My volcanic encounter

One of the highlights of my trip is to see a real life bubbly volcano. I think sometimes I am more excited on the volcano than the Borobudu temple which is quite unhealthy come to think of it. Anyway, I had the opportunity to drive up the slops of the neighbouring mountain to get a close up of Merapi.

Missing Merapi at 1pm, 21/4/2008

Unfortunately it was raining heavily yesterday and today, the entire mountain area was shrouded with fog. Never mind, there will be another chance when we reach Borobudu. It will be further away but the lava flowing from the rim is so hot it can be seen miles away.

Missing Merapi 5am, 22/7/2008.

NOOooooo... it rained again over the night and there is nothing to be seen. Once again the mountain was shrouded in fog. Sob sob.. so...

Mount merapi on http://www.acoustics.org/press/153rd/sens-schoenfelder.html

I guess the only way I can see Merapi is online. That is just sad. Anyway I do get to see the destruction left by Merapi after the last eruption in 2006.

Merapi produces pyroclastic flow

The lava, after cooling down left behind soil so rich in mineral that even your hair can grow if you rub some on it. Even now you can already see wild plants and flowers are sprouting out.

Overflowing the dam

The average speed of the lava flowing down is 110km/h. That is the speed of my red Isuara travelling back hometown. It means the lava can travel from KL to Ipoh in 2 hours. The was a dam built but as you can imagine situation back then, the lava was so thick it overflow to a neighbouring town. But the local urban legends said otherwise.

The day after tomorrow

Urban legend said this is a place of sin. Before the eruption, there was a love hotel here. People come check in to enjoy the process of reproduction illegally. Therefore, the local believe it's God wrath that the lava flow suddenly change directions and branched out to this town. Sin or no sin, the entire town was wiped out.

Incredible hulk on a bad hair day

Despite the destruction, life still goes on. They are slowly rebuilding back the town and the villagers that survived, are still living of the volcano's rich soils. Some even had souvenir shops set up to sell mementos from the volcano eruption. Seems heartless to sensationalised something so devastating but I am not judgemental. They gotta make a living after all.