Destination Java: (2) The Spiritual (and Physical!!) Ascent of Borobudur

October 15, 2026.Reading time 14 minutes.

Cast your mind back some 1200 years to the golden age of the Shailendra dynasty – a ruling family holding sway over Java and Sumatra. The region is still dominated by Hinduism but the clan adhere to Mahayana Buddhism and build many temples and monuments under its rule, establishing Java as a centre of Buddhist […]

Destination Java: (1) The Rebirth of Jodipan

September 22, 2026.Reading time 5 minutes.

A little over a decade ago, the neighbourhood of Jodipan (in the East Java city of Malang) was deemed beyond hope. Hugging the Brantas River, the area was considered squalid and unsanitary, with dreadful living conditions and severe infrastructure issues. The only solution for the local authorities was to demolish the whole site and relocate […]