London, England

 

Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

 

Porto, Portugal

 

In our second post, Group 6 presents three images capturing some local structures of England, Indonesia, and Portugal. Beyond their beautiful aesthetics, these sites carry rich histories of art, culture, religion, and colonization.

Westminster Abbey in London is a World Heritage site, given that it has served as a royal church for over a thousand years. Travelers from all over come to step foot in the same abbey that continuously hosts diverse crowds since its origin in 960 CE.

The Satrya Gatotkaca Statue is strategically at the road intersection of Bali’s international airport in Denpasar. The statue commemorates Gatotkaca, a mythological Hindu war hero who headed the air defense of the Pandawa Kingdom. He is thought to bring spiritual protection and safe travels to all those who fly in and out of Bali.

This gorgeous church in Porto is adorned from floor to ceiling with gold acquired from Portuguese colonization. Despite the gold playing the central role in its illustrious decor, there is no acknowledgement of the resource’s place of origin: Brazil.