MOUNT MERAPI, Indonesia – Villagers burned incense and floated offerings to the spirits, hoping to ward off an eruption of Mount Merapi, but activity at the volcano intensified on Monday with one blast sending ash, rock and gases more than two miles down the slope. A scientist warned on Sunday that a growing lava dome could collapse. On Monday, as activity increased, villagers who had not left were told to stand by for possible evacuation and waited in groups byRead more
Posts tagged: #volcano
Gunung Gede
In less than 5 hours, I’ll be awaking to the sound of my friend’s horn blaring through my dreams. We’re going to hike the volcano named Gunung Gede this weekend, so I’ll be offline from now until Sunday night. Wish us luck in the potentially hazardous conditions and slippery slopes that forms Java and defines the “Ring of Fire” in its spectacular beauty. 😉Read more
U.S. Embassy Warns of Volcanic Eruption in Indonesia
This just arrived in my inbox – not exactly the kind of message I see on a daily basis. I guess there’s never a dull moment in Indonesia. U.S. Embassy Jakarta U.S. Consulate General Surabaya Warden Message April 13, 2006 The U.S. Embassy informs Americans in Indonesia that the Indonesian Center for Vulcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation raised the alert status for Mt. Merapi Volcano in Central Java to Level 3 on April 12, 2006. Level 3 means that volcanicRead more
Staring Into the Heart of a Volcano
Staring into the heart of a volcano. Makes you feel a bit insignificant. Continuation of the images posted yesterday from the active volcano above Bandung, Java. It’s actually much farther down than it looks – I’d say it’s about 1km across to the ridge seen before the green trees. I wish I could show scale – but it’s simply not possible with this photo. Where the ridge is, you can walk along a rough trail – something I’ll do nextRead more
Moonlight At Noon
I just returned from three days in the volcanic region above Bandung – a city about 80 miles east of Jakarta. The fresh, cool air is amazingly clean after breathing Jakarta’s gunk. Spent some time at the volcano named Tangkuban Perahu – still very much active, but equally beautiful. This is taken from the rim of the crater looking away from the volcano into the land below. Breathtaking doesn’t remotely begin to describe the visuals found here. Highly recommended toRead more
March of Time
The most magical drive occurs between north and south Java, slicing through the rolling volcanoes. Passing coconut plantations, rubber trees, cocoa, and tea plantations as far as the eye can see, squeezes amazement out of me without fail. Wondering through the hills we encounter villages every few minutes which offer a glimpse of the life these unique people live. For them, even Jakartans are tourists, and the big city a whole world away. The spectacular drive affords time to beginRead more