得鲜嫩而不太辣,蜜糖炸鸡让我两个孩子吃得停不了口。虽然是五星级酒店,菜的价格相当合理,小份的价格介于三万至四万二RUPIAH之间,一餐包括饮料约三十五万RUPIAH,相等于马币百多令吉。

这餐虽然不贵,却是该餐厅侍者三分之一个月的薪水!



由酒店六楼房间的落地长窗往外望,周围居屋密密麻麻,电讯发射站到处林立,远处群山环绕,两座高高的火山还在冒烟。



于市中心的MELIA PUROSANI五星级酒店



青山中餐厅虽然是由印尼厨师掌厨,然而中餐厨艺却不差。

9-5-2008 (Fri)

早晨五点多张开眼睛趟在床上看朝阳冉冉升起,这种放下工作在异乡度假的心情感觉很美好。早餐除了一般的五星级酒店自助早餐之外,同时也备有日惹特色食物(称不上美食)Geduk Komplit,包括熏烤鸡肉、发酵黄豆、卤蛋、波罗蜜须、炸豆腐拌白饭。



日惹特色食物(称不上美食)Geduk Komplit.

酒店大堂挤满衣冠楚楚的达官贵人,导游玲卡告诉我们∶“今天苏丹嫁女儿,酒店住的都是受邀宾客,这个是银行家、那个是明星、上车的是议员…。”

今天的行程是距离日惹一个小时半车程的梭罗(著名的印尼民谣梭罗河畔发源地),由于这里周围很多火山(爪哇岛有超过60座火山,其中29座是活火山),泥土非常肥沃,一路上都是稻田,是印尼粮仓之一。然而由于印尼烟民高达人口60%,烟草利润较高,最近很多农民将良田改种烟草。梭罗是爪哇的工业城,曾经被荷兰统治,市内充满荷兰与印尼混合式建筑屋。到这里的博物馆听导游讲解皮影戏的历史与发展,再到古董街选购当地古董。



梭罗皮影戏

午餐后,回程半路的Prambanan印度庙塔群才是我们旅游重点之一。建于九世纪,拥有240座庙塔,分为内、中、外三层。外层共有112座庙塔、中层也是112座庙塔,内层主庙则有16座庙塔,被教科文组织批为文化古迹。2006年5月27日发生一场5.8级地震将大部分庙塔震毁,目前还在维修中,为了安全起见,主庙周围被铁栏围起来不能进入参观,我们只好在周围拍照。


Prambanan印度庙塔群






在酒店用过晚餐后,我们徒步大约一公里到日惹最热闹的步行购物街Malioboro,途经一间挂着中文招牌的小餐馆,心想明晚就在这里用餐。

晚上的Malioboro给我们好像来到泰南合艾的感觉,全长超过两公里的街道灯火通明,人来人往车流不息。一边三轮车夫及马车夫悠闲地坐在车内等待游客的光顾,另一边则有电单车在招徕顾客。摊贩沿着商店五脚基摆开,留下窄窄的走廊供行人走动。摆卖的物品以峇迪居多,衣服、沙笼、钱包、甚至拖鞋都以色彩斑斓的峇迪向游客献媚。除了峇迪之外,还有廉价T裇、皮影戏的皮偶、木制家具、贝壳手工艺品等,我们在这里买了一些印上日惹字样的T裇做手信。

如果够胆量,不妨到这里街边以帐篷搭建的餐室一尝道地日惹餐,坐在地上以手进食,体验当地人的进餐习俗。我们看到塑胶盆内堆得高高、炸至香脆的炸鸡外表不是金黄色而是呈黑褐色,想象这锅炸鸡的油可能从来没换过吧,打消一试的念头。

走累了,到这里最大间的现代化购物中心MalMalioboro吹冷气,里面有我们熟悉的快餐店。超级市场售卖的饮料比酒店的便宜何只三倍,有些食品包装奇特,随手买了一篮,付账时万万声,感觉出手很大方。回程雇了两辆三轮车,每辆收费五千印尼盾(约2令吉)。



轮车夫及马车夫悠闲地坐在车内等待游客的光顾.




晚上的Malioboro给我们好像来到泰南合艾的感觉.

10-5-2008 (Sat)

第三天的行程重点是浮罗佛屠,也是此行的目的。日惹五月的天气相当热,为了在早晨到达这个世界七大奇观之一的文化遗产,我们早上五点就起身,六点半由酒店出发,半途在一座 Candi Medut 小寺庙稍作停留后继续行程,九点半抵达目的地。

Candi Medut



导游玲卡在车上为我们讲解有关浮罗佛屠的历史:“建于一座矮丘上,浮罗佛屠是世界上最大的单一佛塔。在公元824年开始建设,花了60年时间,用了55,000立方米的火山石块。浮罗佛屠造型像座山,象征喜马拉雅山,作为当时许多来自印度的佛教徒劳工朝圣地。1006年一场火山爆发中被掩埋,800年后(1816年)由英国将军莱佛士所发觉,雇用200人花五年时间清理,后来荷兰的考古学家继续修复工作,1923年还原。”

浮罗佛屠呈阶梯金字塔狀,共有九层及一个塔顶,底下三层方形台阶的迴廊刻满象征「色界」的浮雕,再上三层方形台階则代表「欲界」的浮雕。先是较生活化的画面,然后是佛祖的诞生和生平故事,接着几层是一些佛经中的情节。浮雕总长度达2.5公里,从底层沿迴廊续层走上,恍如從尘世走向极乐世界的路程。第七至第九层圆形台階分别有32、24、16共72座有孔钟形佛塔,众星拱月般簇拥着中央象征佛陀的大佛塔,代表「无色界」。

人站在这里心胸豁然开朗,凡事不过是过眼云烟,何必为了小事争个你死我活?



底下三层方形台阶的迴廊刻满象征「色界」的浮雕,再上三层方形台階则代表「欲界」的浮雕。







第七至第九层圆形台階分别有32、24、16共72座有孔钟形佛塔.




孔钟形佛塔,众星拱月般簇拥着中央象征佛陀的大佛塔,代表「无色界」。



建于一座矮丘上,浮罗佛屠是世界上最大的单一佛塔。

由浮罗佛屠回到日惹市区继续行程,以最短的时间参观皇宫及水上宫殿,听导游讲解以前苏丹的荒唐史。午餐在一间具有当地特色的餐馆用餐,再到峇迪厂及银器工厂参观,当作是打发时间吧。





水上宫殿



峇迪厂

晚餐,我们步行约两百米到昨晚经过的中式小餐馆,Rumah Makan Lezat Medan餐馆白色的墙上以红彤彤的吉祥物件装饰,是这区唯一有华人味道的小店,装璜简单却倍感亲切。餐馆以中餐及海鲜为号招,1994年由棉兰搬到这里的老板曹广霖(Rus Lim)亲自掌厨。餐排以华文及印尼文书写,老板的妹妹开始时以印尼语点菜,后来改用华语向我们介绍。我们点了芝麻田鸡、飞龙菜炒蒜泥、豆酱鱼。味道很家常,价钱也很公道,我们隔天的午餐也在这里解决。



中式小餐馆

11-5-2008 (Sun)

最后一天是星期日,班机下午四点才起飞,我们还有半天自由时间。睡到上午九点才悠闲地在酒店用早餐,再步行到酒店后面的Beringharjo大巴杀。如果说Malioboro是晚上游客的购物天堂,这里则是日惹当地人白天的活动中心。这个大巴杀始于1758年,已经有超过两百年历史,里面物品不论是吃的,穿的,用的应有尽有。最引人注目的是这里竟然有不少于50个买卖黄金的小摊贩,一张小桌子,一个天平就可以做生意。



卖黄金的小摊贩




由日惹到吉隆坡廉价机场已经是晚间七点,我们到停车场取车,以TOUCH&GO付费共RM141.75,省却等待的麻烦。

2008/06/17

Yes, I Do!




Wedding Anniversary
1st year Paper Wedding
2nd year Cotton Wedding
3rd year Leather Wedding
4th year Flower/ Fruit Wedding
5th year Wood Wedding
6th year Iron Wedding
7th year Wool Wedding
8th year Bronze Wedding
9th year Pottery Wedding
10th year Tin Wedding
11th year Steel Wedding
12th year Silk/ Fine Linen Wedding
13th year Lace Wedding
14th year Ivory Wedding
15th year Crystal Wedding
20th year China Wedding
25th year Silver Wedding
30th year Pearl Wedding
35th year Coral Wedding
40th year Ruby Wedding
45th year Sapphire Wedding
50th year Golden Wedding
55th year Emerald Wedding
60th year Diamond Wedding
A wedding day is like no ordinary day, as two persons anticipate the most memorable moments of their lives.The announcement of your coming marriage to the whole world will mean a change in the lifetime chapter in sharing all faith, hope and love. Many waters cannot quench love; river cannot wash it away.

As you plan to tie the nuptial knot, we hope this little wedding organiser page will come in handy for planning a stress-free celebration. However, it is only a general guide as Chinese weddings are always steeped in tradition according to different dialect groups and culture practices.
The wedding organiser
6 months before the wedding
Choose an auspicious date: In the olden days, many families embraced ‘superstition’ and tradition. Thus, both sets of parents or family members will either consult an astrologist or a fortune teller to ensure a suitable date is set. But now, modern new couples usually prefer an ‘easy-to-remember’ date, such as the first day of the Western calendar, Valentine’s Day or even the Mooncake Festival Day.
Ceremony and reception venue:
First of all, you need to set your budget. Check out with restaurants or hotels as many major hotels are veterans at organising weddings, catering to a small function or an elaborate setting. You may need to book a hotel suite for your wedding night. Please make accomodation arrangements for outstation or overseas guests. Check with your photographers. Compile a guests list, updating recent home addresses, phone contacts or even e-mail addresses. You may like to have a trial run ‘dinner’ at the chosen venue sampling the planned menu. Don’t forget, it should be a strategic location with ample parking lots. Have a special designed wedding cake. Traditional wedding dowry and exchange of customary gifts should be attended to by the senior folks. Decide on your wedding gown and evening attire not forgetting the future groom’s set as these are always the highlight of the day. Check out with the wedding registry or religious officials to discuss the specific requirements. Always plan and prebook your honeymoon destination.

3 months to go
It is about time to decorate your new room or house. Set aside your pre-planned budget and work towards it. Invest in a good bedroom set instead of the flimsy type. Wedding rings and accessories should be given a serious thought. Pay special attention to your skin-care regime. To ensure you have a glowing complexion for the special day, avoid late nights.Place order for the Wedding Invitation cards and "Thank You" cards. You can request for a sample print before finalising on the design.

1 months to go
Send out your invitations, finalise the menu and wedding theme. Organise with your florist for the floral arrangement and bridal bouquet. By this time, you should have selected your bestman, bridesmaid and ushers. How could it be a perfect wedding without a wedding car?
Two weeks left
Customary exchange of gifts ritual is normally the tradition for the future groom’s family to bring the dowry, roast pig, traditional wedding biscuits, gold ornaments to the future bride’s home. In return, the girl’s family will give back a set of gifts sealing this sweet relationship. At this time, the girl’s family will hand out wedding cards together with wedding biscuits to relatives and friends to announce of the coming marriage.
Trekking some Customary Rites
Pre-nuptial night ritual:
Fathers of the bride and groom will comb their hair all the way down to ensure the new couple will be blessed with a loving marriage and have many off-springs.
Ancestry Worship:
This is a must for Chinese sense of conservatism and tradition to follow remonial observance.
Rousing reception for picking up the bride:
The blaring of car horns enlivens the atmosphere. Before reaching the bride’s house, another session of ‘car horns’ blaring away is often the scene now replacing the traditional music played by musicians in the olden days.
Opening the bridal car door:
This practice is often conducted by a younger brother or junior male relative. An ‘ang-pow’ will be given for luck.

The groom will enter the house and pay respect to the seniors and hands over the bridal bouquet to the sisters or lady friends of the bride. Normally he has to pay a ‘toll’ money before he is allowed into the room to meet his bride.

Paying homage to the ancestors:
The new couple will pay their respects and light up special candles and joss-sticks.
Tea Ceremony:
The couple will serve red dates tea to the bride’s parents and relatives, awarded with ang-pows.
Bridal entourage departure:
Traditionally the bride will be shield with an umbrella by an escort to the wedding car, in a belief to ward off all evils.

Entourage returning to the new home:
The musical din from car horns announce the arrival of the new couple. A male young relative will open the car door and this time, the bride will offer him an ang-pow.
To enter the door, the couple have to tread carefully to ensure stability throughout their lives.Many of the customary practice such as the Ancestry worship and Tea Ceremony will be repeated at the groom’s house again.
To the new bridal room:
A special sweet dessert consisting of dried lily bulbs and lotus seeds are fed to them. This broth will ensure fruitful expectations. Sweets and ang-pows are placed in a special container sealed with a piece of red paper. A young boy is assigned to break the seal and dish out the contents onto the bed. This will fulfil the hope of having firstborn son and many more to come.
Wedding Dinner:
This reigns supreme, as it is the perfect time for long lost relatives and friends to get together and toast to the new happily married couple.