Trail of Civilizations

Trail of Civilizations was the motto of a symposium, held in August 2006 in Indonesia under the auspices of the governor of Central Java and the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Climax of the event was a ballet performance in front of the temple of Borobudur.

Along with the Indonesian hosts the Director of the UNESCO office for Asia and the Pacific in Jakarta as well as the ministers of tourism of the predominantly Buddhist nations of Southeast Asia, i.e., Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia were present.

Background

Following a series of destructive natural events and the terror attacks in Bali, tourism in large parts had virtually come to a standstill. Even in Bali, a relatively small island that traditionally attracts large numbers of visitors, the crisis was evident at a first glance. Outside Bali, even on the neighbouring islands of Java and Lombok, there were only a handful of western visitors, even at the most famous destinations such as the temples of Prambanan, Borobudur, and the volcanic range of Mount Bromo.

In an attempt to revive tourism in Indonesia, and, in particular, encourage visitors to see the unique monuments of Central Java, the symposium was planned to take place in mid-2006. However, the event itself had to be postponed two times because of yet more natural disasters, i.e. the devastating earthquake on 27 May 2006 in Central Java itself, and a second time after a tsunami hit the coast of Java on 17 July of the same year.

The Symposium

Finally, on 28 August 2006 the event could take place. A massive presence of security forces safeguarded the venue, fortunately, it was positioned in a way to provide maximum security and at the same time being virtually invisible temple itself, maintaining the serene atmosphere of the site and the surrounding gardens. Along with internal meetings of the ministers and their key staff, a reception was held on the evening of that day, celebrating the launch of a new book "The Restoration of Borobudur", published by the UNESCO.

The Ballet Performance

Titled "Mahakarya Borobudur" and directed by PT Taman Wisata, the ballet was choreographed to feature traditional Javanese dancing, music and costumes. However, unlike many dance performances which are held on an almost daily basis in neighbouring Yogyakarta, and Prambanam, this was neither just a display of traditional dancing nor a performance of the well-known Hindu epics, the Ramayana, or the Mahabharata. In four scenes, the history of the construction of the Borobudur Temple was shown. In a final climax, the Borobudur temple itself, situated immediately behind the ballet stage, was floodlit and became an integral part of the performance.

Reception

The immediate feedback from participants and visitors was absolutely positive. However, very few (if any) foreign correspondents were present at the event, hence there was no reflection in the international news media. With the exception of the invited guests from neighbouring countries, there were few foreign visitors at all and those who were had mostly learned of the event by chance, either in Yogyakarta, or Borobudur. There is little evidence that the event resulted in an increasing interest in visiting Java.

On the other hand, the symposium and the ballet performance were a viable example of the determination of Indonesian officials and citizens alike to care for their cultural heritage in the face of adversity and to present themselves as welcoming hosts to their international visitors. The series of events prior to the symposium, which had to be postponed twice, may highlight this determination. For participants and visitors alike this evening was a virtually unique opportunity to experience the splendours of Javanese dancing and the world heritage monument of Borobudur in a symbiosis that created lasting impressions.

Sources

http://www.unesco.or.id/activities/culture/completed/313.php