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This is the view from the top of Merapi volcano in Java, Indonesia, August 1991. It was taken from the summit (about 3,000 metres) at dawn after climbing for 5 hours in the dark with flashlights and torches. You can see other volcanoes piercing the clouds in the distance. Merapi was erupting with lava flowing down the opposite face from the one we climbed. We could feel and hear the rumbling all night as we climbed. I was with what was to be a small group of 6 tourists and 3 guides. However, this was the eve of the yearly celebration of Indonesia’s independence from Japan after the Second World War. An estimated 500 to 1,000 locals were also climbing that night! The reality was a stream of torches going up one side, and a stream of lava coming down the other. The strangest party I’ve ever been to! In retrospect we were incredibly lucky. About a month later Merapi erupted killing 28 people. |
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