It is 4:30 a.m.

Shivering lightly in the early morning chill, we trekked to the foot of a hill. Climbed up steep stairs, our path lit only by the thin beam of a small torch.

Near the top, we sit in still darkness as we wait for the sun to rise.

As the first glow of a breaking dawn brightens the sky, shadows appear and then come alive around us. A wondrous array of Buddhas, each in meditation inside a ’stupa’, slowly take shape all around us.

And when the sun appears over the smoky crater at the peak of the active volcano, Mt.Merapi, we find ourselves atop Borobudur among 505 statues of the Budda, looking down on a stunning 360 degree panorama of Nature waking up…

It Is Magical!

Yet, it almost didn’t happen.

When the alarm went off that morning, it was tempting to just turn over and go back to sleep. We flew in to Jogjakarta only after midnight, and had had an exhausting day’s sightseeing the day before.

Now, looking back, I’m glad I made that little sacrifice, by waking up, and taking a walk to view the magical sunrise from Borobudur.

In hindsight, knowing how it looks and feels, I’ll do it again with very little hesitation.

But at the time I first did it, I was taking a ‘leap of faith’. I was pushing myself beyond my ‘comfort zone’ - and so enjoyed the rich reward of a sensational view.

Nothing Happens - Unless Something Moves

That’s just as true about your online business as it is of everything else.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

For an hour, we wandered aimlessly around the top of the temple on the hill, marvelling at the centuries old art and the spectacular sight that greeted our eyes in every direction.

And then, a middle-aged man who was sitting on one of the rocks motioned to me and pointed at a spot. In sign-language and few broken words in English, he
indicated we should shoot some photos from there.

We did - and they were wonderful snaps!

Chances are we’d have missed that special ‘angle’ if the man had not told us.

He then showed us 4 more ‘photo opp’ positions. All made for great shots.  He even took a few pictures of our family - so we all got to be in the photo!

By this time, I simply had to show my gratitude to him with a tip. So I handed him a Rp 5,000 note.  His face indicated that he thought it wasn’t enough - so I gave him another one… happily!

And then, wondered.

If he had asked me for Rp 10,000 to point out some scenic spots for photography, I’m 100% certain he would NOT have ‘made a sale’!

Yet, because he ‘gave’ something first, with no strings or any obligation at all, he’s richer by Rp 10,000.

Reciprocity is Alive & Well - Even Offline

There’s a lesson in there for all of us!

- - - - - - - - - - - -

At 8:00 a.m., we started walking down the northern gate of the hillock.

In every direction, gardens, gentle grassy slopes, chirping birds, rolling lawns, and the sweet scent of fresh mountain air delighted our senses.

The Best Things in Life are Free

Nature unlocks her vault of riches for everyone to reach into and help ourselves.

A sunrise. A soft breeze. A flower in bloom. A child’s smile. A clear blue sky.

All can make your heart sing.

All are free.

Are you claiming your wealth?

Just look around, open your eyes, and you’re rich!

- - - - - - - - - - - -

At the gate, we were hailed by a throng of vendors.

They were selling artifacts, handicrafts and souvenirs. Colorful post cards, wood carvings, stone figurines, t-shirts, decorative fans, and straw hats were thrust
in front of us with a “Not too much!” and “I give you good price”.

We steadfastly resisted buying anything and kept on walking. The crowd that followed us thinned down, but one determined young man didn’t give up.

He went with us for almost half a kilometer, making his offer better and better - until, finally, my wife caved in and agreed to buy… not one, but two souvenirs!

Sheer Persistence Will Close Many Sales

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Next, we entered a museum where the statue of the ‘Unfinished Buddha’ was on display.

An enthusiastic young man greeted us and started prattling away about the details of the 9th century temple we had just visited.

He told us about the 505 Buddha statues that dotted the hillside, and how they represented reincarnations of the Buddha.

He shared the story of the ‘Lucky Buddha’ who alone survived 1985 bombings unharmed - and so became a good luck charm (visitors touch his hands or feet for luck).

He explained why the 3 levels had 32, 24 and then 16 statuettes (4x, 3x, and 2x multiples of … which led to the highest level of the ‘perfect Buddha’.

He said the last statue was unfinished because no sculptor knew what ‘perfection’ looked like!

He kept us fascinated for almost 30 minutes with many more facts and figures - about volcanic rock, religion, and philosophy.

And as we learned more and more about the place we had just spent hours exploring, I had an increasing urge to GO BACK and look again!

Information & Knowledge Enhance Any Experience

Good copywriters know this… and that’s why they load their copy with the little details that make things come alive.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

As we prepared to leave the museum, out of curiosity, I asked the curator if he was Buddhist.

His answer touched me deeply.

“I’m a devout Muslim. But the Buddha’s teaching
has lessons that are valuable to people of any
religion or belief. So I study them - and share
them with others like you.”

Walking back to the resort, I thought about what I had just experienced.

A Muslim had been teaching a Hindu about Buddhist philosophy!

We communicated across barriers, in the language of universal brotherhood that relies on more than mere words to convey deep meaning.

What a powerful lesson in the oneness of humanity for a world tormented by strife and divided by religious fanaticism.

It’s an experience that I will use to stay centered and grounded in the essential unity and uniformity of all religions.

Traveling Is Mind Expanding

From visiting many countries and meeting diverse groups of people, I have learned a lot and become a better person.

And my success as an infopreneur is what made it all possible.

I wish you too the same success… as an Internet infopreneur.