Mornings
Other than the occasional morning walk to the beach, Brad has been the one who was out the door first thing in the morning. Getting in some peace and quiet I think, while watching the city around him wake up.
It seems that, to ensure Anna and I got some early morning time in, we had to go to the extreme.
A midnight hike for the morning sunrise from the top of Gunung (Mount) Batur, an active volcano with the last minor eruption being in 2003.
Wake up: 1:00 am
Meet driver: 1:30 am
Hopes of sleep on two hour drive to base of the volcano: Impossible
Bumps, speed up, slam on brakes, sudden turns.... Yep, no more sleep.
Streams of women coming from the hills at 2:00 am to get produce to take to market: needed to see it to believe it
Meet up with guide: 3:30 am
Time of sunrise: 6:20 am
With flashlights in hand we began the 1717 meter ascent.
Following along the path made by nature. The lava from the 1968 eruption left rivulets cascading down the mountain and created our means to navigate to the top. With uneven steps and twists and turns the lava was less loose than expected but still a somewhat strenuous ascent.
With thankfulness, I took the offered hand of our guide as he pulled and balanced me at times along the very narrow path to the top. Two hours uphill.... Not my normal morning routine.
Highlights going up:
One was stopping and resting along the way and gazing at the blanket of stars in the clear and dark night sky. The other was looking ahead and behind at the ribbon of lights creating a garland of decoration all the way to the top. It looked like a massive pilgrimage. A community of seekers all with a similar goal.
Arriving,we settled in to watch and wait for that gift of light and promise of a new day. With warm tea in our hands, our breakfast box at our side we gaze and I wonder at what thoughts go through the many onlookers minds.
Slowly the sky begins to lighten. The clouds in the distance change color and the mist over the lake begins to grow.
Just as the sun is about to burst over the clouds, the monkeys appear.
Brad, not quick enough, loses his breakfast box to one of them and we watched as the monkey expertly opened the jam, and peeled an egg with amazing speed and dexterity.
This sudden switch to what now looks like a scene from planet of the apes almost made us miss the sudden ball of sun rising above the clouds. Almost, but not quite.
Stunning!
The whole mountain top now took on a different glow and we explored the rim and steam rising from the center. With no safety railings, I heard quite a few "be careful lady" shouts.
The views of Danau (lake) Batur were stunning. This is the largest crater lake in Bali and a major source of fishing and fish farms.
Our guide took us down a different route allowing us to hike along the edge of the mountain, through a ravine and to another crater where we cooked eggs in the steam of the volcano.
Only 15 minutes and we had breakfast number two.
Sliding down volcanic black sand and back to lava paths we made our way down to the base village.
Exhausted but empowered, it was a fantastic trek with stunning views.
A midnight hike for the morning sunrise from the top of Gunung (Mount) Batur, an active volcano with the last minor eruption being in 2003.
Wake up: 1:00 am
Meet driver: 1:30 am
Hopes of sleep on two hour drive to base of the volcano: Impossible
Bumps, speed up, slam on brakes, sudden turns.... Yep, no more sleep.
Streams of women coming from the hills at 2:00 am to get produce to take to market: needed to see it to believe it
Meet up with guide: 3:30 am
Time of sunrise: 6:20 am
With flashlights in hand we began the 1717 meter ascent.
Following along the path made by nature. The lava from the 1968 eruption left rivulets cascading down the mountain and created our means to navigate to the top. With uneven steps and twists and turns the lava was less loose than expected but still a somewhat strenuous ascent.
With thankfulness, I took the offered hand of our guide as he pulled and balanced me at times along the very narrow path to the top. Two hours uphill.... Not my normal morning routine.
Highlights going up:
One was stopping and resting along the way and gazing at the blanket of stars in the clear and dark night sky. The other was looking ahead and behind at the ribbon of lights creating a garland of decoration all the way to the top. It looked like a massive pilgrimage. A community of seekers all with a similar goal.
Arriving,we settled in to watch and wait for that gift of light and promise of a new day. With warm tea in our hands, our breakfast box at our side we gaze and I wonder at what thoughts go through the many onlookers minds.
Slowly the sky begins to lighten. The clouds in the distance change color and the mist over the lake begins to grow.
Brad, not quick enough, loses his breakfast box to one of them and we watched as the monkey expertly opened the jam, and peeled an egg with amazing speed and dexterity.
This sudden switch to what now looks like a scene from planet of the apes almost made us miss the sudden ball of sun rising above the clouds. Almost, but not quite.
Stunning!
The whole mountain top now took on a different glow and we explored the rim and steam rising from the center. With no safety railings, I heard quite a few "be careful lady" shouts.
The views of Danau (lake) Batur were stunning. This is the largest crater lake in Bali and a major source of fishing and fish farms.
Our guide took us down a different route allowing us to hike along the edge of the mountain, through a ravine and to another crater where we cooked eggs in the steam of the volcano.
Only 15 minutes and we had breakfast number two.
Sliding down volcanic black sand and back to lava paths we made our way down to the base village.
Exhausted but empowered, it was a fantastic trek with stunning views.
View of Mt. Batur as we were driving away.
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