Prince Charles impresses students
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7709595.stm Version 0 of 1. The Prince of Wales has been mobbed by screaming pupils at a school in Indonesia during the final day of his far east tour. Earlier, the prince spoke about interfaith dialogue and said Indonesia "had something to teach" other countries about religious tolerance, The prince also watched a traditional Indonesian dance about two women fighting over their royal lover. The ten-day tour has taken in Japan and Brunei as well as Indonesia. At the Pondok Pesantren Krapyak Islamic school the prince watched two barefoot performers dressed in ornate costumes act out a legendary tale about a princess from Java and another from China who battled to the death over a Javanese king. Interfaith dialogue He sat next to his host, Sri Sultan Hamengkubowono X at the Sultan of Yogyakarta's palace complex in the region south east of the Indonesian capital Jakarta, while an interpreter translated. He felt that Indonesia has something to teach other countries in terms of relations between Muslims and Christians Professor Bernard Adeney-Risakotta <a class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7705890.stm">In pictures: Far east tour</a> The prince only saw an extract of the dance, which was accompanied by an orchestra. It was his last official engagement before his return home. Earlier he hosted a 30 minute discussion at the palace and spoke to academics about interfaith dialogue. Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country in the world but it also has significant numbers of other faiths including Buddhists, Christians and Hindus. Professor Bernard Adeney-Risakotta, director of the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies, said: "The prince said his impression of Indonesia was that there was a lot more interfaith understanding and co-operation than in other parts of the world. "He felt that Indonesia has something to teach other countries in terms of relations between Muslims and Christians." Prince Charles then undertook his first visit to an Islamic school - it was something he is said to have wanted to do for a number of years. The Pondok Pesantren Krapyak school was chosen because it is twinned with the Millais School in Horsham, West Sussex. The British Council has linked 50 Indonesian schools with UK institutions in a bid to encourage positive relationships between the different cultures. Prince Charles prays while at an Islamic school The prince's final action was to walk up the steep steps to the top level of the 113ft high Borobudur Temple, a 9th century Buddhist shrine near to Yogyakarta. Featuring more than 500 Buddha statues, it lay buried for centuries under volcanic ash from the nearby Mount Merapi volcano but was rediscovered in 1814 by British colonial administrator Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. Earlier on his Indonesian visit, the Prince visited the Harapan Rainforest conservation project on the island of Sumatra as part of his 10-day tour of Asia. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall also visited Japan and Brunei, but he travelled to Indonesia alone as his wife has returned to Britain for other engagements. |