Monkeys and Mountains

Another lazy morning by the pool. No cocktails this time though.

Handoko picked us up and took us to Kaliurung. This is a popular holiday retreat for the locals on the slopes of Mount Merapi - the 6th most active volcano in the world.

We began at a small nature reserve - a light introduction to the jungle.

At the water fall, Richard tried to recreate the Timotei shampoo advert. Somehow it's not quite so alluring.

We spent the day 2 to 3km higher than Yogya and so it was much cooler and the storms yesterday had reduced the humidity so we got a break from the oppressive heat.

We bumped into some monkeys, but they were a little disappointed that we didn't have any food for them. This one started eating a piece of tissue that he'd found.

We took a ride on the 'train' round the village and local area. After they'd given it a push start of course.

We then went to the top of the volcano, which was shrouded in cloud - very creepy. The picture shows the path the lava takes down the mountain.

This is all that is left of the village at the top. In 1996, the last serious erruption (there was a smaller one in 2006), wiped out the houses and despite the presence of a bunker, killed all the residents.

With all the grey ash, ruins and cloud it was a sombre place.

Final stop off was a view point of the full scale of the lava channel. A group of men with trucks were mining lava to be exported.

(You can just make them out in the photo - did you know that clicking on the photos gives you a larger version - use the back button on your browser to come back here.)

Now back at the hotel unincinerated, we have our eyes on the huge buffet being assembled in the courtyard.