Shopping Mall near Borobudur?

Shopping Mall near Borobudur?

Having returned to Australia from a recent business trip to
Indonesia which included an opportunity to once again savor the
splendor and ambience of one of Asia's truly great religious and
cultural monuments, the Buddhist stupa of Borobudur, I am writing
to express my horror and dismay on learning during my visit to
the temple that the governor of Central Java is seriously
considering allowing a three story shopping mall to be built
adjacent to this architectural and spiritual wonder.

Is absolutely nothing sacred in this modern, globalized world
of ours? It almost defies belief that such a culturally
inappropriate and insensitive notion as building a shopping mall
at Borobudur could be given even a moment's serious
consideration.

Surely it cannot be the case that the eminence and prestige
enjoyed by Borobudur, not only throughout Indonesia but right
around the world, is not truly appreciated and understood in
Semarang's gubernatorial circles?

From an international standpoint, Borobudur is to Indonesia
what the Taj Mahal is to India or the Parthenon is to Greece. Can
anyone imagine even a suggestion from within these nations that a
shopping mall be built to "compliment" their famous cultural
icons?

It is true that something does need to be done about the
aggressive behavior of the shrine's souvenir hawkers who can
thoroughly spoil an otherwise wondrous and enriching experience
for the visitor to Borobudur. But a shopping mall is just not the
way to do it.

The authorities in Central Java must be able to come up with
something a little more sympathetic to the Buddhist spirit of
Borobudur and the creative genius of the Javanese people who
built it so many centuries ago, than a shopping mall.

PAUL GRIFFIN, Brisbane, Australia