Doing the tourist thang - Volcanoes and vistas

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  Bandung, Java, Indonesia
Saturday, June 27, 2009

The tour began at 8am and was exciting virtually from start to finish. We started off through the insane traffic that I have become perfectly used to after a day driving in it. The decision to stop for breakfast was made 100yds down the road from where we ate so we reversed back up the dual carriageway as if doing so was the norm. I've no idea what it was called but what I ate was the local equivalent of bubble & squeak and, though simple, absolutely delicious and washed it down with tea served in the Indonesian way: In a glass, black and quite freshly from the field.

After this we continued for another hour or so until we reached a volcanically active location with geysers and bubbling mud and the stench of sulphur all around us. The walk back to the car was nice though as it took us through jungle with crickets chirping and what were apparently woodpeckers calling to one another. From there we continued to a rice field where we walked in the midday sun for about an hour looking at the rice and various fruit crops grown there on the terraces. The views were spectacular with fields covering virtually every inch of the enormous valley in which we were stood.

Then came another long drive up the worst road in the world with potholes you could bury cars in. I of course was sat above the rear axle and therefore had something of a bumpy ride! At long last we arrived at the foot of this volcano. Seto told us to get out and we began a good hike up the hillside. I was in my element; jumping from rock to rock and taking slightly tougher, though more direct, routes. We saw various steam vents and a great lake that bubbled ominously as well as encrustations of sulphur that I was fascinated by.... ahem.... The views across the volcano were astonishing with burnt trees, steaming vents and in places just great barren spaces. On the way back down we were sliding down screes (I of course was going somewhat faster and less cautiously than the others!) and I spotted various insects peculiar to the region. The butterflies around here are amazing btw: Some with wings as big as your hand!

On the return journey we stopped off at a restaurant where some play was going on... very odd, and ate some good old nasi goreng before returning to Bandung.